An 1618
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roquefort or other pungent blue cheeses, foie gras, and caramelized fruit tarts or nut-based desserts.
✨ Technical Specifications
G rard Bertrand's 'An 1618' celebrates the deep historical roots of the Roussillon's sweet wine heritage. This Rivesaltes Ambr is a classic Vin Doux Naturel, typically crafted from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, and Macabeu grown on dry, sun-drenched clay-limestone terraces. The wine is made using the traditional mutage process, where fortification arrests fermentation to retain natural grape sugars. It then undergoes years of patient oxidative aging in oak barrels, developing a gorgeous amber color and a complex bouquet of dried fruits, honey, gingerbread, and toasted nuts. It represents a liquid archive of Southern French winemaking tradition.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1992 by former French international rugby player Gérard Bertrand following the legacy of his father Georges at Domaine de Villemajou, the estate has emerged as an undisputed pioneer of fine wine in the Languedoc. Headquartered at the coastal Château l'Hospitalet within the limestone massif of La Clape, Bertrand orchestrates over 900 hectares of vineyard land across premium terroirs spanning Corbières, Minervois-La-Livinière, Terrasses du Larzac, and Limoux. The enterprise represents the world’s largest producer of Demeter-certified biodynamic wines, guided by regenerative viticulture, lunar cycles, and chemical-free soil stewardship. Cellar craftsmanship combines precise temperature control, indigenous ferments, and tailored French oak maturation to articulate South of France typicity. Benchmark releases range from iconic single-vineyard crus such as Clos d'Ora, Clos du Temple, and Cigalus to vibrant, terroir-driven white and red bottlings, alongside celebrated Mediterranean cuvées like Côte des Roses.