Cot

N

Wine grape variety.

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Origin

The geographical origin of the variety is specified or, if this is not possible, the area in which it is traditionally cultivated. The genetic origin of the variety is also indicated whenever it is known from hybridiser data or from genetic analyses published or obtained by the teams at INRAE in Montpellier (UMR AGAP) and Vassal-Montpellier Grapevine Biological Resources Centre (CRB-Vigne).

This variety is originally from the south west of France. Based on genetic analysis carried out in Montpellier, it would be the result of the crossbreeding between Magdeleine noire des Charentes and Prunelard.

Use

This information indicates the normal and statutory use for the grapes.

Wine grape variety.

Name of the variety in France

Name under which the variety is officially registered in the catalogue of grapevine varieties in France and under which it may be propagated and disseminated.

Cot

Synonymy

Recognised alternative names that may be used to identify the propagation material of the variety in France or in other member countries of the European Union.

In France, this variety can officially be called "Malbec" regarding plant propogating material. In the European Union, Cot is officially called by other names: Malbec (Spain, Czech Republic), Malbech (Italy) and Malbek (Austria).

Regulatory data

This information indicates on which list the variety is registered (A or B), whether it is classified for wine grapes, and in which member countries of the European Union the variety is also officially registered (for more information, see the "Legislation" menu.

In France, Cot is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties" on the A list and classified. This variety is also listed in the catalogues of other Member States of the European Union: Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Italy and Spain.

Evolution of cultivated areas in France

The figures provided are taken from vineyard land registers (IVCC, ONIVIT, ONIVINS), general agricultural censuses (SCEES-INSEE) and the current computerised vineyard register (DGDDI, FAM). Regional vine planting data is available on the following site: https://visionet.franceagrimer.fr/Pages/DonneesInteractivesDocs.aspx?sousmenu=observatoire%20de%20la%20viticulture.

Year
ha

1958

10752

1968

9765

1979

4801

1988

5279

2000

6166

2008

6676

2018

7625

Description elements

Only the principal ampelographic elements enabling the varieties to be characterised and identified are provided. They are presented according to the descriptor code recognised by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the Community Plant Variety Office (OCVV) and Bioversity International (for more information, see the "Ampelographic glossary" menu). The photographs of leaves and grapes were taken in natural conditions, on the vine, in very similar situations in terms of growing conditions (sandy soil, Mediterranean coast): - Domaine de l'Espiguette (IFV), Le Grau du Roi (Gard), - Domaine de Vassal (INRAE), Marseillan (Hérault), - La Gaillarde Campus (Institut Agro | Montpellier SupAgro), Montpellier (Hérault). Only a few photographs, including the tips of bunches, were taken in other conditions.

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot, with a high density of prostrate hairs,
- the green young leaves with bronze spots,
- the adult leaves, entire or with three lobes, with a U or V-shaped open petiole sinus, small teeth, long compared to their width at the base with straight sides, a revolute leaf blade, undulate between the veins near the petiole sinus, and on the lower side of the leaves, a low to medium density of prostrate hairs,
- the round-shaped berries

Genetic profile

The genetic profile of the variety is provided for the 9 microsatellite markers (or SSR markers) selected under the European programme GrapeGen06 (http://www.eu-vitis.de/index.php) and by the OIV. The absolute size values of the alleles may vary slightly from one laboratory to another, but the relative differences between the two alleles of one single microsatellite are constant. The genetic analyses were conducted by the INRAE Montpellier team (UMR AGAP) and the IFV’s Plant Material Centre.

Microsatellite VVS2 VVMD5 VVMD7 VVMD27 VRZAG62 VRZAG79 VVMD25 VVMD28 VVMD32

Allele 1

131

225

239

186

188

246

238

233

239

Allele 2

149

236

262

188

202

260

248

267

251

Cultivation and agronomic skills

The data on suitability are the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and the study of bibliographic references.

This vigorous variety is sensitive to coulure, but clonal selection has greatly reduced this defect. Plant vigor should be managed by high density plantations and by using low-productive rootstock. This variety is fairly sensitive to winter frosts during the first years after plantation. Following spring frosts, the shoots from secondary buds are not very fertile. At maturity, there is sometimes the risk of berry shedding.

Susceptibility to Diseases and Pests

These remarks are also the result of field observations or, if none are available, of bibliography mining and study of bibliographic references.

Cot does not seem particularly sensitive to fungal diseases except perhaps to phomopsis. It is also senstive to vine leafhoppers.

Phenology

The growth stages indicated are the result of obsrvations made at the Domaine de Vassal Estate where the set of these varieties form a collection. The results are indicated compared to the Chasselas vine variety as a reference in order to make comparisons between years and different sites. As such, for information purposes, the dates for the Chasselas B growth stage at Domaine de Vassal are as follows: - Bud burst, 21 March (average over 50 years) - Grape maturity, 14 August (average over 50 years)

Bud burst: 4 days after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: mid-season, 2 weeks and a half after Chasselas

Technological potential

The size of grape clusters and berries indicated are based on the following scales: - Wine grape varieties Size : Very small Bunch (g) : ≤ 100 Berry (g) : 1 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 150 Berry (g) : 2 - Wine grape varieties Size : Small Bunch (g) : 100 - 200 Berry (g) : 1,5 - 2 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 150 - 250 Berry (g) : 2 - 3,5 - Wine grape varieties Size : Moderate Bunch (g) : 200 - 250 Berry (g) : 2 - 2,5 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 250 - 400 Berry (g) : 3,5 - 5,5 - Wine grape varieties Size : Large Bunch (g) : 250 - 400 Berry (g) : 2,5 - 3,5 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 400 - 700 Berry (g) : 5,5 - 8 - Wine grape varieties Size : Very large Bunch (g) : 400 Berry (g) : 3,5 - Table grape varieties Bunch (g) : 700 Berry (g) : 8 Remarks concerning the characteristics of the wines are generally based on tastings organised by juries of professionals.

The bunches and berries are medium in size. With a well-managed production, this early variety can produce quite colored, aromatic and tannic wines with good ageing capacity. Rosé wine-making also gives good results. Generally speaking, sufficient maturity of grapes must be reached to avoid herbaceous and vegetal aromas of Cot to be too present, which can sometimes be hard and bitter.

Clonal selection in France

In this section, the list of certified clones is given. Information on clone conservatories is also provided.

The nineteen certified Cot clones carry the numbers 42, 46, 180, 279, 353, 419, 592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 1061, 1127, 1128, 1288, 1289 and 1342. Two conservatories of approximately 220 clones were planted in the French department of Lot in 1993 and in 2003. An other conservatory of thirty or so clones was planted in the French department of Gironde between 2011 and 2012.

Bibliographic references

Bibliography

- Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France. Collectif, 2007, Ed. IFV, Le Grau-du-Roi, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro | Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.

Description of clones approved in France

In this section, the list of certified clones is given. Information on clone conservatories is also provided.

  • Clone number
  • Brand
  • Origin

    Region, department or winegrowing region in which the “clone mother plant” was identified and selected.

  • Selection

    Body or bodies which selected the clone. In France, clonal selection is the responsibility of the selection organisations (themselves accredited by the ministry in charge of agriculture), usually in close collaboration with a technical partner working in a winegrowing region. For clones certified after 1999, the name of the partner or partners who took part in the selection work is also included. (NB: CA = Chamber of Agriculture).

  • Year of approval

    Year in which the clone was certified by the FranceAgriMer board further to a proposal by the Vine section of the CTPS (Permanent Technical Committee for Plant Selection).

  • Agronomic Reference

    Region, department or winegrowing region in which the agronomic and technological data were collected.

  • Surface in multiplication

    Surface area in hectares (ha) of stock nurseries used for propagation for the year under consideration (in brackets), which allows the available potential to be evaluated. Clones with a surface area of between 0.01 and 0.10 ha are shown as <0.10 ha. Clones of limited dissemination, but for which we have technical data, are shown as <0.01 ha. Other clones are given as “low-dissemination clone”, which means that the clone has been certified only recently or has not been propagated. In both cases, only the initial material is planted in the selection centres.

  • N
  • 42

  • Lot

  • ENTAV

  • 1971

  • Sud-Ouest

  • 0.54 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • Other information

  • General note clone sometimes a little irregular

  • N
  • 46

  • Lot

  • ENTAV

  • 1971

  • Sud-Ouest

  • 0.96 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility high

  • Production level medium to high

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • N
  • 180

  • Gironde

  • ENTAV

  • 1973

  • Bordelais;
    Sud-Ouest

  • 1.59 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility low

  • Production level low to medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium

  • Color potential medium

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics

  • N
  • 279

  • Gironde

  • ENTAV

  • 1973

  • Gironde

  • -

  • Other information

  • Agrotecnica note Clone not widely distributed.

  • N
  • 353

  • Gironde

  • ENTAV

  • 1975

  • Gironde

  • -

  • Other information

  • Agrotecnica note Clone not widely distributed.

  • N
  • 419

  • Gironde

  • ENTAV

  • 1976

  • Gironde

  • -

  • Other information

  • Agrotecnica note Clone not widely distributed.

  • N
  • 592

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1978

  • -

  • -

  • Other information

  • Agrotecnica note Clone not widely distributed.

  • N
  • 593

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1978

  • -

  • -

  • Other information

  • Agrotecnica note Clone not widely distributed.

  • N
  • 594

  • Lot

  • ENTAV

  • 1978

  • Sud-Ouest

  • 2.38 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Color potential medium to high

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N
  • 595

  • Lot

  • ENTAV

  • 1978

  • Sud-Ouest

  • 4.29 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Color potential medium to high

  • Tannic structure medium to high

  • Oenological skills typical, fine and harmonious wines

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N
  • 596

  • Lot

  • ENTAV

  • 1978

  • Sud-Ouest

  • 3.19 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Color potential medium to high

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N
  • 597

  • Gironde

  • INRA

  • 1978

  • -

  • -

  • Other information

  • Agrotecnica note Clone not widely distributed.

  • N
  • 598

  • Lot

  • ENTAV

  • 1978

  • Sud-Ouest

  • 4.66 ha

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level medium

  • Cluster weight medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Color potential medium to high

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills representative wines of the variety

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N
  • 1061

  • Gironde

  • CA 33 - ENTAV

  • 2001

  • Bordelais

  • -

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level low to medium

  • Cluster weight low

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness medium to high

  • Color potential medium to high

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium

  • Oenological skills structured wines

  • Other information

  • General note clone appreciated for its agronomic characteristics and the quality of the wines obtained

  • N
  • 1127

  • Lot

  • CA 46 - IFV

  • 2009

  • Sud-Ouest

  • -

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level low to medium

  • Cluster weight low

  • Berry size medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness high

  • Color potential high

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure high

  • Aromatic intensity high

  • Oenological skills supple, fruity, balanced and colored wines

  • Other information

  • General note Moderate level of production and wines appreciated for their organoleptic characteristics.

  • N
  • 1128

  • Lot

  • CA 46 - IFV

  • 2009

  • Sud-Ouest

  • -

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility low

  • Production level low

  • Cluster weight low

  • Berry size medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness high

  • Color potential high

  • Total acidity low to medium

  • Tannic structure high

  • Aromatic intensity high

  • Oenological skills typical, structured and colored wines that last in the mouth

  • Other information

  • General note Moderate level of production and wines appreciated for their organoleptic characteristics.

  • N
  • 1288

  • Argentine

  • Pépinières Mercier - IFV

  • 2018

  • -

  • -

  • N
  • 1289

  • Gironde

  • Pépinières Mercier - IFV

  • 2018

  • -

  • -

  • N
  • 1342

  • Lot

  • CA 46 - IFV

  • 2020

  • Sud-Ouest

  • -

  • Agronomic Data

  • Fertility medium

  • Production level low to medium

  • Cluster weight low

  • Berry size medium

  • Technological Data

  • Sugar richness high

  • Color potential high

  • Total acidity medium

  • Tannic structure medium to high

  • Oenological skills fine wines, round, with coated tannins, aromas of persistent fruit, good balance in mouth

  • Other information

  • General note Moderate level of production and wines appreciated for their organoleptic characteristics.