Château L'Hospitalet Grand Vin (75cl, 15%)

A red wine from Gérard Bertrand, grown on the coast above the Mediterranean. The vineyard sits at a hundred metres on limestone soils, with Gargasian marl-limestone and red Mediterranean soil contributing to the cuvée's generosity, aromatic complexity, liveliness and freshness. The grapes are cultivated using sustainable methods under the Terra Vitis procedure. They are picked by hand, sorted and destemmed, then vinified separately with maceration of 20 to 25 days. The wine spends 12 to 16 months in new 225-litre barrels, with the fine lees periodically stirred, before the finest barrels of each variety are blended. The colour is a brilliant ruby. The nose is intense, dominated by spicy and red fruit aromas, with strawberry noted. The palate shows silky, fine tannins underlining the fruity freshness. Serve at 16 °C with rack of lamb, game birds or mature cheeses.