A seriously supple and creamy wine with character throughout. The nose is loaded with garrigue perfumes of thyme and bay leaves among the clean red apple and white melon aromas. Toast and soft spice mingle on the palate, with a soft honeyed flavor enduring through the long finish.——L.B.(7/1/2011)—— 90

From Bertrand's 140 acre domaine in Saint Andre-de-Roquelongue at the northeastern edge of Corbieres, the 2007 Cigalus red represents a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Creme de cassis, candied black cherry, cocoa powder, vanilla, and lanolin in the nose usher in a polished, creamy, sweet black fruit- and oak-informed palate with an attractive measure of juiciness and a nutmeg-, cinnamon-, and chocolate-laced finish. Despite Bertrand's stated intentions, I can't say I would have guessed this to be from the Languedoc, or even from Europe. From his base in the Corbieres, ex-professional rugby player Gerard Bertrand has built a vast web of properties and collaborative growers, resulting in wines ranging from clean but innocuous white varietal bottlings, through ambitiously-priced and lavishly vinified reds (several of which I found almost annoyingly syrupy and bitter), to dessert wines. (The wide assortment of dry wines I tasted from Bertrand included well-made if unexceptional Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from his newly-purchased Domaine de l-Aigle in the cool Limoux district of the Languedoc, a sector I did not have time to visit and have not canvassed for this report.)Imported by Gerard Bertrand USA, Atlanta, GA; tel. (954) 540 5401