Publication of a communication of approval of a standard amendment to the product specification for a name in the wine sector referred to in Article 17(2) and (3) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33

(2020/C 42/04)

This communication is published in accordance with Article 17(5) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (1).

COMMUNICATION OF APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

‘Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire’

PDO-FR-A0495-AM01

Date of communication: 8.11.2019

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Geographical area

Following a revision of the geographical area for the ‘Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire’ designation,

two municipalities (La Boissière-du-Doré, La Remaudière) and part of one municipality (Le Loroux-Bottereau) have been included, all of which belong to the geographical area for the ‘Muscadet’ regional designation,

and two municipalities (Mésanger, Varades) and part of one municipality (Ligné) have been removed, with a view to limiting the designation to vineyards having maintained quality winegrowing.

Moreover, some editorial changes have been made: the new list of administrative entities takes into account mergers of, or other changes to, administrative divisions since the specification was approved. For greater legal certainty, the list follows the current version of the Official Geographic Code, updated annually by INSEE (the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies).

The Single Document has been amended accordingly with respect to the geographical area and the link with the geographical area.

2. Demarcated parcel area

In Section IV(2) of Chapter I of the product specification, the words ‘and 20 June 2018’ have been added after ‘19 May 2011’.

The purpose of this amendment is to add the date on which the competent national authority approved a modification of the demarcated parcel area within the geographical area of production. The demarcated parcel area is the land within the geographical area that is suitable for growing the material for this protected designation of origin.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

3. Area in immediate proximity

The area in immediate proximity has been updated following the merger of certain municipalities. The overall winemaking area for the designation has not changed.

The Single Document has been amended accordingly with respect to further conditions.

4. Growing methods

In Chapter I, point IX(1), the words ‘They remain on their fine winemaking lees at the time of packing or when first dispatched from the winery’ are added.

Keeping wines on their fine winemaking lees makes it possible to give the products their typical roundness. This makes it possible to assert and strengthen the segmentation of the different Muscadet designations.

Point 9 of the Single Document, on winemaking practices, has been amended accordingly.

5. Heat treatment

The ban on subjecting the wine to heat treatment at temperatures of more than 40 °C has been removed. This amendment is intended to allow the operators to use all the technical means available to manage the effects of difficult years that typically cause sensory alterations such as an earthy-musty taste. The technique of heating the must, known as ‘thermovinification’, has proved to be much less damaging in terms of producing wines lacking in structure and body than using mesoporous oenological carbon.

The Single Document has been amended accordingly with respect to winemaking practices.

6. Packaging

The end of the packaging period for wines bearing the indication ‘sur lie’ (aged on the lees) has been extended from 30 November to 31 December. The amendment makes it possible to extend the bottling period for such wines by a month to optimise the marketing period of this category without changing the roundness and slight effervescence associated with that indication.

The Single Document has been amended accordingly with respect to further conditions.

7. Circulation of wines

Point 5(b) of Section IX of Chapter I, on the date of entry into circulation of the wines between authorised warehouses, has been deleted.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

8. Link

The link has been modified to take into account the change in the number of municipalities and to update the last paragraph of point 1 on the number of producers and the volume produced.

The Single Document has been amended accordingly with respect to the link with the geographical area.

9. Labelling

The following point has been added to Section XI: ‘(c) Wines with the protected designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that:

— it is a registered place name,

— it appears on the harvest declaration.

The place name must be printed in letters no larger (in height, width and thickness) than half the size of the letters forming the name of the protected designation of origin. It shall appear in the same visual field as the name of the protected designation of origin.’

The Single Document has been amended accordingly with respect to further conditions.

10. Reporting requirements

The deadline for submitting a claim statement has changed from 15 to 31 December.

The prior declaration of transaction has been changed into a prior declaration of dispatch.

The declaration prior to market preparation is made per batch.

The Single Document is not affected by these amendments.

11. Withdrawal

The details of the withdrawal declaration have been specified.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

12. Records

Editorial changes have been made as regards record keeping.

— In Section II(2) of Chapter II:

— point (b), the words ‘until the date of submitting their claim statement’ and ‘the acidity of the must’ have been deleted,

— point (c), the word ‘book’ has been replaced by ‘records’,

— point (d), the word ‘book’ has been replaced by ‘records’ and the words ‘or marketing wines of the protected designation of origin unbottled’ have been deleted.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

13. Main points to be checked

Chapter III has been updated to harmonise the drafting of the main points to be checked in specifications from the Nantes area.

The Single Document is not affected by this amendment.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name of the product

Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire

2. Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine product

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

The wines are still, dry white wines.

The wines have:

— a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 10 %,

— a maximum fermentable sugar content (glucose and fructose) of 3 grams per litre,

— a maximum volatile acid content of 10 milliequivalents per litre,

— a maximum total alcoholic strength by volume, after enrichment, of 12 %.

The wines comply with the limits on total acidity content, total sulphur dioxide content and total actual alcoholic strength laid down in EU legislation. The wines are still, dry white wines.

They have delicate aromas, often with a floral bouquet, sometimes with mineral notes, as well as an overall freshness of taste.

In some cases, prolonged maturation makes them suitable for ageing.

They are packed carefully in bottles to preserve and strengthen their aromatic richness.

General analytical characteristics Maximum total alcoholic strength (in % volume) Minimum actual alcoholic strength (in % volume) Minimum total acidity Maximum volatile acidity (in milliequivalents per litre) Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)

5. Wine-making practices

a. Essential oenological practices

Growing method

The minimum planting density of the vines is 6 500 plants per hectare.6 500 plants per hectare.

The distance between the rows is 1,5 metres or less, and the spacing between plants in the same row is between 0,9 and 1,1 metres.

The vines are pruned with a maximum of 12 buds per plant:

— either by means of short pruning with a maximum of 5 spurs per plant,

— or by means of simple or double Guyot.

Pruning is carried out before the budding stage or stage 5 on the Eichhorn et Lorenz scale.

Regardless of the pruning method, the vines can be pruned with four additional buds per plant on condition that, at the phenological stage corresponding to 11 or 12 leaves, there are no more than 12 fruit-bearing branches for the year per plant.

Specific oenological practice

Any heat treatment of the harvest at a temperature below – 5 °C is prohibited.

After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume does not exceed 12 %.

In addition to the above provisions, the oenological practices concerning these wines meet the requirements laid down at EU level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.

b. Maximum yields

66 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

All stages of the production must take place within the geographical area approved by the National Institute of Origin and Quality at the meeting of the competent national committee on 15 June 2017. The perimeter of this area, on the date of approval of this specification by the competent national committee, comprises the territory of the following municipalities, based on the 2018 Official Geographic Code:

— Department of Loire-Atlantique: Ancenis, La Boissière-du-Doré, Carquefou, Le Cellier, Couffé, Divatte-sur-Loire (delegated municipality of Barbechat only), Ligné (partly), Le Loroux-Bottereau (partly), Mauves-sur-Loire, Oudon, La Remaudière, Saint-Géréon, Thouaré-sur-Loire, Vair-sur-Loire.

— Department of Maine-et-Loire: Mauges-sur-Loire (delegated municipalities of La Chapelle-Saint-Florent and Saint-Florent-le-Vieil only), Orée d’Anjou (delegated municipalities of Bouzillé, Champtoceaux, Drain, Landemont, Liré and La Varenne only).

7. Main grape varieties

Melon B

8. Description of the link(s)

Description of the natural factors relevant to the link

The vineyards of the ‘Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire’ protected designation of origin are essentially located on the slopes of the river Loire itself, or sometimes at a slight distance from the river on the slopes of its tributaries, the main ones being the Divatte, the Evre and the Erdre. The geographical area is characterised by uneven relief, with slope gradients ranging from 5 % to 10 %. It is located to the east of the city of Nantes, and is the most eastern part of the broader geographical area of the ‘Muscadet’ protected designation of origin. It covers part of the departments of Loire-Atlantique and Maine-et-Loire. The vineyard parcels stand out clearly in the landscape, in contrast to the high-lying wooded pastures dedicated to livestock farming.

The geographical area has a particularly mild and temperate oceanic climate. The temperature range is reduced by the fact that the Loire plays a regulatory role and contributes to the spread of maritime influence to the inland area. The penetration of ocean breezes is facilitated by the south-western/north-eastern orientation of the river, which coincides with the prevailing wind direction. For the same reasons, rainfall is significantly lower on the banks of the Loire than on the plateaus situated a few kilometres away. As a result, there is a lot of summer sunshine for this latitude, minimising the influence of the northern or southern exposure of winegrowing hillsides. In the autumn, the high equinox tides sometimes bring heavy rainfall.

The subsoil of the geographical area is principally composed of metamorphic rocks, mainly mica schists, with more gneiss in the west and schists to the east. These rocks, which are most often degraded or little altered, lead to particularly superficial brown soils containing a large proportion of coarse elements, sand or pebbles. Naturally well drained, these soils warm rapidly in spring. The parcel area where the grapes are harvested consists of well-defined slopes in open landscapes mainly or traditionally planted with vines. The parcels have healthy, aerated, shallow soils with a limited water-holding capacity and moderate fertility.

Description of the human factors relevant to the geographical link

The vineyard area of the protected designation of origin has inherited an ancient winegrowing tradition. Present in Nantes from the first centuries AD, vine growing spread to the surrounding area in the Middle Ages, following the course of the Loire and its tributaries. The cartularies of the region’s abbeys refer to these developments in the 11th and 12th centuries on the hillsides of Varades, Oudon, Ancenis and Saint-Florent-le-Vieil. However, it was only in the 16th century that a real commercial vineyard was built, in order to satisfy the demand of Dutch traders established in Nantes. At that time, the Melon B variety became definitively established in the region, where it has been known as ‘Muscadet’ since the mid-17th century. The port of Ancenis has long been very active in transporting wines from the geographical area to Nantes. Even since its union with the Kingdom of France, Brittany has retained tax rules which promote the development of winegrowing. Harvested downstream of the tariff barrier, the less-taxed wines of the geographical area are easier to sell than those from upstream.

With a vine variety based on Melon B, for white wines the geographical area is clearly distinguished from vineyards further to the east, which focus more on the Chenin B variety. After the phylloxera crisis, the vineyard area was renewed by adapting new techniques such as planting in rows and the Guyot pruning method. Since then, production know-how has been well codified with winegrowers maintaining a high planting density, checking the vines’ growth and limiting their yield, and harvesting the grapes once fully ripened.

To produce richer and more complex wines, the operators adopted a particular technical winemaking procedure known as the Nantes method, which consists in keeping the wines on their fine winemaking lees for at least one winter without any racking. This know-how emerged from the winegrowers’ habit of keeping a barrel of their best wine on the lees to celebrate family events the following spring. It is an ageing method that makes for round and unctuous wines, as they are enriched, in particular, with mannoproteins and other compounds resulting from the autolysis of yeast cell walls. Moreover, this method, based on letting the wines rest and keeping them in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, which strongly limits oxidation and the release of volatile compounds, allows the wines to preserve the aromas formed during the alcoholic fermentation until the spring and beyond.

During ageing, the wines are also enriched with tertiary aromas. The grapes, musts and wines produced by the Melon B variety contain a significant concentration of precursors of glycosidic aromas. These molecules, formed from aglycones related to sugars, are normally odourless, but the breaking of the β-glucosidic linkages by various chemical and enzymatic processes generates strongly odorous compounds, mainly of monoterpenes and C13-norisoprenoids, with the formation of mainly β-damascone, a substance known for its role as a supplier of fruity aromas of wines. The operators have acquired special expertise in protecting the wines from oxidation in the vat and bottling them with care, so that these fragrances can continue to be released as long as possible, making for more complex wines.

Seeking to fix these production conditions to preserve the authenticity of their wines, in 1936 producers in the geographical area obtained recognition of the ‘Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire’ protected designation of origin. Rules concerning the traditional indication ‘sur lie’ were laid down in 1977. Since 1994, these have led to the practice of bottling of wine during the year following that of the harvest directly in the winery so as to keep any racking and decanting to a minimum. In 2016, the area covered by the protected designation of origin comprises around 170 hectares, with some 80 producers and a cooperative structure based in Ancenis. The volume placed on the market each year is approximately 7 000 hectolitres and is mainly marked 7 000 hectolitres and is mainly marked 7 000 hectolitres and is mainly marked ‘sur lie’. The wines with the ‘Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire’ protected designation of origin are white, dry and still. They have delicate aromas, often with a floral bouquet, sometimes with mineral notes, as well as an overall freshness of taste. Prolonged maturation can give them greater richness in the mouth and make them suitable for ageing. They are bottled carefully to preserve and amplify the expression of their aromatic richness.

Wines qualifying for the designation ‘sue lie’ have a balanced taste that tends to be rounder with more complex aromas, and may be slightly effervescent due to residual carbon dioxide formed during alcoholic fermentation. They are protected from oxidation during ageing to preserve their freshness, rich aromas and naturally occurring carbon dioxide. Their carbon dioxide content being too high for them to be packed in flexible containers, the wines are bottled and particular care is required during bottling. The geographical area, under the influence of the Loire, has a mild, relatively dry, and sunny climate. It is hilly, with slopes adjoining the river, and features often coarse and shallow soils developed mainly on metamorphic rocks. The fracturing of the metamorphic rocks which form the geological base and the coarse texture of the soil allow the vines to develop deep roots, providing the plants with a water supply which is gradually reduced and promotes the maturity of Melon B grapes. The mild winter ensures an early start to the vines’ growth cycle, which generally allows harvesting of the grapes before the autumn rains. The moderate summer temperatures also help to preserve the freshness and aromas present in this delicate white grape variety. The ocean breezes that travel up the Loire reduce the humidity of the air and make it possible to harvest the grapes while in good condition, which contributes, in part, to the fineness of the wines’ aromas, particularly in the floral or mineral ranges.

The long winegrowing history of the geographical area and its early specialisation have long favoured the sharing of know-how and practices between producers. Seeking to protect the authenticity of their products, they obtained recognition of the ‘Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire’ protected designation of origin in 1936, making it one of the oldest protected designations of origin in France.

Their know-how enables operators to control production and harvest healthy grapes at full maturity. Made in line with local custom, the wines are aged on their fine winemaking lees until packaging, without any racking. The geographical area’s mild winter temperatures, which favour interaction with the lees, allow the wines to continue to improve during ageing, growing richer on the palate from the very next spring. Careful bottling makes it possible to preserve the wine’s essential characteristics, as some aromas continue to develop after packaging. This know-how, perfectly suited to the potential of the natural environment and the Melon B variety, allow the odorous molecules formed in fermentation and the precursors of glycosidic aromas to be fully expressed in the wines.

Bottled the year after the harvest, AOC wines marked ‘sur lie’ keep their characteristic freshness supported by a light effervescence due to the residual carbon dioxide formed during the wine-making process. To avoid any oxidation the wines are bottled directly in the winery. This traditional practice, which minimises handling, is perfectly suited to preserving the delicate aroma compounds of the wines.

The ubiquitous presence of the Loire, the location of the geographical area at mid-distance between the cities of Nantes and Angers, and the dynamism of the port of Ancenis, have led to the historic development of a commercial winegrowing area and contributed to its success. Thanks to their freshness and fine aromas, the wines have gained a wide customer base, and are a staple at the many restaurants located on the banks of the Loire. They work wonders with seafood, and even more so with fish ‘au beurre blanc’, a local recipe dating back to the 19th century.

9. Essential further conditions (packaging, labelling, other requirements)

Area in immediate proximity

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Derogation concerning production in the identified geographical area

Description of the condition:

The area in immediate proximity, defined by derogation for making, processing and ageing the wines, and for making, processing, ageing and packaging wines eligible for the indication ‘sur lie’, comprises the territory of the following municipalities or part-municipalities on the basis of the 2018 Official Geographic Code:

— Department of Loire-Atlantique: Aigrefeuille-sur-Maine, Basse-Goulaine, La Bernerie-en-Retz, Le Bignon, Bouaye, Bouguenais, Boussay, Brains, La Chapelle-Heulin, Château-Thébaud, Chaumes-en-Retz, Chauvé, Cheix-en-Retz, La Chevrolière, Clisson, Corcoué-sur-Logne, Divatte-sur-Loire (delegated municipality of La Chapelle-Basse-Mer only), Frossay, Geneston, Gétigné, Gorges, La Haie-Fouassière, Haute-Goulaine, Le Landreau, Legé, Ligné (partly), La Limouzinière, Loireauxence (delegated municipalities of La Chapelle-Saint-Sauveur and Varades only), Le Loroux-Bottereau (partly), Machecoul-Saint-Même, Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, La Marne, Mésanger, Monnières, Montbert, Montrelais, Les Moutiers-en-Retz, Mouzillon, Le Pallet, Paulx, Le Pellerin, La Planche, Pont-Saint-Martin, Pornic, Port-Saint-Père, La Regrippière, Remouillé, Rezé, Rouans, Saint-Aignan-Grandlieu, Saint-Colomban, Sainte-Pazanne, Saint-Étienne-de-Mer-Morte, Saint-Fiacre-sur-Maine, Saint-Hilaire-de-Chaléons, Saint-Hilaire-de-Clisson, Saint-Julien-de-Concelles, Saint-Léger-les-Vignes, Saint-Lumine-de-Clisson, Saint-Lumine-de-Coutais, Saint-Mars-de-Coutais, Saint-Père-en-Retz, Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu, Saint-Viaud, Les Sorinières, Touvois, Vallet, Vertou, Vieillevigne, Villeneuve-en-Retz, Vue.

— Department of Maine-et-Loire: Beaupréau-en-Mauges (delegated municipalities of Beaupréau and Gesté only), Ingrandes-Le Fresne sur Loire (delegated municipality of Fresne-sur-Loire only), Mauges-sur-Loire (delegated municipality of Marillais only), Montrevault-sur-Èvre (delegated municipalities of La Boissière-sur-Evre, La Chaussaire, Le Fief Sauvin, Le Fuilet, Montrevault, Le Puiset-Doré, Saint-Pierre-Montlimart and Saint-Rémy-en-Mauges only), Orée d’Anjou (delegated municipalities of Saint-Christophe-la-Couperie, Saint-Laurent-des-Autels and Saint-Sauveur-de-Landemont only), Sèvremoine (delegated municipalities of Montfaucon-Montigné, Saint-Germain-sur-Moine and Tillières only).

— Department of Vendée: Cugand, Montaigu, Rocheservière, Saint-Étienne-du-Bois, Saint-Hilaire-de-Loulay, Saint-Philbert-de-Bouaine.

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

The name of the protected designation of origin may be followed by the indication ‘sur lie’ in accordance with the rules laid down in the product specification for the use of this indication.

The name of the protected designation of origin may be followed by the geographical name ‘Val de Loire’, in accordance with the rules laid down in the product specification.

The size of the letters of the indication ‘sur lie’ and of the geographical name ‘Val de Loire’ must be equal to or smaller, in height, width and thickness, than the letters forming the name of the protected designation of origin.

Wines bearing the indication ‘sur lie’ must also state the vintage.

Wines with the protected designation of origin may specify a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that:

— it is a registered place name,

— it appears on the harvest declaration.

The place name must be printed in letters no larger (in height, width and thickness) than half the size of the letters forming the name of the protected designation of origin. It appears in the same visual field as the name of the protected designation of origin.

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Packaging in the demarcated area

Description of the condition:

The wines eligible for the indication ‘sur lie’ must be bottled within the demarcated area.

They are bottled at the winery, so as to keep decanting to a minimum, between 1 March and 31 December of the year following the harvest to preserve the qualities obtained using specific winemaking and ageing methods, in particular their freshness and complex aromas, some of which develop after bottling, and a slight effervescence due to their naturally occurring carbon dioxide content.

It is an ageing method that makes for round and unctuous wines, as they are enriched, in particular, with mannoproteins and other compounds resulting from the autolysis of yeast cell walls. This method is based on letting the wines rest and keeping them in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, which strongly limits oxidation and the release of volatile compounds.

Their carbon dioxide content being too high for them to be packed in flexible containers, the wines are bottled and particular care is required during bottling.

The wines remain on their fine winemaking lees at the time of packing or when first dispatched from the winery.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-6463bdfa-2237-4a2c-b1b0-13cf749cfc0b

(1) OJ L 9, 11.1.2019, p. 2.