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93 WA. "The top of the line at Bertrand comes from a nine-hectare portion of his estate in Minervois. The 2017 Minervois la Liviniere Clos d'Ora boasts slightly resinous scents of local garrigue, cedary oak and mixed berries on the nose. Full-bodied, lush and velvety, it's nevertheless a bit open-knit and coarse on the long finish, showing ample concentration, power and intensity, but perhaps a certain lack of elegance this vintage. Certified biodynamic. Rugby star-turned-winemaker Gérard Bertrand boasts an impressive portfolio of Languedoc wine estates and has made it his mission to raise the profile of this oft-overlooked wine region. Ripeness, intensity and oak all figure prominently in the Bertrand style but so does organic and biodynamic farming. The top cuvées are aggressively priced, but they garner headlines for the region and pave the way for higher prices across the board, in a part of France that could use a bit more prosperity." Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate Interim, Jun 2020 |