As we have just seen, producing an organic wine means being more ecological, more in tune with nature, which is why Gérard Bertrand now owns more than 950 hectares of vines with the AB label or in the process of being converted.
But what are the advantages of an organically produced wine? And what are the differences with a traditional wine?
The main advantage of a quality organic wine, just like an Biodynamic wineis that it expresses the full potential of the fruit. The grape, by being respected during its development, delivers all its flavours.
An AB certified vineyard plot is a guarantee of being in the presence of a vine that has been given a homogeneous and balanced management, with the patience of a culture that goes in the direction of the plant, and not in the direction of productivity at all costs. With an organic wine, the development of the grape itself is as important as the work done by man in the cellar. But let's come to the most important point, that of taste!
It is generally observed that organic wines, when they are of quality, as in the case of Gérard Bertrand Languedoc wines, deliver finer and more delicate flavours than a traditional wine. The balance of flavours is thus remarkable, with very present floral notes. One of the reasons for this balance is that this is a wine that is built less on alcohol than a traditional wine.
Another typical gustatory characteristic of the organic wines of Languedoc is their exceptional minerality. This is particularly noticeable in the wines produced in the Gérard Bertrand estates, such as in the Château de l'Hospitaletan exceptional property located in the heart of the massif of la Clape, a limestone terroir par excellence.
The explanation for this is that an untreated grape has a much higher concentration of trace elements and minerals. This is what makes it possible, when tasting wine, to recover this mineral, fresh, almost salty flavour, especially for white wines. An organic wine, as we have seen, is a wine made by being closer to the essential, its fruit and its terroir. These flavours are subtle, balanced and reveal its history.
If we had to sum up, we could say that an organic wine does not lie, it simply expresses what it is.