Malepère

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical zone is bounded to the west by the limestone cuesta of Fanjeaux, which marks the divide between the Atlantic watershed and the Mediterranean watershed.
• The geographical zone is delimited across the territory of 39 communes in the western part of the Aude département, grouped around the Malepère massif, whose summit, the Pech de Mont-Naut, lies at an altitude of 442 metres.
• To the east, the Aude river separates the Malepère massif from that of the Corbières, while to the north the zone is bounded by the Lauragais corridor extending into the Fresquel plain.
• The vineyard is limited to 350 metres altitude on south-facing exposures and to 300 metres on north-facing exposures, established around the perimeter of the massif on slopes and terraces.
• The most characteristic soils are derived from molasse and range, depending on the horizon, from hard but friable calcareous sandstone to soft clays, with conglomerates and sandstones forming light soils that roots can penetrate easily.
• The geographical zone benefits from a transitional climate between Mediterranean and Atlantic influences, the well-defined Mediterranean climate to the east giving way to the west to a Mediterranean climate tempered by Atlantic influences.

• Viticulture in the area dates back to Roman times, and in the fifth century the bishop Sidonius Apollinaris mentions his vines at the Villa Primulac in Malepère.
• The wines were granted the status of vin délimité de qualité supérieure in 1976 before being recognised as the controlled appellation of origin «Malepère» by the decree of 4 May 2007.
• The Atlantic varieties Cabernet franc, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot are planted on the cool, deep substrates of the mid-slopes, while the Mediterranean varieties Grenache, Lledonner pelut and Cinsaut occupy the drier parcels on the upper slopes.

• The red wine, in which the early-ripening Merlot is the principal variety, is generally ruby in colour and fairly bright, with aromas of small red fruits that often evolve towards notes of dark fruits.
• On the palate, the red wine shows a generous, clean and ample attack, with a touch of freshness and a fine structure.
• The rosé wine, dominated by Cabernet franc complemented by Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cot, Cinsaut, Grenache and Lledonner pelut, is generally pale and bright in appearance, with intense fruity notes of white fruits.

• In this geographical setting, characterised by a Mediterranean climate with a more Atlantic water regime, alternating warm days and cool nights, and aided by the diversity of substrates and aspects, producers have combined Atlantic and Mediterranean grape varieties, an alliance that expresses itself in the complexity and originality of the wines of «Malepère».

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 2 septembre 2022, JORF 9 septembre 2022
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVL