Production
The native Merweh grapes come from 150 year old bush vines which grow wild in the mountains of the Bsharreh region in the North of Lebanon. The soils are clay-limestone and at 1,500 m (4,921 feet) above sea level. The bush vines are dry farmed and hand harvested with intensive selection in the vineyards. The grapes are manually harvested early in the morning then transferred to the winery in separate boxes. Only ripened and healthy berries are separated from the peduncle (rafle) then moved into 200L clay jars for slow fermentation. Regular punch-down is done to extract colour, tannins, and structure for the final stage. Clear wine is finally separated at the end of the fermentation then aged in stainless steel vats for last treatment before bottling. Malolactic fermentation is inhibited in this wine to keep as much as possible a solid acidity in its structure.
Tasting notes
Light amber in colour. Rich and wonderfully complex on the nose with aromas of orange blossom, wild flower honey and roasted nuts. The palate is savoury and textural with sappy acidity and smooth elegant tannins from the maceration with the skin. Ripe stone fruit characters are offset by saltiness and minerality on the long complex finish.
