{"id":20511,"date":"2020-05-13T16:30:08","date_gmt":"2020-05-13T15:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/gaillac-southwestern-wine\/"},"modified":"2024-04-09T17:03:26","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T16:03:26","slug":"gaillac-southwestern-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/en\/gaillac-southwestern-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaillac, Southwestern wine"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image source=”featured_image” img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″ disable_custom_paddings_tablet=”true” disable_custom_paddings_mobile=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1587718684952{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 80px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Contents<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text]

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\n <\/div>\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Gaillac is a wine appellation in southwestern France. It is produced in the Tarn region, north-east of Toulouse. This vineyard offers a very wide range of wines: reds, dry or sweet whites – including late harvest – and ros\u00e9s, sparkling and pearled. Gaillac was granted Appellation d’Origine Contr\u00f4l\u00e9e status for its white wine in 1938 and for its red and ros\u00e9 wines in 1970. This wine appellation is therefore characterized by its many facets and the diversity of the grape varieties used.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Gaillac wine served at the tables of the Counts of Toulouse<\/h2>\n

Vines were first planted in the 2nd<\/sup> century, before the Gallo-Roman era, making this one of the oldest vineyards in France, and probably the oldest in the South-West region. From the time of the Counts of Toulouse, Gaillac wine was served at the finest tables. In the 13th<\/sup> century, Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, promulgated one of the first decrees, the forerunner of today’s AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contr\u00f4l\u00e9e) decrees, reflecting his determination to produce a quality wine. What’s more, the region’s sparkling wine-making techniques predate Dom P\u00e9rignon’s champagne production system. In 1938, the white wines of Gaillac<\/a> were awarded the Appellation d’Origine Contr\u00f4l\u00e9e, while the reds were still a small table wine sold in quantity. Pearl white wine was invented in 1957, and is similar in content to carbonic wine. Thanks to the hard work of the Gaillacois winegrowers, red and ros\u00e9 wines were awarded the AOC label in 1970.<\/p>\n

To qualify for the AOC label, producers must comply with the cultivation charter for red and ros\u00e9 grape varieties (Duras at 10% minimum, Fer Servadou at 10% minimum, Syrah and Gamay together at 30% minimum, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot) and for white grape varieties (Len de l’El and Sauvignon together at 15% minimum, Mauzac, Mauzac Ros\u00e9, Muscadelle, Ondenc, S\u00e9millon).<\/p>\n

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The Gaillac vineyards are characterized by the richness of their soils<\/h2>\n

The 3900-hectare vineyard is located south of Cahors, bordering the Quercy hillsides. Its soils are composed of sedimentary soils dating from the Oligocene (clay-limestone molasses) on the hillsides and alluvial soils dating from the recent Quaternary period on the terraces of the Tarn valley. Its highest point is between 140 and 300 meters above sea level.<\/p>\n

The right bank of the vineyard is characterized by a sloping layout, with flat low-lying areas that are not conducive to vine-growing and often wooded summits. It is in this terroir that the Mauzac and Fer Servadou grape varieties fully assert their character and viticultural power. The left bank features a succession of alluvial terraces from the Tarn valley, with a subsoil of rather acidic pH, deep and well-drained thanks to the presence of several metres of sand, pebbles and gravel at depth. The Pays Cordais is a hilly plateau with thin, light soil on limestone bedrock. Its altitude and cool climate are ideal for producing white wines. Finally, the Cunac zone is made up of a handful of vineyards established in seven villages around Cunac, east of Albi, whose soils are composed of acidic schist, particularly well-suited to Gamay.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Gaillac, a wine with powerful flavours<\/h2>\n

The grape varieties used for red and ros\u00e9 wines are Duras (minimum 10%), Fer Servadou (minimum 10%), Syrah, Gamay (minimum 30% overall), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. White grape varieties include Len de l’El, Sauvignon (together 15% min), Mauzac, Mauzac Ros\u00e9 and Muscadelle.<\/p>\n

The red stands out for its deep ruby color, heralding its warm character. Ros\u00e9 is characterized by its salmon hue, dry white by its golden color. The pearly white comes alive with fine bubbles against a pale gold background. Sparkling Gaillac has an abundance of natural foam. The late-harvest Gaillac stands out for its bright, watery golden color.<\/p>\n

On the nose, the red is characterized by its pronounced fruitiness and spicy accents. The ros\u00e9 stands out for its candy-like red fruit aromas. White wines (dry, pearled, sparkling) are characterized by their distinctive aromas of white peach, baked apple and Williams pear, as well as spicy and honey notes.<\/p>\n

On the palate, primeur red wines have flavors comparable to those of white wines. This red wine for laying down has a solid structure, well built on round, spicy tannins. The result is a warm, fleshy wine. Ros\u00e9 wines are fresh and fruity on the palate, making them light and easy to drink. The dry whites are lively, with a hint of acidity. The late-harvest sweet wines are rich and smooth. Sparkling wines have a fruity character on the palate. The ideal perl\u00e9 is as aromatic as on the nose, refreshed by a hint of bitterness.<\/p>\n

Red wines can be kept for 2 to 5 years, while white and ros\u00e9 wines are best enjoyed young. For sweet wines, the ageing potential is between 8 and 10 years.<\/p>\n

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Gaillac accompanies a wide range of dishes<\/h2>\n

Red Gaillac is the perfect accompaniment to roast meats and stews, as well as cheeses such as farmhouse. White Gaillac is ideal with river fish or crayfish. Finally, late-harvest Gaillac goes perfectly with foie gras, Roquefort or fruity desserts.<\/p>\n

Red wines should be drunk at room temperature, while white and ros\u00e9 wines should be drunk chilled, between 8 and 10\u00b0C, and sweet wines between 6 and 10\u00b0C.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Notable vintages of the Gaillac appellation<\/h2>\n

Red Gaillac was awarded vintage of the century in 2005, exceptional vintage in 2000 and excellent vintage in 2007. White Gaillac has had several vintages of the century, including 1988, 1990 and 2005. It was recognized as an excellent vintage in 1983, 1985, 1989 and 2001. Last but not least, cuv\u00e9es from the late harvest have been awarded mill\u00e9sime du mill\u00e9naire in 1990 and 2001, mill\u00e9sime du si\u00e8cle in 1988 and 2005, and mill\u00e9sime exceptionnel in 2011.<\/p>\n

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Gaillac estates inherited from generations of winemakers<\/h2>\n

Mas des Combes<\/h3>\n

Located 6 km north of Gaillac on the first slopes of the right bank of the river Tarn, this Gaillac estate<\/a> is run by Nathalie and R\u00e9mi Larroque. Inheriting an 18-hectare estate from his father Robert Larroque in 1988, R\u00e9mi set about enlarging the estate, which now extends over 34 hectares of vines not far from the hamlet of Mas d’Oustry. Perpetuating the know-how of a line of winegrowers dating back to 1540, the estate favors the cultivation of ancient grape varieties specific to the Gaillac appellation, including Braucol, Prunelard, Duras, Mauzac and Loin de l’\u0153il. The Mas des Combes red 2017 cuv\u00e9e Coteaux d’Oustry and the red 2018 were recently awarded the Gold Medal in the Gilbert & Gaillard 2020 international competition.<\/p>\n

Terride Castle<\/h3>\n

Dedicated to the practice of hunting with hounds in the time of Saint Louis for the Terride family, the estate did not develop a wine-growing activity until the 1960s. Jean-Paul and Solange David, from a family of Gaillac winemakers, decided to take over the business in 1996, which is now run by their daughter Alix and her partner Romain. Situated at the gateway to the Gr\u00e9signe forest, just a few leagues from the medieval fortified village of Puycelsi, the vineyard is nicknamed “Little Tuscany” for the beauty of its landscapes. The estate has a total surface area of 40 hectares.[\/vc_column_text]

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