Minervois-La-Livinière
| Minervois-La-Livinière | |
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| Year of establishment: | 1999 |
| Country: | France |
| Cultivation climate: | Mediterranean, Atlantic |
| Soil types: | thin layer of clay, lime and gravel over sandstone |
| Planted acreage: | 350 ha. |
| Grape varieties: | Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Terret, Piquepoul, Aspiran |
| Wine quantity: | 11,000 hl / 1.5 million bottles |
The Minervois-La-Livinières wine-growing region is located in the immediate vicinity of the Minervois appellation in the Languedoc wine-growing region . The vineyards cover around 200 hectares of vineyards in the six communes of Azille ( Aude department ), Azillanet , Cesseras , Félines-Minervois , La Livinière and Siran in the Hérault department . The municipality of La Livinière, which is not far from Minerve , gave the area its name. The appellation since February 12, 1999 has exclusively for the red wine on the status of a Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC shortly).
The vineyards are at an average height of about 220 m above sea level. NN on the gentle slopes of the foothills of the Cevennes . Due to the southern orientation of the slopes, the vineyards are protected against the cold north winds and against the Cers blowing from the northwest . During the night, cool air falls from the heights of the Causse . The area is one of the arid regions of Languedoc, with annual rainfall of 400 to 500 mm.
Grape varieties
In general, the yields are limited to 45 hectoliters / hectare.
The red wines made from the grape varieties Grenache , Mourvedre and Syrah . The proportion of these three varieties must be at least 60 percent and the sum of Syrah and Mourvèdre at least 40 percent. The grape varieties Lledoner Pelut , Carignan , Cinsault (maximum 20%), Piquepoul Noir , Terret Noir and Aspiran may be used as secondary varieties .
The planting density is at least 4000 vines / hectare.
Red wine stands out among the Languedoc wines for its delicacy and elegance. Yet it does not deny its Mediterranean character. Its natural alcohol content must be at least 12% by volume. It has a deep color, strong aromas and full body. It can be stored for at least five years, and good vintages also age longer in the cellar.
literature
- Jancis Robinson : The Oxford Wine Lexicon . 3. Edition. Gräfe and Unzer Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-8338-0691-9 .
- Pierre Galet : Cépages et Vignobles de France . Lavoisier Publishing House, Paris 2004, ISBN 2-7430-0585-8 .
- Benoît France (ed.): Grand Atlas des Vignobles de France . Solar publishing house, Paris 2002, ISBN 2-263-03242-8 .
