La Clape

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• A tabular karstic limestone massif, with no permanent watercourse, reaching 214 m at its highest point, and a former island until the 13th century. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Semi-arid Mediterranean climate: fewer than 500 mm of rainfall per year and significant water stress that varies with aspect and substrate depth.
• Dominant wind: the « cers » (northwest), contributing to sunshine exceeding 3,000 hours per year.
• A mosaic of situations: footslopes, small valleys, marly combes, and former poljés, interwoven with garrigue and pine forest.
• The appellation covers 6 communes in the département of Aude: Armissan, Fleury, Gruissan, Salles-d'Aude, Vinassan, and Narbonne. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Viticulture dating back to the 6th century BC near the Via Domitia; VDQS recognition granted as early as 1951.
• More than one third of estates exceed 50 ha; they account for more than two thirds of the cellars — a structure unique in the region.

• Whites: a balance of roundness and acidity, with aromas of white flowers, fruit, balsamic notes, and minerality; blending with bourboulenc ("malvoisie") is compulsory.
• Reds: balsamic notes (pine resin, eucalyptus) and garrigue character, with firm tannins requiring a minimum of one year's ageing.

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 trade body site — CIVL