S.L. 436.5 Art. 17Chemical-physical and organoleptic analysis.

(1) Wines produced following the regulations foreseen for the designation and presentation of the DOK and the specific production protocols shall be submitted for chemical-physical and organoleptic analysis prior to the bottling phase, i.e. before their designation and presentation, and a second sample after bottling. The analysis shall certify that their characteristics correspond to those described in the respective production protocols.

(2) The analytical examination shall at least include the values of the elements characteristic of the typology of the wine in question as indicated by the respective production protocol.

(3) The organoleptic examination shall include the colour, clarity, smell and taste as indicated by the respective production protocol.

(4) The chemical-physical analysis as indicated in subregulation (1) shall be carried out, on request of the interested parties, by the Unit’s laboratory; the organoleptic examination as indicated in subregulation (1) shall be carried out by an appropriate Tasting Panel nominated by the Director.

(5) The Tasting Panel shall provide a report on one single wine within a maximum of thirty days from the presentation of the request for the analysis presented by a producer.

(6) Any appeal with regards to the analytical chemical-physical and sensorial results by single producers must be presented to the Unit within seven days from the date on which the results of the first analysis were received. In case of an appeal, the wine shall be reexamined by another authorised laboratory, for the chemical-physical analysis, and by the appeals tasting panel, for the sensorial analysis within fifteen days from the date in which the appeal is presented.

(7) The appeals tasting panel shall be nominated by the Minister. The members of the Appeals Tasting Panel shall not form part of the Tasting Panel.

(8) Sampling, on request of the interested parties, shall be carried out by officers from the Unit and shall have the powers conferred to them by article 19 of the Act.

(9) Sampling shall be carried out in accordance with article 20 of the Act and the official procedures of the Unit.

Part V

Designation and presentation of wines with a denomination of origin and with a geographic indication