Pécharmant

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The area is naturally bounded to the south by the Dordogne valley, to the east by the forests of Liorac and Monclard, and to the north by the forest of Landais.
• The plots rest on a substratum of Cretaceous limestones outcropping along the valleys of the Dordogne and the Caudeau, covered in places by argillaceous sands and pebbles of the Upper Eocene or by reworked Quaternary terraces.
• The accumulation of iron in the subsoil has favoured the formation of a layer of ferruginous clay known locally as 'tran', also described as a layer created by the crystallisation of minerals leached from the surface.
• The pedological formations are varied, comprising multicoloured clays mixed with fragments of sandstone and flint, containing polychrome argillaceous lenses in shades of yellow, red, and even blue, often intermixed with rounded quartz pebbles.
• The Dordogne valley, open like a funnel towards the ocean to the west, allows Atlantic mildness to penetrate nearly 100 kilometres inland, bringing humidity and gentleness in spring and autumn.
• The south-facing, amphitheatre-like exposure of the hills and the protection from northerly winds afforded by the forests are significant mesoclimatic assets for the vineyard.

• The vineyard has been present since the eleventh century, when it belonged to the parish of Saint-Martin de Bergerac, extending north of the town between the roads to Sarlat and to Brive.
• The controlled designation of origin Pécharmant was recognised on 12 March 1946, following the establishment of the growers' syndicate in 1943.
• The name is thought to derive from the lieu-dit 'Puycharman', later 'Pech-charman', where 'pech' means 'hill' in Occitan, combined with 'charman' to give 'charming hill', reflecting its commanding position above Bergerac and the Dordogne valley.

• The red wines are produced from a blend of Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Côt, and Merlot, none of which may exceed 65% of the blend.
• The colour is deep, dense red — Wikipedia describes it as a dark garnet with aromas of red fruits and vanilla on the nose.
• Full-bodied and rich in tannins, the wines give promise of longevity and gain elegance over time, softening as they age while their bouquet becomes more complex.
• Malolactic fermentation must be fully completed before bottling, and the wines must show a total polyphenol index greater than 50.

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), JORF 12 avril 2018
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — IVBD — Vins de Bergerac & Duras