Chateau Ksara Reserve du Couvent, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

Description

About Chateau Ksara: Château Ksara is Lebanon’s oldest winery. Its traditions can be traced back to 1857 when a group of Jesuit monks acquired the property. The Jesuits applied their knowledge of science and agriculture to plant French vines as well as developing two kilometres of Roman caves that proved ideal for the storage of wine. The Jesuits sold the winery to its current owners in 1973. Ksara is now the most modern winery in the region as well as the largest producer in the country. Their annual production is over 2.8 million bottles and they sell their wines in more than 40 countries worldwide. Château Ksara is certified ISO 9001 and ISO 2200.00 for its viticulture, production and sales guaranteeing quality and consistency year on year.

About the Vineyard: Ksara’s vineyards are located in the central and western Bekaa Valley at an average altitude of 1,000 metres. The Bekaa enjoys dry summers and has the advantage of its own natural water table, courtesy of the melting snow that runs off the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges, therefore no irrigation is needed in the vineyards. The slopes on either side of the valley and the valley itself, create a unique microclimate in which the cool nights compensate for the hot summer days. Vines are either double Guyot or cordon trained and their grapes can be considered to be grown organically because of the very limited used of sulphur-based pesticides. The soils are stony with chalk, clay or a limestone base. Harvesting is manual and the standard yield of the vineyards is between 40 and 45 hectolitres per hectare.

Vinification: A blend of Syrah 40%, Cabernet Franc 30%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%. The wine was racked and each variety was matured in oak casks. The wine then aged for 12 months before being blended, fined and bottled. This wine with its dark ruby-red colour is a fusion of finesse and elegance; with notes of beautifully integrated oak and vanilla enveloped in supple, pure and round tannins and a wonderful persistence on the palate.

ABV: 13.5%