AOC/AOP Regulations

Département

  • Gers, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées

Styles and Encépagement

  • Rouge: 60-80% Tannat, plus Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Fer
  • Vineyards with less than 60% Tannat are still entitled to the appellation through 2022

Assemblage

  • Tannat must account for at least 50% of the blend.

Minimum Potential Alcohol

  • 11.5%

Minimum Must Weight

  • 198 g/l for Tannat, 189 g/l for other grapes

Maximum Residual Sugar

  • 3 g/l (4 g/l if potential alcohol is greater than 14%)

Élevage

  • The wines may not be released until November 1 of the year following the harvest

Minimum Planting Density

  • 4,000 vines per hectare

Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)

  • 55 hl/ha

Principal Soil Type

  • Clay (with greppe limestone subsoil)

AOC Established

  • 1948 (last updated 2011)

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