H de l’Hospitalet Blanc Sud de la France 2004

A mélange of all the top white varietals from the finest vineyards in Languedoc, the golden hued 2004 H de l’Hospitalet Blanc shines likes the Provencal sun. Chardonnay, Viognier, Marsanne, Vermentino, and more combine to provide one delightful tasty concoction in this latest offering from Gérard Bertrand. The scents and savors of apricot, pineapple, and other tropical fruits dominate this luscious wine. Throw in a dollop of nectar, a pinch of Mediterranean herb, and a dash of thistle and voila….H de l’Hospitalet Blanc is born. Bold, ripe, and bursting with flavor H Blanc is very easy to drink. Moreover, it retains just enough acidity to offset its forward fruit and finish perfectly dry. We suggest serving the H Blanc quite well chilled (about 40º F), especially in warmer locales. Salut!

The 2004 H de l’Hospitalet Blanc is so seductive that it need not rely on accompaniments to shine like the Languedoc sun. In fact, this wonderful wine requires nothing more than a glass, unless you are truly content to sip this French coquette from a straw straight out of the bottle (not our first choice). Nonetheless, we confess to having a few special dishes we recommend with the affable 2004 H Blanc. Simple salads, prepared with the freshest organic greens and a mild goat cheese get our nod, as does charcoal broiled octopus and calamari with marinated black chick peas. A good old fashioned Maryland style crab cake provides another excellent companion to this exotic white wine. Furthermore, Tilapia and Mahi and Mahi seem to share a natural affinity with the H Blanc, so do not be afraid to pair either of these two fishes with Bertrand’s Languedoc specialty. And last but certainly not least, we suggest you consider a platter of fresh fruit and soft cow’s milk cheeses to accompany H Blanc, and enjoy!

H de l’Hospitalet Blanc from Ch?teau de l’Hospitalet is the ultimate white blend of all the fairest varietals from the sun-drenched hills of the Languedoc. Produced by Gérard Bertrand, the reigning king of Languedoc wine, H seeks to recreate in a single bottle all the pleasure and charm of a visit to the south of France. For a long time Gérard Bertrand and his coterie of excellent Languedoc wines have enjoyed a serious following in Europe, but mostly they have remained a bit of an insider’s secret – until now. We first featured a Bertrand Minervois to considerable member acclaim several years ago before this estate’s wines were generally available in the United States, but with the recent international press, replete with corresponding accolades for current releases, the Bertrand secret is finally out of the bag. Undoubtedly, Gérard Bertrand is the most respected name in the Languedoc – the oldest and largest wine region in France. The Bertrand name is associated with most of the very best domains and vineyards in all of southern France, and like his father before him, Gérard has not only inherited the Bertrand legacy from his forbearers, he has augmented and cultivated the family heritage by acquiring an ever increasing array of outstanding properties – each of which produces wines of superlative quality and eminent distinction. Georges Bertrand, Gérard’s father, was a visionary, unlike most 20th century Languedoc growers. Georges was also a winemaker and a great wine taster, and he knew the value of premium varietals and excellent terroir. Georges reconstructed his family’s estate, Domaine de Villemajou, in the heart of Corbières and began acquiring other prime parcels and ancient estates. In the early1970’s, Georges also advised and supported other forward thinking Languedoc growers and winemakers who aspired to greatness. Gérard has continued and fortified his late father’s crusade by adding Cigalus, Ch?teau Laville-Bertrou, and the venerable Ch?teau de l’Hospitalet to his retinue of great Languedoc estates, all of which has earned him the rightful title: the King of Languedoc. All Bertrand estate wines are produced in respect to the environment, using sustainable methods and hand harvesting. Each authentic bottle of Bertrand wine also bears the emblem of the Visigoth Cross, the symbol of Languedoc since the 7th century. Languedoc The Languedoc is the world’s largest single viticultural area, encompassing many appellations and distinctive sub regions – all of which are capable of producing fine wine. The Languedoc stretches all the way from the Spanish border in the west, within sight of the towering Pyrenees, to the banks of the Rhône River, which lies far to the northeast. This vast domain encompasses a huge swath of dry coastal plain and sheltered mountains from which flow the guts and the glory of French viticulture. The Languedoc, whose name is synonymous with the language of southern France, was the first part of ancient Gaul to be extensively planted to the vine. And long before the Romans and Caesar’s legions had subdued the Gallic tribes to the north, wine was big business in Languedoc. The Phoenicians passed this way, and not surprisingly, the region’s beauty and superb conditions for the cultivation of the vine did not escape the first Greek colonists who planted vines there, making Languedoc the cradle of French viticulture in the fifth century BC. For nearly two thousand years, Languedoc remained the “big dog” and premier purveyor of wine to France and the world. Sadly, the glory of France’s most historic wine region – the birthplace of troubadours and Provencal, the lyrical language of poetry – ended in the 19th century with the advent of phylloxera. Phylloxera, the most dreaded of all vine diseases because it attacks the roots and systematically sucks the life out of a vine, devastated the vineyards of France in the 19th century, targeting Languedoc as its prime host. Following the phylloxera outbreak, the Languedoc lost most of its premier hillside vineyards, old vines and premium varietals. Subsequent replanting was undertaken using inferior grape varietals that would quickly bring high yields and much needed cash. Moreover, the great hillside vineyards descended to the plains, where soil, drainage and exposure (terroir) were inferior to the older, loftier heights of legend and lore. Unfortunately, throughout the late 19th century and most of the 20th century as well, the Languedoc languished in the doldrums of viticulural obscurity, unless of course common, everyday plonk was your beverage of choice. Once the proud bastion of French vitucultral excellence, the Languedoc had become by the early 20th century the world’s major source of huge quantities of insipid wines, whose main virtues were none other than high alcohol and cheap prices – all of which were subsidized by the French government. Today, the Languedoc is rapidly returning to its former glory. The worldwide demand for cheap, course wine no longer exists; the emphasis today is on quality rather than quantity. In addition, the only official incentive for grape growers is to plant premium varietals, move back to the ancient hillside sites, and produce less wine of greater quality. Since the 1970’s this is exactly what has happened, leading viticulturalists and critics alike to proclaim a veritable Renaissance in the Languedoc, much of it spearheaded by Gérard Bertrand and his father Georges before him.