Gaillac premières côtes

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The vines of the 'premières côtes de Gaillac' occupy the first slopes of the right bank of the Tarn, forming an arc oriented toward the south/south-east.
• The geological substratum consists of heterogeneous Tertiary molasse deposits dating from the Oligocene, principally the Stampian, derived from the Pyrenean orogeny, comprising sandy sandstones, more or less calcareous marls, and sometimes pure clays.
• Soils vary according to position on the slope: calcareous or calcic brown soils at the summit, clay-limestone soils on the slopes, and clay-sandy colluvium at the foot of the slope.
• The undulating landscape features slopes ranging in altitude from 140 to 320 metres, often steeply inclined, where the vineyard is the dominant land use.
• Facing south, the slopes of the 'premières côtes' enjoy one of the warmest mesoclimates in the Gaillac area, within a climate subject to both oceanic and Mediterranean influences, and also swept by the Vent d'Autan, a hot, dry wind from the south-east.

• In 1221, the consuls of Gaillac and Rabastens established a charter setting out best viticultural practices, from the selection of grape varieties to the choice of barrel wood and the proclamation of the harvest opening.
• The decree of 21 March 1938 defined the controlled appellations of origin 'Gaillac' and 'Gaillac premières côtes', and the delimited parcel area for the harvest destined for the 'premières côtes' was approved in 1951.
• In 2008, an area of 20 hectares devoted to this appellation was farmed by around ten independent producers.
• Following the phylloxera crisis of the late 1870s, the vineyard was replanted essentially with the Mauzac variety for the production of white wines.

• The dry white wines display fruity and floral aromas with moderate acidity, a supple and elegant structure, and a long finish.
• These wines show good ageing potential, consistent with the observation that they can be cellared and aged for between five and ten years while also being enjoyable when young.

• The Vent d'Autan accelerates budburst, flowering, and véraison, and by blowing strongly at the start of autumn promotes grape ripeness and limits fungal diseases.
• The Mauzac variety, on well-exposed slopes, achieves a concentration that lends richness and body to the wine.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 15 novembre 2011, JORF 18 novembre 2011
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Maison des Vins de Gaillac