Braucol
Braucol is an old, classic grape variety in Gaillac. It is also known as Fer Servadou, Fer (iron) is reminiscent of the hard vine wood and Servadou is a reference to the long shelf life of grapes and wine. The Braucol grape is a close relative of the Cabernet Sauvignon and almost resistant to fungal diseases. The small berries, with their thick berry skins, make an excellent basis for a colourful and spicy red wine with deep blackcurrant flavours and powerful tannins, making Braucol an ideal wine for barrique ageing and long storage.
Cabernet-Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most widely cultivated grape varieties in the world. Its origins probably lie in the Bordeaux region; more recent genetic analyses indicate a spontaneous cross between Cabernet-Franc and Sauvignon blanc.
The variety produces powerful red wines with fruity cassis notes as well as nuances of liquorice, cedar and tar. The wine is ideally suited for ageing in small barriques and has a long shelf life. It is an ideal blending partner for red wine cuvees, as in Bordeaux, and also plays a leading role in the “Cuvee du Dome” alongside Braucol, Merlot and Syrah. At Domaine de Bosc long, it is also processed freshly pressed into a fruity rosé that shows juicy aromas of cherry and raspberry.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the classic French grape varieties originating in Burgundy and has spread all over the world. The vines ideally grow on calcareous soils (as is the case at Domaine de Bosc Long). The wines are full-bodied and rich, the aroma reflects the soil, the terroir and has hints of lime blossom, pear and freshly mown grass. In more mature wines, nutty and smoky nuances are added. The Chardonnay is also excellently suited for barrique ageing.
Duras
Duras is a very old grape variety common in the Tarn region. The small, thick-skinned berries produce powerful, spicy red wines with slightly peppery aromas. Due to its early ripeness, it equalises the harvest, serves as a blending partner in the classic cuvees of the region and also shapes the characteristics of the wines of Gaillac.
Merlot
Merlot is a classic grape variety of Bordeaux and has been known there as an independent grape variety since the 14th century. The name is said to be an allusion to the blackbirds (French: merle), which love to eat the precocious, black-blue berries. Merlot produces fruity, full-bodied and soft red wines with gentle tannins and early drinking maturity. The aromas of prunes and dark chocolate make Merlot wines charming and popular. The storage life is limited even with barrique ageing. However, it is an excellent blending partner in cuvees and makes them ready to drink earlier without seriously affecting the storage life.
Muscadelle
The Muscadelle is a classic variety for sweet wine production. The small, golden-yellow berries are early-ripening and can achieve high must weights with reduced yields. The wines have a slight muscat note, although the grape variety is not related to muscat grapes. As a sweet wine, Muscadelle shows aromas of dried apricots and blossom honey. With longer maturation in wooden barrels, buttery notes of caramel and walnuts emerge.
Sauvignon blanc
Sauvignon blanc is a well-known white wine variety of uncertain origin but widespread. Its ancestry is unknown, but it is old in France, Sauvignon is derived from “sauvage-wild”.
Interestingly, genetic analyses show that it is one of the two parent varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine shows idiosyncratic, green, racy and spicy aromas of gooseberries and green peppers, often paired with mineral notes , depending on the type of rock where the vines are planted.
Syrah
Syrah, or Shiraz, is an old grape variety originating in the Rhone Valley. It needs intensive sunshine to reach maturity. Then it produces deeply fruity, colour-intensive red wines with a massive tannin structure. Syrah wines ripen slowly and can be stored for a long time. In the Gaillac region, they complement each other in the classic Cuvee with Braucol, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot and Duras.
