La Livinière

France · AOC · Languedoc-Roussillon

Styles

Natural factors

Vineyard with south/south-east exposure, at elevations between 120 m and 330 m, in the foothill relief of the Montagne Noire.
Soils over a Tertiary syncline: molasse and sandstone at the centre, lacustrine calcareous conglomerates to the north, pebbly terraces to the south.
Hot, dry climate: 400–500 mm/year, mean annual temperature above 14 °C, more than 2,400 sunshine hours per year, with a pronounced summer water deficit.
Protected from westerly rainfall by the hills of Laure-Minervois and from maritime air masses by the serre d'Oupia ridge; cool nocturnal air drainage from the Causse crests. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
The appellation covers 6 communes: 5 in the Hérault (Azillanet, Cesseras, Félines-Minervois, La Livinière, Siran) and 1 in the Aude (Azille). (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

Human factors

The commune of La Livinière takes its name from 'Cella Vinaria' (wine cellar), bearing witness to a winemaking tradition established as far back as Roman times.
From the 1970s onward, growers in La Livinière adapted pruning, canopy management, and winemaking; the syndicate founded in 1988 obtained AOC status in 1999.

Product characteristics

Deep purple colour with brick-red hints, rich and dense on the palate; spicy aromas with cooked or jammy fruit, and notes of vanilla or cocoa when oak-aged.
Powerful, tannic wines with exceptional length and ageing potential, retaining suppleness, velvety texture, and fruit character over time.

Terroir / wine link

Cool nocturnal temperatures — the result of altitudinal gradients from the Montagne Noire — promote acidity and a balanced alcohol-tannin structure in the wine.

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