COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 4 December 2017

on the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of an application to amend the specification for a name in the wine sector in accordance with Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Graves (PDO))

(2017/C 421/07)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (1), and in particular Article 97(3) thereof,

Whereas:

France submitted an application to amend the specification for the name ‘Graves’ in accordance with Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

The Commission examined that application and found that the conditions laid down in Articles 93 to 96, 97(1), 100, 101 and 102 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 had been met.

In order to allow statements of objection to be submitted in accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the application to amend the specification for the name ‘Graves’ should be published in the Official Journal of the European Union,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The application to amend the specification for the name ‘Graves’ (PDO) in accordance with Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 is contained in the Annex to this Decision.

In accordance with Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the publication of this Decision in the Official Journal of the European Union confers the right to oppose the amendment of the specification referred to in the first paragraph of this Article within 2 months.

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671.

ANNEX

‘GRAVES’

AOP-FR-A1012-AM01

Date of submission of the application: 7.3.2016

REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT OF THE SPECIFICATION

1. Rules applicable to the amendment

Article 105 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 — Non-minor amendment

2. Description of and reasons for the amendment

2.1. Geographical area

Chapter I, point IV, subpoint 1 of the specification is amended as follows:

— After the word: ‘Virelade’, the following words are added: ‘and in part of the municipality of Coimères corresponding to section A “des Herrères” of the first page of the land register (1934 revised plan) certified in accordance with the updated land register of 5 November 2010.’ The purpose of this amendment is to include within the geographical area part of the municipality of Coimères where similar vine training methods and a very similar area for planting — in terms of the landscape, topography, hydrology, geology and soil — to that of the neighbouring vineyards covered by the ‘Graves’ designation have long been used in wine production. This part of the municipality of Coimères is located immediately next to the geographical area covered by the ‘Graves’ PDO. The request to incorporate the municipality of Coimères was lodged in 1938 just after national recognition was granted to the designation, after it was pointed out by an operator at that time that the municipality had been overlooked. Despite successive decisions by national bodies approving the inclusion of the municipality in the geographical area covered by the designation, the decision was never subsequently incorporated into official texts. By now including this municipality, the aim is to simply rectify this longstanding oversight.

— The words ‘Martignas-sur-Jalle’ and ‘Saint-Jean-d'Illac’ are deleted. The purpose of this amendment is to exclude the municipalities of Martignas-sur-Jalle and Saint-Jean-d'Illac from the geographical area as wine production no longer takes place there and no vineyards or parcels attributed to the AOC are situated in those municipalities.

Point 6 of the Single Document has been amended accordingly.

2.2. Demarcated parcel area

In Chapter I, point IV, subpoint 2 of the specification, after the words: ‘of 10 February 2011’, the following words are added: ‘and of its standing committee of 4 September 2013, by delegation of the national committee’. The reason for this amendment is to add the date the competent national authority approved an amendment to the demarcated parcel area within the geographical area of production. The parcel demarcation consists of identifying the parcels within the geographical area of production that are suitable for producing the protected designation of origin in question.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

2.3. Link to the origin

In Chapter I, point X, subpoint 1, paragraph 3 of the specification, the number ‘43’ is replaced by ‘42’. This change reflects the correction made to the number of municipalities which comprise the geographical area following the removal of two municipalities (Martignas-sur-Jalle and Saint-Jean-d'Illac) and the addition of part of the municipality of Coimères.

Point 8 of the Single Document has been amended accordingly.

The summary of the link under point 8 of the Single Document has been revised in line with this change and the maximum number of characters allowed in e-Ambrosia.

2.4. Other amendments

In connection with this new amendment application, the Single Document has been updated according to the new input rules of the e-Ambrosia software.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name

Graves

2. Type of geographical indication

PDO — Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

Still red wine

The red wines are produced from balanced vine varieties with the Cabernet Sauvignon N variety offering aromas and structure, the Merlot N variety offering fragrance and suppleness and the Franc N, Petit-Verdot N, Malbec N and Carménère N varieties complementing them. When young, they frequently develop red fruit aromas coupled with spicy, roasted notes. Elegant and structured, fine and aromatic, the wines age harmoniously, with their bouquet taking on a fine smokiness. Depending on their vintage and origin, they take between 5 and 10 years to reach their peak.

Minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 11 %.

After enrichment, the total alcoholic strength by volume is 13,5 %

The red wines must undergo malo-lactic fermentation.

The malic acid content is less than or equal to 0,3 g per litre.

The fermentable sugar content is less than or equal to 3 g per litre.

Still dry white wine

The white wines are elegant and fleshy. Produced from the Sémillon B vine variety, they generally take on floral notes and a natural fattiness which is still fresh. When combined with the Sauvignon B variety which brings a lively, expressive quality, and the Muscadelle B variety, which offers a slight muskiness, the aromas of the wines often suggest flora and citrus, sometimes with exotic or menthol notes. The practice sometimes used of maturing the wines in barrels increases their richness and complexity after they have been aged for a number of years.

Minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 10,5 %.

After enrichment, the total alcoholic strength by volume is 13 %.

The fermentable sugar content is less than or equal to 4 g per litre.

General analytical characteristics

Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) Minimum total acidity In milliequivalents per litre Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) 13,27 Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

The parameters not indicated — concerning the analytical characteristics — are laid down in the legislation in force.

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Density and distance

Cultivation method

The minimum planting density of the vines is 5 000 plants per hectare. The spacing between the rows of these vines must not exceed 2 metres, and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 0,8 metres.

Pruning rules

Cultivation method

At the latest, pruning is carried out at the unfolded leaves stage (Lorenz stage 9). Vines are pruned with a maximum of 12 buds per plant, using the following techniques:

— ‘short’ (or spur) pruning or ‘shoot’ (or long) pruning,

— short pruning to two cordons, or fan pruning to four arms.

Irrigation

Cultivation method

Irrigation during the vine growing season is only permitted in cases of persistent drought and if drought is disrupting the sound physiological development of the vines and the ripening of the grapes.

Enrichment

Specific oenological practice

Reductive methods of enrichment are permitted for the red wines with a limit of a 15 % concentration rate.

After enrichment, the red wines' total alcoholic strength by volume does not exceed 13,5 %.

After enrichment, the white wines' total alcoholic strength by volume does not exceed 13 %.

b. Maximum yields

Red wine

65 hectolitres per hectare

White wine

68 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and aged in the territory of the following municipalities in the department of Gironde: Arbanats, Ayguemorte-les-Graves, Beautiran, Bègles, La Brède, Budos, Cabanac-et-Villagrains, Cadaujac, Canéjan, Castres-Gironde, Cérons, Cestas, Eysines, Gradignan, Guillos, Le Haillan, Illats, Isle-Saint-Georges, Landiras, Langon, Léogeats, Léognan, Martillac, Mazères, Mérignac, Pessac, Podensac, Portets, Pujols-sur-Ciron, Roaillan, Saint-Médard-d'Eyrans, Saint-Michel-de-Rieufret, Saint-Morillon, Saint-Pardon-de-Conques, Saint-Pierre-de-Mons, Saint-Selve, Saucats, Talence, Toulenne, Villenave-d'Ornon, Virelade, and in part of the municipality of Coimères corresponding to section A ‘des Herrères’ of the first page of the land register (1934 revised plan) certified in accordance with the updated land register of 5 November 2010.

7. Main wine grapes

Cabernet-Sauvignon N

Cabernet Franc N

Cot N

Carménère N

Muscadelle B

Merlot N

Sémillon B

Sauvignon Gris G

Sauvignon B

Petit Verdot N

8. Description of the link(s)

The geographical area of the ‘Graves’ Protected Designation of Origin is a strip some 10 km wide situated on the left bank of the Garonne, beginning north of Bordeaux and ending south-east of Langon.

As the name of the designation implies, the ‘Graves’ region is formed of shingles, pebbles, largely coarse gravel and sand mixed with silt and clay, at times on a base of calcerous rock but generally on pure sand, iron-rich sandstone (alios) or clay. It spans 42 municipalities of the Gironde department.

The soil is the result of a long and complex geological history, closely connected with the beginnings of the Garonne, its changes in course and the successive glaciers during the quarternary era. During those periods, the Pyrenees glaciers eroded their valleys and prepared the rocks which the rivers would then wear down, continuing through to the Bordeaux region. Gravel hillocks of all types and sizes are the only remaining traces of these successive deposits.

Common to the soils which have since formed there is their high permeability caused by the rich gravel and shingle content. Although not the only soils which very much distinguish ‘Graves’, they are the backbone and embodiment of its excellence. By encouraging the flow of water, the slopes ensure perfect surface drainage. This is also supported by a large hydrographic network made up of small streams, tributaries of the Garonne. The soils are such that the vines' water supply is strictly regulated.

The vineyards benefit from a special and favourable climate, protected from harsh weather to the west by pine forests which play an important role in regulating the temperature. They are also protected from high temperatures and excess humidity by means of aeration and natural ventilation thanks to the proximity of the Garonne, benefitting from oceanic influences which help to mitigate spring frost. The wine-growing landscapes in this area, consisting of gentle slopes where bright, polished pebbles reflect light onto the grapes, are set between the river and pine forests.

Home to the great white and red wines of Bordeaux, the ‘Graves’ region is the birthplace of techniques still used to this day. The vine varieties, grown in an oceanic climate, have needed échalas (support poles) since the 17th and 18th centuries, followed by widespread trellising and a severe pruning method to ensure a well distributed grape harvest and sufficient leaf area for photosynthesis and optimum ripeness.

In line with the methods transcribed in the Decree of 4 March 1937 defining the ‘Graves’ controlled designation of origin, the parcel area defined for the grape harvest classifies parcels characterised by natural drainage according to either their drainage quality or their position on a hilltop or slope. Geographical or topographical locations where spring frost forms on account of their greater distance from the Garonne or enclosure by forest (blocking the flow of cold air masses) are excluded.

The precisely defined parcels ensure optimum development of the local vine varieties which have been selected over time on account of being well suited to conservation and ageing, this being associated with the need for products to be transported over long distances.

Although the stony, warm and generally infertile soil corresponding to the designation naturally limits red wine production, it nevertheless enables the Cabernet-Sauvignon N and Merlot varieties to achieve optimum ripeness, helped also by the temperature regulation resulting from the proximity of the Garonne. The wines which are thereby obtained have good structure and are subsequently matured as necessary in order to age and be expressed as best as possible prior to being placed on the market for consumers.

The sandier soils and soils with a clayey matrix are better suited to producing the white wines covered by the designation, largely from the Sauvignon B and Sémillon B vine varieties. These varieties offer a freshness which combines with their finesse and floral, fruity properties.

In order to ensure an adequate harvest without overloading the vines, thereby guaranteeing the grapes' ripeness and optimum concentration, there is a higher minimum planting density.

Due to the closeness of the Port of Bordeaux, where a busy trade historically developed to market the wines internationally, combined with the unique geographical and pedological conditions, the ‘Graves’ controlled designation of origin has become internationally renowned.

9. Essential further conditions

Area in immediate proximity

Legal framework

National legislation

Type of further condition

Derogation concerning production in the demarcated geographical area

Description of the condition

The area in immediate proximity, defined by derogation for the making, development and ageing of the wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities of the Department of Gironde: Barsac, Beguey, Bieujac, Bommes, Cadillac, Castets en Dorthe, Fargues, Langoiran, Loupiac, Le Pian sur Garonne, Preignac, Rions, Saint-Loubert, Saint-Maixant, Saint-Pierre-d'Aurillac, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont and Sauternes.

Broader geographical unit

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition

Wines with the controlled designation of origin may specify on their labels the broader geographical unit ‘Vin de Graves’. The size of the letters for this broader geographical unit must not be larger, either in height or width, than two-thirds of the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.

10. Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-d60d4526-0d0e-4eec-811f-73176ca92985