Côtes du Roussillon Villages

France · AOC · Languedoc-Roussillon

Styles

Natural factors

51 communes in the Pyrénées-Orientales, bounded by the Corbières (N), the Tech river (S), the Fenouillèdes/Canigou massif (W), and the Mediterranean (E).
Highly varied soils derived from brown/black schists, clay-limestone, gneiss, granitic arènes, and pebbly molasse.
The Tramontane (a northwesterly wind, blowing one day in three) intensifies summer drought but ventilates the vineyards and reduces the need for phytosanitary treatments.
Sunshine exceeding 2,500 hours per year, rainfall of 450–650 mm (predominantly storm-driven), and temperatures of 13–15 °C depending on altitude.

Human factors

AOC recognised in 1977, evolving from the 'Corbières supérieures du Roussillon' (1952); the geographical designations Caramany and Latour-de-France were granted at that same date.
Five geographical designations, each with distinct soils: Caramany and Latour-de-France (1977), Lesquerde on granitic arènes (1995), Tautavel on clay-limestone (1997), and Les Aspres on pebbly molasse (2017). (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

Product characteristics

Caramany: supple and fresh (carbonic maceration mandatory for carignan); Latour-de-France: suited to ageing; Tautavel: extended élevage of at least 12 months.

Terroir / wine link

In Lesquerde, high-altitude granitic arène soils bring about slow ripening of syrah and grenache, yielding a crisp minerality; carignan vinified by carbonic maceration contributes vibrancy.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.