Côtes de Montravel
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Accessory grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- Interfluve between the Dordogne and Lidoire rivers, a tabular plateau framed by these two valleys, covering 13 communes in the Dordogne department.
- Substratum formed by the Stampian sea: limestone rich in 'astéries' (star-shaped echinoid fossils) to the west, more clayey facies to the east.
- Four soil types: clay-siliceous over molasse, clay-calcareous over astéries limestone, clay-silt-sandy over Périgord gravels, and sandy-clay in the valley floors.
- Quaternary gravelly terraces in the Dordogne valley, with sandy-clay soils that are sometimes hydromorphic.
- Oceanic climate approximately 100 km from the Atlantic; early budburst, late leaf fall, and south-facing slopes. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Human factors
- Judicial delimitation of 1922: right bank of the Estrop → 'Côtes de Montravel', left bank → 'Haut-Montravel'. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Product characteristics
- Soft and sweet white wines, smooth and suave with preserved freshness: residual sugar between 25 and 54 g/l, combining velvety texture with richness.
- Fruity aromas (peach, apricot) or floral notes (honeysuckle, acacia), from grapes harvested in a state of overripeness following gentle concentration on the vine.
Terroir / wine link
- South-facing slopes combined with lean, leached clay-calcareous soils encourage the overripening of Sémillon B, the dominant variety.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Product specification (BO Agri, PDF)
- Official INAO text (show_texte)
- INAO product entry
- Official trade body site — IVBD — Vins de Bergerac & Duras