Gerard Bertrand Château L'Hospitalet Grand Vin Rouge, 2021

Château L'Hospitalet Grand Vin Rouge showcases the unique coastal terroir of its Mediterranean vineyard. This elegant ruby-red wine offers intense aromas of spices and red strawberry fruit with silky, fine tannins that enhance its fruity freshness. Cultivated sustainably with Terra Vitis certification, hand-harvested, and barrel-aged for 12-16 months, it's an exceptional pairing for rack of lamb, game birds, or mature cheeses.

Technical Information

• Producer: Château L'Hospitalet
• Appellation: Mediterranean coast, France
• Wine Type: Red
• Vineyard Altitude: 100 meters above sea level
• Climate: Semiarid Mediterranean with mild winters
• Soil Types:
  • Gargasian marl-limestone (rich in fossils)
  • Red Mediterranean soil from the Barremian period (formed on compact grey-blue limestone)
• Farming Practices: Sustainable methods following Terra Vitis procedure
• Harvest Method: Hand-picked and transported to the cellar within an hour
• Vinification: Sorted, destemmed, each variety vinified separately
• Maceration: 20-25 days
• Aging: 12-16 months in new 225-liter oak barrels
• Serving Temperature: 16°C

Appearance Bright, brilliant ruby-red color.

Tasting Notes The intense nose is dominated by spicy and red fruit (strawberry) aromas. On the palate, the fine, silky tannins enhance the fruity freshness of the wine. The structure is elegant and harmonious with a fleshy character.

Vineyard Notes Located on the coast, Château de l'Hospitalet overlooks the Mediterranean from a height of a hundred meters. The vineyard enjoys exceptional climatic conditions: abundant sunshine, heat stored during the day by the limestone and released to the grapes at night, the moderating effect of the Mediterranean which reduces temperature differences, and the altitude which counteracts the summer heat.

The two distinct soil types contribute to the wine's character:

1. The Gargasian marl-limestone at the foot of the cliff is rich in fossils and provides water to the vine stocks throughout summer despite the absence of rainfall
2. The red Mediterranean soil from the Barremian period, formed on compact grey-blue limestone and reclaimed from the garrigue, enables the production of rich and concentrated wines

Winemaking Notes Harvest timing is determined by rigorous ripeness checks, polyphenol analysis, and daily tastings. After hand-harvesting, the grapes are sorted and destemmed before being transferred to temperature-controlled vats. Each grape variety is vinified separately with maceration lasting between 20-25 days.

At the end of winter, the wines are transferred into new 225-liter barrels where they age for 12-16 months in the barrel cellar of Hospitalet, which houses some 2,000 barrels. The fine lees are periodically stirred. The finest barrels of each grape variety are selected and blended to produce this wine.

Food Pairing Suggestions Serve at 16°C with:

• Rack of lamb
• Game birds
• Mature cheeses

This fleshy, harmonious wine with an elegant structure can be enjoyed now but also has excellent aging potential.