Publication of the single document referred to in Article 94(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and of the reference to the publication of the product specification for a name in the wine sector 2023/C 53/06
Date: 2023-02-13
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: France, Occitanie, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, product designation, quality control of agricultural products, red wine, rosé wine








C_2023053EN.01002201.xml










13.2.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 53/22






Publication of the single document referred to in Article 94(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and of the reference to the publication of the product specification for a name in the wine sector
(2023/C 53/06)
This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 98 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within 2 months of the date of this publication.
SINGLE DOCUMENT
‘Pic Saint-Loup’

PDO-FR-02354


Date of submission of the application: 9.3.2017

1.   Name(s) to be registered

Pic Saint-Loup
2.   Member State

France
3.   Geographical indication type

PDO – Protected designation of origin
4.   Categories of grapevine product







1.


Wine




5.   Description of the wine(s)

1.   ‘Pic Saint-Loup’ PDO wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The wines are dry, still, and red or rosé in colour.
When harvested, the grapes have a sugar content of at least 202 grams per litre of must.
The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12 %.






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)


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 




2.   Red ‘Pic Saint-Loup’ PDO wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The red wines are characterised by their garnet robe and aromas of red fruit and liquorice, which dominate both the nose and the palate. In the mouth, they are elegant, balanced and fresh. Their robust structure is comprised of delicate tannins. These wines have a certain ageing potential. As they age, their aromas develop delicate notes of red fruit, mixed with spices.
The red wines are made by blending at least two grape varieties, including one main variety.
The proportion of Syrah N in the blend is at least 50 %.
The proportion of secondary varieties in the blend is not more than 10 %.
When the wines are ready to be marketed in bulk or packaged, they have a fermentable sugar content not exceeding:






—


3 g/l in the case of red wines with a natural alcoholic strength by volume less than or equal to 14 %;










—


4 g/l in the case of red wines with a natural alcoholic strength by volume greater than 14 %.




Batches of red wines ready to be placed on the market for consumers have a malic acid content of 0,4 g/l or less.
The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.






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)


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 




3.   Rosé ‘Pic Saint-Loup’ PDO wines

BRIEF WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
The robe of the rosé wines is of medium to low intensity. They are fresh and pleasant, with a round attack and dominant notes of small red fruits.
The rosé wines are made by blending at least two grape varieties, including one main variety. The proportion of Syrah is at least 30 %. The proportion of secondary varieties in the blend, excluding Cinsaut, is not more than 10 %.
The proportion of Cinsaut N in the blend is not more than 30 %. The main wine grape varieties predominate in the blends.
When the rosé wines are ready to be marketed in bulk or packaged, they have a fermentable sugar content of 3 g/l or less.
The other analytical criteria are in line with EU rules.






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)


 




Maximum total sulphur dioxide (in milligrams per litre)


 




6.   Wine-making practices

a.   Essential oenological practices

Specific oenological practice
The use of wood chips is prohibited.
The use of oenological charcoal to make the rosé wines is prohibited, whether alone or mixed in preparations.
Any heat treatment of the grape harvest at a temperature above 40 °C is prohibited.
Besides the above provisions, the oenological practices adopted for the wines must comply with all the requirements laid down at EU level and in the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.
1.   Rules on planting proportions
Cultivation practice
In the production of red wines:






—


two of the main wine grape varieties must be among the varieties grown;










—


at least 50 % of the grapes grown must be Syrah N;










—


the secondary varieties must not account for more than 10 % of the grapes grown, collectively or individually.




In the production of rosé wines:






—


two of the main wine grape varieties must be among the varieties grown;










—


at least 30 % of the grapes grown must be Syrah N;










—


excluding Cinsaut N, the secondary varieties must not account for more than 10 % of the grapes grown;










—


Cinsaut must not account for more than 30 % of the grapes grown.




These rules on planting proportions do not apply to grape growers who do not make wine from their own production and whose holdings within the demarcated parcel area for the ‘Pic Saint-Loup’ protected designation of origin cover a surface area of 1,5 ha or less.
2.   Vineyard management
Cultivation practice
As of the date of publication of the product specification, the minimum planting density of the vines is 5 500 plants per hectare.
The spacing between the vine rows must not exceed 2,25 metres.
The area available for each vine must not exceed 1,8 square metres. This area is calculated by multiplying the spacing between rows by the spacing between vines in the same row.
The vines are spur-pruned, with a maximum of 12 buds per vine.
Irrigation may be authorised.
b.   Maximum yields

1.   Pic Saint-Loup wines
50 hectolitres per hectare
7.   Demarcated geographical area

The grapes are harvested and the wines made, developed and aged in the following municipalities:
Department of Hérault: Assas, Cazevieille, Claret, Fontanès, Guzargues, Lauret, Les Matelles, Sainte-Croix-de-Quintillargues, Saint-Gély-du-Fesc, Saint-Jean-de-Cuculles, Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, Sauteyrargues, Le Triadou, Vacquières and Valflaunès.
Department of Gard: Brouzet-lès-Quissac and Corconne.
The designation Pic Saint-Loup refers to the Pic Saint-Loup mountain, situated in the north-east of the department of Hérault.
8.   Main wine grape variety(ies)







 


Grenache N










 


Mourvèdre N - Monastrell










 


Syrah N - Shiraz




9.   Description of the link(s)

9.1.   Distinctiveness of the geographical area

The geographical area traverses the north-east of the department of Hérault, encompassing 17 municipalities overlooked by the limestone peak of the Pic Saint-Loup (658 m) and lying on a series of cuestas running south-west to north-east. It is an area of climatic contrasts, between the plain of the Languedoc with its mild climate influenced by the sea, and the small, wooded limestone plateaus (causses), which receive cold air from the Cévennes.
The vineyards are woven into the landscape amid scrub (garrigue) and groves of Aleppo pine and holm oak, all of which are typical of the Mediterranean limestone environment. While the average altitude of the wine region is around 150 m, the vineyards producing the protected wine have altitudes ranging from 80 m to over 300 m, with good exposure. The vineyards are usually located on flatter areas or moderate slopes, at the foot of steeper ones.
With vineyards situated in the northern part of the Languedoc PDO area, the Pic Saint-Loup designation stands out on account of a fundamental element which explains the behaviour of the vines in the geographical area: the climate. While the Pic Saint-Loup area has a Mediterranean climate like the rest of the Languedoc wine region, it is one of the coolest areas in it. Indeed, it has an average temperature of 12,3 °C, which is around 1,5 to 2 degrees lower than that of the surrounding protected wine areas. In particular, the winters are pronounced and cold, while in summer the maximum temperatures are moderate, with pleasantly cool nights.
The average annual rainfall is between 850 and 1 000 mm. As is typical of the Mediterranean climate, there is a marked shortage of rain in the summer; however, this is less extreme (100 to 120 mm) than in the coastal area. Even though the hills protect the vineyards from strong winds, their configuration channels the cold winds from the north-east. Thus, the higher rainfall in the area has led the winegrowers to adopt a higher average planting density than elsewhere in the Languedoc PDO area. The aim of this is to ensure that – depending on the soil’s ability to manage water supply to the vines – the water is distributed evenly among the vines, which is necessary for the grapes to ripen well.
This climate, which is Mediterranean with continental influences, has a cumulative temperature of between 1 500 °C and 1 700 °C.
9.2.   Distinctiveness of the products

The natural conditions have favoured the growth of Syrah N, which is well suited to the cool locations, bringing finesse and notes of liquorice and violet. Therefore, this variety must account for at least 50 % of the grapes used to produce the red wines, which is one of the largest proportions of grape variety in the blends creating red wines with the Languedoc designation. Syrah N owes its position as the predominant wine grape variety to its ability to adapt to a large number of locations, particularly low-lying ones. Grenache N and Cinsaut N are grown only in the driest parcels, while Mourvèdre N and Carignan N are grown only in the warmest locations. The daily temperature variations in August and September characterise the growth cycle of the vines and contribute to the development of delicate, fresh aromas in the wines.
The cool nights aid the synthesis of the aromatic precursors and the anthocyanins, which give rise to the garnet colour and tannic structure of the red wines and the fresh mouthfeel of the rosé wines.
Accordingly, the red wines are characterised by their garnet robe and aromas of red fruit and liquorice, which dominate both the nose and the palate. In the mouth, they are elegant, balanced and fresh. Their robust structure is comprised of delicate tannins.
These wines have a certain ageing potential, which is why the product specification provides that they may be placed on the market at a later time. The red wines are aged until 1 July of the year following the year of harvest, in order to refine their structure and bring out all their aromas. The wines are placed on the market for consumers at the earliest on 15 July of the year following the year of harvest. As they age, their aromas develop delicate notes of red fruit, mixed with spices.
The robe of the rosé wines is of medium to low intensity. They are fresh and pleasant, with a round attack and dominant notes of small red fruits.
9.3.   Causal link between the distinctiveness of the geographical area and the distinctiveness of the products

In conclusion, the functioning of the soils and the characteristics of the climate in the Pic Saint-Loup wine-growing area make the area unique and have led the winegrowers to use their know-how in line with their knowledge of the land.
Accordingly, that knowledge enabled the winegrowers in the Pic Saint-Loup area to take the first, pioneering step towards achieving quality status, when specific production conditions were recognised and included in the Decree on the Coteaux du Languedoc designation as of 1994.
This diverse community of winegrowers also contributes to the uniqueness of the Pic Saint-Loup wine-growing area – by providing new know-how and technical expertise on the one hand and knowledge of the area on the other.
10.   Essential further conditions


Labelling

Legal framework:
National legislation
Type of further condition:
Additional provisions relating to labelling
Description of the condition:
Wines bearing the controlled designation of origin may display the name of the broader geographical unit ‘Languedoc’ on their labels. The letters used for this broader geographical unit must not be larger, in terms of height or width, than half the size of the letters forming the name of the controlled designation of origin.
Wines bearing the designation of origin may display the name of a smaller geographical unit on their labels, provided that:






—


it is a place name listed in the land registry;










—


the name appears on the harvest declaration.




Regarding the use of the name of a smaller geographical unit, Article 67 of Regulation (EC) No 607/2009 provides that at least 85 % of the grapes used to produce the wine must originate in the smaller geographical unit in question.
The vintage must be indicated on the label.
The grape varieties need not be indicated on the label.

Reference to publication of the product specification

https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/gedei/site/bo-agri/document_administratif-1d1f1fc9-e5ee-45ac-b605-f56432d2c0b6


(1)  OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671.