La Clape Grand Terroir, another solid offering from Gérard Bertrand, one of our favourite producers in Languedoc-Roussillon…
We enjoyed this Rhône-style red blend, which offered a nice balance of dark and red fruit, combined with earth, leather, and tobacco notes. Made in a classic, old-world style, La Clape Grand Terroir offers pretty much what you’d expect from an award-winning producer.
This wine paired well with grilled steak and garlic mash potatoes. It would also pair nicely with other beef and lamb dishes, not to mention an array of flavourful cheeses. At less than $20 CAD, it represents very good value for the quality.
Rating (from 70 to 100): 87/100
Value: 4/5
The Bottle Details…
Name: La Clape Grand Terroir
Vintage: 2011
Producer: Gérard Bertrand
Region/Country: Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Grape Varietal(s): Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre
Alcohol content: 14%
Consumed: At home
Recommended By: Picked it off the shelf at the LCBO
Cost: $18 CAD
Bottle Presentation: We have long admired the overall presentation of Gérard Bertrand wines, which have a traditional, classy look, as well as distinctive emblem, which reminds us of the Templar Legacy. The red hues, especially on the bottle neck, add a nice splash of colour.
The Tasting Details…
Appearance: Medium ruby red, bordering on garnet.
Nose: A medium nose, with a complex mix of blueberries, red cherries, strawberries, earth, garrigue, leather, and tobacco.
Taste: A dry, medium-to-full bodied red blend, with medium-to-high, bitter tannins. Dark cherry and plum notes combined with earth and peppery notes. As others have noted, this wine would benefit from a good decant to all for the maximal expression of flavours.
Finish: A long, earth finish, with a hint of pepper.