Minervois

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical zone is anchored in the Montagne Noire, the southernmost spur of the Cévennes, whose highest point is the Pic de Nore at 1,210 metres above sea level.
• The vineyard area sits within a vast amphitheatre descending from north to south toward the Aude, flanked by the hills of Salsigne to Trèbes around the river Clamoux and by the serre d'Oupia crossed by the Cesse.
• The centre of the geographical zone overlooks the étang de Marseillette by about one hundred metres before giving way to a plateau crossed by the rivers Argent-Double and Ognon, tributaries of the Aude.
• The zone lies within a broad syncline resting against the Montagne Noire, infilled with tertiary molassic sediments cut through by sandstone beds and lacustrine limestone conglomerates, with soils over gravelly terraces, marls, sandstone, weathered hard limestone, and occasional lenses of schist at higher elevations.
• The Mediterranean climate records a mean annual rainfall of 630 millimetres, a mean annual temperature above 14°C, and annual sunshine in excess of 2,400 hours.
• To the west, the geographical zone is exposed to the Cers, a north-westerly wind that is often violent and generally dry, which on meeting the Montagne Noire gives rise to oceanic precipitation, mainly in autumn and spring.
• The geographical zone extends across the territory of 45 communes in the département of the Aude and 16 communes in the département of the Hérault.

• The vine has been present in Minervois since Roman times, the Emperor Domitian having banned all new plantings in 92 before Probus abolished that law in 280.
• Minervois, recognised as an appellation d'origine vins délimités de qualité supérieure in 1951, was granted appellation d'origine contrôlée status by decree on 15 February 1985.

• The red wines display a deep purple colour with violet highlights, with a balance and aromatic richness evoking red fruits that makes them enjoyable in their youth.
• Warm and full-bodied, the red wines develop aromatic notes that are often spicy or liquorice-tinged, and offer reliable ageing potential.
• The white wines display a pale gold colour with green highlights; they are complex and warm on the palate, with pronounced floral accents and lively notes of fresh fruit such as peach, mango, or apricot.

• The combination of Mediterranean climate and topography with a southerly aspect, swept by the prevailing winds that carry little rainfall, gives the geographical zone a natural suitability for vine-growing on predominantly calcareous clay soils.
• The Grenache variety brings warmth and roundness on the palate and thrives on gravelly terraces and marls.

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 14 novembre 2011 publié au JORF du 17 novembre, JORF 17 novembre
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVL