Discovery
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IGP Côtes Catalanes: award-winning wines at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge@endsection 153 “IGP Côtes Catalanes wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge” wines and spirits awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge: scores out of 100, tasting notes and medals.@endsection https://www.gilbertgaillard.com/en/resultats/cotes-catalanes@endsection
I.G.P.
The Côtes Catalanes Protected Geographical Indication covers the entire Pyrénées-Orientales department, in Roussillon. The vineyards lie within a broad amphitheatre open to the Mediterranean in the east and enclosed by the Canigou massif to the west, the Albères to the south and the Corbières to the north. Three short rivers cross the area from west to east and have shaped numerous terraces. Every geological era is represented here, producing varied soils that are generally thin, dry, low in organic matter, stony and well drained; some richer plain soils have been planted with more recently introduced grape varieties. Sunshine exceeds 2,500 hours a year, and the Tramontane, a cold north-westerly wind, blows frequently. The grape mix combines traditional Mediterranean varieties such as Carignan, Grenache and Syrah with more recently planted ones including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Viognier, and the designation may be further specified by naming the grape variety or varieties used.
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Côtes Catalanes wines come in red, rosé and white, alongside a small traditional production of rancio wine aged for several years under oxidative conditions. The reds, with a more or less deep colour, show a powerful, elegant Mediterranean character balanced by freshness that offsets their naturally high alcohol; they offer spicy notes, red fruit and garrigue aromas. The rosés range from very pale grey to a deeper pink: those from the plain are aromatic, light and supple, while those from low-yielding hillside vineyards show more structure. The whites, from pale greenish-yellow to golden yellow, draw their minerality and aromatic power from their location on the plain or at altitude, combining freshness with length. The rancio wines, amber-coloured with walnut and spice aromas, reflect a long-standing Catalan tradition. The reds pair well with grilled meats and spiced Mediterranean dishes, the rosés with summer cooking and tapas, the whites with fish and seafood, while the rancios suit desserts based on dried fruit and nuts.
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