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

(2021/C 266/12)

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

COMMUNICATION OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT MODIFYING THE SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Côtes du Marmandais’

PDO-FR-A0683-AM02

Date of communication: 7 May 2021

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Reference to the Official Geographic Code

In the product specification, a reference to the Official Geographic Code (code officiel géographique) has been added with respect to the list of municipalities making up the geographical area and the area of immediate proximity.

In the single document points 6 and 9 have been amended.

2. Agri-environmental provisions

The following agri-environmental provisions have been added:

Permanent grass cover is required along parcel boundaries (headlands and areas between parcels not planted or cultivated). This requirement does not apply to headlands being restored, in particular following erosion or exceptional climatic events.

Chemical weed control of headlands is prohibited.

Full chemical weed control on parcels is prohibited.

The farmer must take care to adjust the dose of plant protection product applied per hectare according to disease pressure, the phenological stage and the total planted area to be protected.

These amendments are intended to take better account of the environment and of general demands for less use of plant protection products.

There are no amendments to the single document in this respect.

3. Amended yield for rosé wines

Yield and upper yield limit for rosé wines

The yield increases from 55 to 60 hl/ha and the upper yield limit from 66 to 70 hl/ha. This has been requested to be able to meet market demand, as the consumption of rosé wines is increasing on both the French and the international market.

Point 5 of the single document has been amended.

4. Oenological practices

The description of the blending of varieties has been made clearer by adding the following: ‘The red wines are made by blending grapes or wines from at least two varieties, at least one of which must be a main variety.’

The ban on using oenological charcoal in the production of rosé wines has been abolished to allow winemakers to correct any blends contaminated by cryptogamic diseases.

Point 5 of the single document has been amended.

5. Link with origin

In the paragraph on the link with the geographical origin the sentence: ‘The reds and rosés are dry wines, always produced by blending at least two grape varieties’ is deleted because the rosés can also be made from a single variety.

In addition the number of municipalities has been updated.

The single document is not affected by this amendment.

6. Reference to the inspection body

The reference to the inspection body has been reworded to align it with the wording of other product specifications. It is a purely formal amendment which does not lead to any changes to the single document.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name(s)

Côtes du Marmandais

2. Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected designation of origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

Still red and rosé wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

Still dry red wines (produced by blending at least two grape varieties) and rosé wines The originality of the vine varieties is derived, in particular, from the presence of the Abouriou N variety, native of Marmandais. The red wines have a purple robe and aromas reminiscent of red fruit, developing a spicy, fine and delicate bouquet as they age. On the palate they are generous, balanced, round and fleshy, with elegant, distinct tannins that make them pleasantly harmonious. The rosé wines are brilliant, fine and light, with aromas predominantly of raspberry and English toffee.

Maximum malic acid content (red wine): 0,4 g/l; fermentable sugar content: ≤ 4 g/l; minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume: 10 %.

Total alcoholic strength by volume after enrichment: max. 13 %.

GENERAL ANALYTICAL CHARACTERISTICS

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)

Still white wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

Still dry white wines

Made mainly from the Sauvignon B variety, the dry white wines are generally round, lively and light with a long finish. Their aromas, reminiscent mainly of exotic fruits and white flowers, combine harmoniously with a lively and balanced mouthfeel.

Fermentable sugar content: ≤ 4 g/l. The wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume after enrichment must not exceed 13 %.

Minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume: 10 %.

GENERAL ANALYTICAL CHARACTERISTICS

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

5.1. Specific oenological practices

Cultivation method

The minimum vine planting density is 4 000 plants per hectare. The spacing between the vine rows must not exceed 2,50 m. The area available for each plant is up to 2,50 m2. This surface area is obtained by multiplying the spacing between the rows by the spacing between the plants.

The vines are pruned using the following techniques: ‘Guyot’ pruning, short pruning (‘Cordon de Royat’) or spur pruning.

After debudding, each plant has a maximum of 15 buds.

Irrigation may be authorised.

Specific oenological practice

For musts, oenological charcoal may be used up to a limit of 20 % of the volume of rosé wine produced by the winemaker concerned for the harvest in question. After enrichment, the wines’ total alcoholic strength by volume must not exceed 13 %. The wine-making practices used must comply with EU rules and the Rural Code as well as the above provisions.

5.2. Maximum yields

Red wines

66 hectolitres per hectare

White wines

72 hectolitres per hectare

Rosé wines

70 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made and developed in the following municipalities of the department of Lot-et-Garonne (based on the Official Geographic Code in force on 26 February 2020): Beaupuy, Bouglon, Cambes, Caubon-Saint-Sauveur, Castelnau-sur-Gupie, Cocumont, Escassefort, Guérin, Lachapelle, Lagupie, Lévignac-de-Guyenne, Marcellus, Marmande, Mauvezin-sur-Gupie, Meilhan-sur-Garonne, Monteton, Montpouillan, Peyrière, Romestaing, Saint-Avit, Saint-Géraud, Saint-Martin-Petit, Saint-Sauveur-de-Meilhan, Sainte-Bazeille, Samazan, Seyches and Virazeil.

7. Main wine grape variety(-ies)

Abouriou B

Cabernet Franc N

Cabernet Sauvignon N

Cot N – Malbec

Fer N – Fer Servadou, Braucol, Mansois, Pinenc

Gamay N

Merlot N

Sauvignon B – Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Gris G – Fié Gris

Syrah N – Shiraz

8. Description of the link(s)

Hillsides with well-drained and sunny slopes, extending from Entre-Deux-Mers in the north to the Landaise forest in the south, were carved out by the Garonne. The gravelly soils on the left river bank and the more clayey soils on the right river bank are suitable for growing grape varieties native to south-western France, as well as Abouriou N, a local early variety. The climate is hot and dry in autumn, allowing the grapes to reach optimum ripeness. The white wines are lively, and round with a long finish when aged on lees. The rosés are fine and light with notes of raspberry and English toffee. The reds are round and fleshy, with aromas of red fruit evolving towards spicy in blends of the Cot N and Syrah N varieties.

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

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 and development of the wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities of the department of Gironde (based on the Official Geographic Code in force on 26 February 2020): Grignols and Saint-Michel-de-Lapujade.

Legal framework:

National legislation

Type of further condition:

Additional provisions relating to labelling

Description of the condition:

Wines with the ‘Côtes du Marmandais’ protected designation of origin may specify the broader geographical unit ‘Sud-Ouest’ [‘South-West’] on their labels. This broader geographical unit may also feature on any leaflets or containers. The size of the letters for the broader geographical unit must not be larger, in either height or width, than the size of the letters forming the name of the protected designation of origin.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-666a8621-10ce-4487-88a4-76522ce0805e

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