Domaine des Tourelles Merweh & Obeidi Vieilles Vignes Bekaa Valley 2020

François-Eugène Brun first came to the Bekaa Valley to work for a French company in charge of the Beirut-Damascus road. He was soon smitten with the area and dreamed of making wine and Arak, realizing that dream in 1868 when he established Domaine des Tourelles. Over 150 years later, Domaine des Tourelles is run today by the younger generation of the Issa & Issa el Khoury families – resulting in Lebanon’s youngest winemaking team running the country’s oldest winery! This incredibly unique cuvée is made from Merweh and Obeidi, two indigenous grapes that likely trace their lineage back to the Phoenicians. The ancient vineyards range across locations from the Bekaa plateau to the Bsharreh mountains above the Qadisha (Holy Valley) at the feet of the famed cedars of Mount Lebanon. This dynamic duo offers layers of spicy chutney and orange blossom water on the nose, followed by kumquat, peach pit, olive, rehydrated golden raisin, and quince on the palate. The finish is distinctively nutty, with hints of hazelnut skin and almond alongside a splash of rose and orange blossom water. Incredible with food, this will delight lovers of savory, generously textured wines. Heads up, Jura fans! Organically grown, sustainably grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.