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

(2022/C 458/11)

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

COMMUNICATING THE APPROVAL OF A STANDARD AMENDMENT

‘Malepère’

PDO-FR-A0196-AM01

Date of communication: 28.9.2022

DESCRIPTION OF AND REASONS FOR THE APPROVED AMENDMENT

1. Geographical area and area in immediate proximity

In Chapter I of the specification, points (1) ‘Geographical area’ and (3) ‘Area in immediate proximity’ of Section IV ‘Areas and places in which the various operations are conducted’ have been amended with a reference to the Code géographique officiel (Official Geographical Code), which recognises and establishes the list of municipalities by department at national level. This editorial amendment allows the geographical area to be identified with reference to the version of the Official Geographical Code in force on 1 January 2022, which is updated by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), and gives the definition of the geographical area legal certainty.

This reference has been added to the single document under the points ‘Geographical area’ and ‘Additional conditions – area in immediate proximity’.

2. Demarcated parcel area

The specification for the designation ‘Malepère’ has been amended in Chapter I, Section IV ‘Areas and places in which the various operations are conducted’, point (2) ‘Demarcated parcel area’, in order to add dates of approval by the national authority for parcels suitable for producing grapes of the designation.

This addition does not affect the single document.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

1. Name(s)

‘Malepère’

2. Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected Designation of Origin

3. Categories of grapevine products

1. Wine

4. Description of the wine(s)

1. Organoleptic description of the wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

The wines are still, dry red and rosé wines.

The red wine is a dry wine in which the Merlot N variety, an early-budding grape variety which achieves phenolic ripeness and optimum sugar content, is the main grape variety. It is characterised by a generally rather strong ruby colour and often has aromas of small red fruit which may evolve into aromas reminiscent of black fruit, sometimes with notes of truffle, spices and leather. They are generous, bold and full-bodied on the palate, with a touch of liveliness and a beautiful structure.

The rosé wine is a dry wine in which the Cabernet Franc N variety, with its longer growing cycle and resistance to grey rot, dominates, supplemented by the Cabernet-Sauvignon N, Cot N, Cinsaut N, Grenache N and Lledoner pelut N varieties. It usually has a pale and bright colour. On the nose, it develops intense fruity notes, often of white fruit. The sensation in the mouth is fresh and complex, with an intense finish.

2. Analytical characteristics

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

The red and rosé wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12 %.

During packaging and when placed on the consumer market, the red wines have a malic acid content not exceeding 0,4 grams per litre.

At the time of packaging and placing on the market for the consumer, red wines with a natural alcoholic strength by volume of not more than 14 % have a fermentable sugar (glucose + fructose) content not exceeding 3 grams per litre, whereas red wines with an alcoholic strength by volume of more than 14 % have a fermentable sugar (glucose + fructose) content not exceeding 4 grams per litre. The rosé wines have a fermentable sugar (glucose + fructose) content not exceeding 4 grams per litre.

The total acidity, volatile acidity and sulphur dioxide contents and the total alcoholic strength are those laid down in EU legislation.

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

1. Cultivation method

— The minimum planting density of the vines is 4 000 plants per hectare. The spacing between the rows must not exceed 2,50 metres and the spacing between plants in the same row must be at least 0,90 metres.

The area available for each plant must not exceed 2,5 m2. This area is obtained by multiplying the distances between rows and the space between plants in the same row.

— Pruning takes place before 30 April.

— For gobelet-training: short pruning of vines, with a maximum of 12 buds per plant. Each spur has a maximum of 2 buds.

— For cordon de Royat training: short pruning of the vines, with a maximum of 10 buds per plant, each spur carrying a maximum of 2 buds.

— Single Guyot pruning may be used for the Cot and Merlot varieties, with a maximum of 10 buds per plant, including no more than 6 on the cane, and no more than 2 spurs with a maximum of 2 buds each.

— Single Guyot pruning may be used for the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet-Sauvignon varieties, with a maximum of 12 buds per plant, including no more than 8 on the cane, and no more than 2 spurs with a maximum of 2 buds each.

— For simple Guyot pruning, the number of buds on the cane may be more than 6 or 8 by that date, provided that on 31 May the vines are pruned in accordance with the above provisions. Irrigation may be authorised.

2. Specific oenological practice

The use of oenological charcoal to make rosé wines, either alone or mixed in preparations, is prohibited.

Besides the above provisions, the oenological practices adopted for the wines must comply with the obligations laid down by EU legislation and by the Rural and Fisheries Code.

5.2. Maximum yields

1. 60 hectolitres per hectare

6. Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made, processed and aged on the territory of the following municipalities of the department of Aude:

Alaigne, Alairac, Arzens, Bellegarde-du-Razès, Belvèze-du-Razès, Brézilhac, Brugairolles, Cailhau, Cailhavel, Cambieure, Carcassonne, La Cassaigne, Caux-et-Sauzens, Couffoulens, La Courtète, Donazac, Fanjeaux, Fenouillet-du-Razès, Ferran, La Force, Gramazie, Hounoux, Lasserre-de-Prouille, Laurac, Lauraguel, Lavalette, Malviès, Mazerolles-du-Razès, Montclar, Montgradail, Montréal, Preixan, Roullens, Routier, Saint-Martin-de-Villereglan, Villarzel-du-Razès, Villeneuve-lès-Montréal, Villesèquelande and Villesiscle.

7. Wine grape variety(-ies)

Cabernet Franc N

Cabernet Sauvignon N

Cinsaut N – Cinsault

Cot N – Malbec

Grenache N

Lledoner pelut N

Merlot N

8. Description of the link(s)

8.1. Description of the natural and human factors relevant to the link

Description of the natural factors relevant to the link

The geographical area is bordered:

— to the south by the geographical area of the controlled designation of origin ‘Limoux’;

— to the east by the Aude river, which separates the Malepère massif from the Corbières massif;

— to the north by the Lauragais valley, extended by the Fresquel plain and bordered to the south by the Canal du Midi;

— to the west by the limestone cuesta of Fanjeaux, which demarcates the separation between the oceanic catchment area and the Mediterranean catchment area.

With its topography dating from the formation of the Pyrenees, the Malepère massif, although seemingly compact, is, in its softest parts, cut through from the top by sometimes deep, canyon-like valleys.

All around the massif, puddingstone or sandstone lenses have resisted erosion, forming mamelons known as ‘Pech’, spread out in garlands as part of a varied landscape characterised by its smooth and harmonious forms.

At the bottom of the slope, the clay-limestone hillsides meet the sandy-loamy-gravelly alluvial plains of the Aude (to the east), the Sou (to the south-west) and the Fresquel (to the north).

Wood and coppice dominate in the centre of the massif, on steep slopes and not very fertile soils, while the vineyards, which are limited to an altitude of 350 metres when facing south and 300 metres when facing north, are located around the edge, occupying hillsides and terraces.

The geographical area is thus confined to the territory of 39 municipalities in the west of the department of Aude, grouped around the Malepère massif, the top of which (Pech de Mont-Naut) is located at an altitude of 442 metres.

The most characteristic soils are made from molasse. Depending on their horizons and composition, these soils are of a varied nature, ranging from hard but brittle sandstony limestone to soft clay.

Puddingstone and sandstone create light soils that are easily penetrated by roots. Clays, in combination with sandy to gravelly elements, have the best possible water-holding capacity. In a sub-Mediterranean climate, this ensures a continuous water supply. The vineyards are also located on alluvial terraces, with well-drained clayey-gravelly or stony soils.

The geographical area is situated in an original transitional climate zone, between Mediterranean and oceanic influences. From east to west, a pronounced Mediterranean climate illustrated by summer droughts gives way to a Mediterranean climate mitigated by oceanic influences, resulting in a smaller summer rainfall deficit.

Under a range of diverse mesoclimates, natural vegetation combines elements of Mediterranean vegetation (green oak) with elements of sub-Mediterranean vegetation (downy oak).

Description of the human factors relevant to the link

The vineyards of the controlled designation of origin ‘Malepère’ are the most westerly vineyards of the Languedoc. Their presence dates back to Roman times. In 1072, the Count of Barcelona, overlord of Razès, came to Malviès to settle a ‘delicate’ matter of vine-sharing. Later, the construction of the Canal du Midi in the 17th century encouraged the circulation of wines between Aquitaine and the Mediterranean.

At the end of the 19th century, the vineyards were heavily affected by phylloxera, and they subsequently turned to the production of blended wines. In the 1960s, at the instigation of producers, technicians and researchers from the University of Toulouse, they embarked on a conversion of the vineyards.

Inspired by the natural vegetation, this human community has identified the best match between location and grape varieties to produce authentic wines.

A suitability gradient is formed between the light soils of the most Mediterranean parts to the east (Carcassès) and the lower slope soils resting on thick colluvial layers (Razès), which explains the diversity of the varieties chosen.

The moist and thick mid-slope substrates are used for the ‘Atlantic’ Cabernet Franc N, Cabernet-Sauvignon N and Merlot N varieties, while the Mediterranean varieties, Grenache N, Lledoner pelut N and Cinsaut N. are planted on the dry plots on high slopes.

The Cot N variety is grown in intermediate areas that are neither too dry nor too infertile.

This community has thus preserved its history, built up its know-how and enhanced the reputation and quality of the wines, which were granted ‘Malepère’ registered designation of origin by the Decree of 4 May 2007, having previously been granted designation of origin as ‘vin délimité de qualité supérieure’ in 1976.

For the 2009 harvest, the production of registered designation of origin ‘Malepère’ wines amounted to 12 000 hectolitres, of which 65 % were red wines and 35 % were rosé wines, declared by 73 producers, grouped together in 4 cooperative cellars, and 14 estates.

8.2. Causal interactions

In this particular geographical location, characterised by a Mediterranean climate but with a more oceanic water regime, where hot days alternate with cool nights, producers have been able to showcase all their know-how, helped by the many different substrates and exposures.

Thus, in this specific ecological environment, they have combined Atlantic and Mediterranean varieties and found the best possible growing conditions, resulting in the complex and original ‘Malepère’ wines.

In order to properly reflect the distinct features of the geographical environment, the parcels are selected and demarcated for the grape harvest. This demarcation allows for the vines to be managed most effectively. Vine vigour and potential production are controlled by the practice of maintaining low yields by applying strict pruning rules.

The reputation of ‘Malepère’ wines was already mentioned in the 14th century in the Green Paper of the Archbishopric of Narbonne, which listed the properties, vines and rights of the archbishops and referred to the cellars of Alaigne and Routier, whose wines were reserved for the bishops and the court.

‘Malepère’ wines were first noticed at the 1897 ‘concours général agricole’ (general agricultural fair), in the form of wines from Château de Caux, which would subsequently go on to win numerous awards.

Thus, although in the Occitan language ‘Male Peyre’ means ‘bad building stone’, the human community has over time preserved and shaped a landscape in which vines, fields and oak woods mix, a landscape brilliantly recreated by the pointillist painter Achille Lauge.

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 vinification, development and ageing of the wines, comprises the territory of the following municipalities of the department of Aude, based on the Official Geographic Code in force on 1 January 2022:

Alzonne, Berriac, Bram, Cavanac, Cazilhac, Cépie, Escueillens-et-Saint-Just-de-Bélengard, Gaja-et-Villedieu, Laurabuc, Leuc, Limoux, Loupia, Monthaut, Montirat, Palaja, Pauligne, Pennautier, Pezens, Pieusse, Pomas, Rouffiac-d’Aude, Sainte-Eulalie, Trèbes, Verzeille, Villasavary, Villedubert, Villemoustaussou and Villelongue-d’Aude.

Link to the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-eb1bbdaf-dcfa-4d39-a45e-83206261b02f

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