Château Ksara Château Rouge 2019
Château Ksara Rouge is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, aged in new oak for 12 months. This Lebanese take on a traditional claret assemblage is made to age gracefully. Raspberry, blackcurrant and vanilla aromas make way for a powerful, spicy, leather-tinged palate, of extraordinary length and complexity.
The grapes were harvested by hand, destemmed and then fermented separately at between 28 and 30°C, followed by a fifteen to twenty-five-day period in vats. The wines were then taken off the skins to undergo malolactic fermentation. The wines are left to decant separately over the winter, before being transferred to new oak casks for twelve months. During this period, the wines were also racked off several times. The separate wines were then blended and bottled.
| RRP | £29.50 |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Region | Bekaa Valley |
| Grapes | Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 30%, Petit Verdot 10% |
| Body | D |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Cork |
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.
Ksara's vineyards are located in the central and western Bekaa Valley at high altitudes. 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 AntiLebanon 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.
