Carignan

2020 was characterized as an early vintage. Low rainfall during winter was followed by hot, dry conditions in the summer. The dry, warm weather helped keep the vineyard disease free and produced grapes with good concentration of fruit. The vintage took place earlier than in average years, with fruit in excellent health and good polyphenolic maturity..

Mount Lebanon, Lebanon

The vines are planted on the slopes of Mount Lebanon at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level, where the warm days are tempered by cooler nights. The summer diurnal temperature difference encourages an extended ripening period; concentrating the flavors and aromatic complexity in the berries, while the fruit retains balancing acidity from the cool nights. The soil is sandstone clay, a sedimentary soil made up of sandy components rich in minerals, while the clay component has excellent water retention properties, essential for nourishing the vines throughout the hot, dry summer. The vines are cane pruned and are planted at a density of 4,000 vines per hectare. The vineyard is cultivated with respect for the environment and the grapes are hand-harvested at optimal maturity.

The fruit was carefully sorted to ensure only healthy, ripe grapes were vinified. Traditional fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures of 28°C with selected yeasts. Remontage or pump overs took place periodically to oxygenate the wine and extract tannins. A short post-fermentation maceration took place to extract color, flavor and impart structure to the wine. Ageing in stainless steel preserved the integrity of the pure fruit character. The wine was lightly filtered before bottling

A complex Carignan mixing black fruits and spices. Intense color and fine structure with rounded tannins and volume in the mouth

100% Carignan