Gérard Bertrand : Villa Soleilla 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Villa Soleilla 2021 by Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a deep golden hue with luminous highlights, characteristic of orange wines crafted with extended skin maceration.

Nose

The nose reveals beautiful aromatic complexity, blending notes of garrigue, thyme and honey. Aromas of apricot, white flowers and caramel complete this generous, refined bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and complex, with a rich texture supported by a harmonious tannic structure. Fruity apricot flavours intertwine with spicy and floral notes, delivering a lovely aromatic persistence through to the finish.

Food and Wine Pairings

This orange wine pairs perfectly with a lamb tagine, roasted vegetables with mild spices or mature cheeses. Its structure and complexity also allow it to elevate white meats and grilled fish.

Serving and Cellaring

The Villa Soleilla 2021 can be enjoyed now to appreciate its fruity youthfulness, but it also has fine ageing potential thanks to its tannic structure and aromatic concentration.

An Exceptional Orange Wine from Biodynamically Farmed Terroirs

The Estate

Founded in 1992, the Gérard Bertrand group has established itself as the world's largest producer of Demeter-certified biodynamic wines, with 930 hectares of vines spread across seventeen estates. Led by Gérard Bertrand, a former rugby champion turned visionary winemaker, the estate embodies the region's viticultural excellence. A biodynamic pioneer since 2002, Gérard Bertrand was named World's Best Winemaker in 2017, confirming his commitment to environmentally respectful viticulture and to elevating the quality of local wines on the international stage.

The Vineyard

The Villa Soleilla 2021 is a Vin de France produced from plots located in immediate proximity to the Mediterranean. The vines are planted on soils composed of schist and limestone, at the highest altitude of the appellation. This privileged geographical location gives the wine a distinctive minerality and a characteristic freshness. The vineyard is farmed according to biodynamic principles and is Demeter-certified, ensuring complete respect for the ecosystem and an authentic expression of the terroir.

The Vintage

The climatic conditions produced white grapes at optimal ripeness, offering the necessary balance between aromatic concentration and freshness to achieve a successful extended skin maceration.

Winemaking and Ageing

The grapes for the Villa Soleilla 2021 are hand-harvested at perfect ripeness. Winemaking combines carbonic maceration and destemming depending on the plot, followed by a skin maceration of three to four weeks that extracts colour, aromas and tannins while preserving the wine's elegance. Ageing then takes place for at least eight months using an innovative three-part method: one third in amphorae, one third in glass globes and one third in oak barrels. This approach adds complexity and refinement to the final wine while respecting the expression of the fruit and the terroir.

Grape Varieties

Roussanne, Vermentino, Viognier.