{"title":"Wines of the Orient","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eALTCELLARS has teamed up with Éditions Dépaysage to promote\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eVins d’Orient – 4,000 ans d’ivresse\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u0026nbsp;(Wines of the Orient – 4,000 Years of Indulgence), a collective work directed by François Clément.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"domaine-de-bargylus-blanc-2016","title":"Domaine de Bargylus White 2016","description":"\u003ch4\u003eA Syrian wine, this Bargylus 2016 is a real stunner: powerful and full-bodied, it's made to accompany your fine meals.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fine gourmet wine, Bargylus White 2016 fully lives up to its promise. Half Chardonnay, half Sauvignon Blanc, this Syrian wine from Deir Touma, 60 km east of the seaside town of Latakia, is powerful, structured and complex. From the very first nose, it reveals notes of heated flint, fanned by pretty aromas of shale and gunflint, characteristic of a Sauvignon Blanc bursting with sunshine. On the palate, it's equally superb and generous, with a full-bodiedness typical of a Chardonnay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut the originality of this vineyard, whose vines grow at an altitude of 900 meters on a clay-limestone terroir marked by a temperate Mediterranean climate, lies perhaps even more in its history. Founded in 2002 by the Saadés, a Syrian-Lebanese family who also own Château Marsyas in Lebanon, it has withstood the upheavals of the Syrian revolution of 2011-2012 and the bloody war that followed; despite the fact that the Saadés have never set foot in Syria again. Far too dangerous, given that to get to this region, home of the Assad family in power since 1971, it has long been required to cross a zone held by Daesh and its other islamist offshoots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInstead, owners Karim and Sandro Saadé manage everything remotely from Lebanon, where the two brothers live and work. Advised by French winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt, they manage their team by phone, videoconference or WhatsApp. Before and during the harvest, grape samples are even driven by cab to Beirut for analysis. As a result, Bargylus has never missed a vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat can they rely on? Growing international recognition. Most of its production (around 45,000 bottles a year) is exported to Europe, especially France, where it can be found at highly sought-after tables such as at Spoon, Alain Ducasse's Parisian restaurant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinely oaked, this is a wonderful, powerful wine to enjoy with grilled fish or poultry.\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"clearfix margin-top-5\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"accroche text-bold taille-sm\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"description_courte\" class=\"clearfix margin-top-5\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"description_courte_content\" class=\"rte align_justify\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Terres Millésimées","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46509963673939,"sku":"0655","price":32.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/BargylusBlanc.png?v=1693633609"},{"product_id":"chateau-musar-blanc-2017","title":"Château Musar White 2017","description":"\u003ch4\u003eA white wine of ideal intensity and complexity for lovers of mature wines.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Musar White is made from equal parts of the indigenous Lebanese grape varieties Obeidy (related to Chardonnay) and Merwah (related to Semillon). Traditional farming is practiced here, with low yields and high quality. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 9 months, then marketed 7 years after harvest. Our tastings revealed an elegant Obeidy and a \"wild\" Merwah, a perfect combination of styles and a true reflection of the terroir. Pale lemon color and nose of apples and fresh hay with hints of vanilla and grapefruit. The nose also reveals notes of orange blossom, which continue on the palate with sweet flavors of basil, peach and tarte tatin that will develop over time. This wine would benefit from decanting and, if cellared well, will keep for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Château Musar vineyards are located at the southern tip of Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. They extend over the villages of Aana and Kefraya on alternating gravel and limestone soils. This diversity of soils and exposures, linked to the valley's relief, produces distinct wines and highly complex blends. Château Musar wines are produced using a non-interventionist approach, and the vineyard was the first in Lebanon to be grown organically in 2006.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1930, at just 20 years of age, Gaston Hochar founded Château Musar, inspired by the 6,000-year-old Lebanese winemaking tradition and his travels to Bordeaux. His \"noble wines\" impressed the senior officers of the French army in the 1920s. Ronald Barton of Bordeaux-based Château Langoa-Barton, stationed in Lebanon during the Second World War, became friends with Gaston Hochar; this relationship further strengthened the ties between Château Musar and Bordeaux that continue to this day. Serge Hochar, his son, began producing wines in the late 1950s. His brother Ronald joined him in the early 1960s. Today, 85% of production is exported. They produce 700,000 bottles a year. Château Musar remains the benchmark for wineries in Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. The longevity and finesse of its wines impress wine lovers the world over.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pardela Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46892264980819,"sku":"1702","price":53.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/MusarBlanc.png?v=1691422068"},{"product_id":"domaine-wardy-obeidi-2017","title":"Domaine Wardy Obeidi 2017","description":"\u003ch4\u003eObeidy, a Lebanese white grape variety, produces elegant wines like this delicate Domaine Wardy.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA pleasant wine for lovers of interesting discoveries: its white variety of Lebanese origin, Obeidy, sparks curiosity. Until recently, Obeidy was mainly used in the production of arak, the traditional Middle Eastern spirit made from distilled grapes and anise. In Lebanon, it is extremely widespread, particularly in the Bekaa Valley, where its vines bask at an altitude of 1,000 meters on the slopes of the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA pioneer, Domaine Wardy released the first vintage of this single-varietal cuvée in 2012. For this, they selected old vines (at least 20 years old), from plots in the hills around Zahleh, the main town in the Bekaa. Many Lebanese wineries followed the lead and have been experimenting with it ever since, in blends or single-varietals, with the aim of making it one of the country's great wine signatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill relatively unknown internationally, it has a subtle nose, with less powerful aromas than those of a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. It does, however, reveal beautiful ashy, almost toasted notes, as well as fruit aromas such as mirabelle plum and quince. On the palate, you'll appreciate its acidity and finely integrated oak. Normal: this Obeidy is aged for sixteen months in French barrels. In 2020, its 2016 vintage even won a silver medal at the Sommeliers Choice Awards, held in San Francisco, USA.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Orienco","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46935341760851,"sku":"0400","price":19.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/Obeidi.png?v=1691422153"},{"product_id":"chateau-kefraya-rouge-2019","title":"Château Kefraya Red 2019","description":"\u003ch4\u003eCombining power and elegance with silky tannins, Château Kefraya Red offers subtle notes of cherry, spice, leather and vanilla.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e22 hectares of hand-harvested vines over 30 years old give birth to this wine of character. The best Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes are aged for 18 to 24 months in oak barrels to produce a structured, elegant wine. The nose reveals notes of leather and cigar box at first, followed by aromas of ripe fruit, spices and blackcurrant. Silky and fine on the palate, the entry is powerful, fresh, with dominant aromas of red and black fruits, with good length and a remarkably delicate finish. Château Kefraya red expresses itself when young, but also when aged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe story of Château Kefraya begins in 1946, when Michel de Bustros launched the construction of the winery on a tell, an artificial hill erected by the Romans centuries earlier to observe troop movements. The first vines were planted in 1951, and it was not until 1979, under difficult conditions in the midst of the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990), that Château Kefraya began to produce its own wine, with grapes grown in its own vineyard and vinified in its own cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSituated in West Bekaa, more than 1,000 meters above the Mediterranean, the vineyard covers almost 300 hectares of terraced slopes at the foot of Mount Barouk. The vines are mostly trellised and planted at 4,000 vines\/hectare on a variety of soils: Clay-limestone, clay-chalk as well as sandy and gravelly. They enjoy an exceptional sun exposure with no irrigation. Yields are limited to a low average of 35 hl\/ha. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier and other grape varieties are grown alongside indigenous varieties such as Obeidy, Merwah and Meksesse (white grapes). Château Kefraya has also revived ancient Lebanese red grape varieties such as Assouad Karech and Asmi Noir, following years of terroir research in collaboration with international institutes. Château Kefraya wines are certified organic and vegan since 2022.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sodimo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49578533978451,"sku":"1196","price":24.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/ChateauKefrayaRouge.png?v=1704971941"},{"product_id":"domaine-de-bargylus-rouge-2016","title":"Domaine de Bargylus Red 2016","description":"\u003ch4\u003eIn Syria, a country devastated by war, Bargylus is a small miracle of gourmet excellence.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGourmet... Exquisite... Perfectly smooth... Let's be honest, this Bargylus red 2016 is a magnificent hit on taste buds. A Syrian wine, produced to the east of the seaside city of Latakia, its nose is both fine and delicate. Its harmonious ensemble reveals aromas of mint, rhubarb and wild berries. It's unusual to describe a red wine as mineral. But this one has a rare palate: with your eyes closed, you can almost feel the earth's wet humus, with stony tastes. Sensual yet perfectly structured, the 2016 vintage also boasts silky tannins that blend with tobacco and white pepper flavors on the palate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis small miracle is the work of the Saadé brothers and their advisor, Frenchman Stéphane Derenoncourt. These Lebanese-Syrians revived the country's winemaking past in 2003, by planting their first vines in this fertile land with a climate tempered by its proximity to the sea. It was a crazy gamble, and since then they've endured it all: war, the Islamic State on their doorstep, and even, more recently, the terrible earthquake that destroyed part of their infrastructure. But the two brothers have held firm, and each year offer us an exceptional wine that inevitably makes you go through the whole bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Terres Millésimées","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49616538992979,"sku":"0761","price":41.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/Bargylus_Rouge_2016.png?v=1729184116"},{"product_id":"domaine-de-baal-rouge-2019","title":"Domaine de Baal Red 2019","description":"\u003ch4\u003eA classic red wine, with Bordeaux overtones, to pair with red meats or dishes in sauce.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vintage is still quite young, having aged for almost 18 months in French oak barrels. While its powerful tannins are still firm (the wine needs to be aerated for at least 30 minutes before tasting), this Domaine de Baal Red 2019 possesses wonderful substance with fruity notes, particularly of black cherries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe palate bursts with cocoa and spice flavors, ending with a pleasant minty finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would have expected nothing less from Sébastien Khoury, owner of this charming 4.5-hectare vineyard nestled in the hills above the town of Zahleh, at the heart of the Bekaa Valley at an altitude of almost 1,000 meters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Lebanon, this self-taught winemaker, who has always been devoted to organic and even biodynamic viticulture, has made a name for himself with his garage wines, respectful of the terroir from which he aims to draw the best expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLiving between France and Lebanon, he works his vines the old-fashioned way, favoring plowing and manual harvesting, while employing ultra-modern techniques such as green harvesting, where the vines are stripped of some of their still-green grapes in order to reduce yields and improve the taste qualities of the grapes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Multi Culti Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50567564230995,"sku":"8476","price":33.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/BaalRouge.png?v=1742455054"},{"product_id":"ixsir-altitudes-blanc-2024","title":"Ixsir Altitudes White 2024","description":"\u003ch4\u003eThis blend of a Lebanese indigenous grape and two noble southern varieties presents an elegant swirl of golden glittering robes.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViognier is the least of its components by a small margin, at 30%, alongside Muscat and the indigenous Obeidy (35% each), but it's the Viognier that puts its stamp on the nose most clearly in aromas of honeysuckle, white peach, cream, citrus and a pinch of ginger. The palate is an attractive combination of good structure, generous, rounded texture, peachy fruit and a freshening squeeze of grapefruit-peel acidity and bitterness. Ixsir's winemaker and co-founder, Gabriel Rivero, says that the structure and complexity come from the Obeidy. The freshness comes, very obviously, from the altitude of the vineyards which, at 1,800 meters, are said to be the highest in the northern hemisphere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIxsir was launched in Lebanon in 2008 when a group of friends, including French-Lebanese tycoon Carlos Ghosn, invested in a winery that would shake up the local wine scene. Located in the Batroun region in the north of the country, the building has won several awards, including Green Good design in 2011. But it's the winemaking strategy that has won this challenger the hearts of the Lebanese and foreign publics alike (40% of its sales are abroad): the team has chosen vineyard plots from all over the country, so that its wines can express all the rich diversity and complexity of the Lebanese terroir.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sodimo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52430686912851,"sku":"2299","price":18.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/Altitudes_Ixsir_White.png?v=1737445239"},{"product_id":"chateau-marsyas-rouge-2017","title":"Château Marsyas Red 2017","description":"\u003ch4\u003eThis Marsyas Red 2017 combines strength and softness for a perfectly balanced, long-keeping wine.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Marsyas Red 2017 is a wine with a strong personality! On the nose, the Cabernet Sauvignon, at its peak maturity here, is intense; the Syrah delivers its fruitiest notes, the Cabernet Franc a hint of mellow spice and the Petit Verdot an unmistakable freshness. On the palate, sensations of black fruit, pepper and even liquorice give way to powerful, silky tannins. The whole is particularly alluring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA great success that justifies the involvement of Karim and Sandro Saadé, the owners of this Lebanese château, who are also present in Syria with the remarkable Domaine de Bargylus. In this adventure, the two brothers are advised by French winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt, who took part in choosing the plots as well as the grape varieties, before supervising their vinification from the first vintage released in 2007.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Marsyas spreads out over 55 hectares in the heart of the Bekaa (whose name it borrows from ancient Greek), an alluvial plateau at an altitude of 900 meters bordered by the mountains of Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. In these iron-rich soils, where limestone outcrops everywhere, the vines plunge deep into the soil in search of humidity, while benefiting from exceptional sunshine. The result is a wine of mastered strength, which we recommend as an accompaniment to red meats, or dishes such as braised beef cheeks or stews.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"clearfix margin-top-5\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"accroche text-bold taille-sm\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"clearfix margin-top-5\" id=\"description_courte\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rte align_justify\" id=\"description_courte_content\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Terres Millésimées","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53385574875475,"sku":"1679B","price":34.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/Marsyas_Rouge.png?v=1775141660"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/collections\/Vins_d_Orient_4_000_ans_d_ivresse.png?v=1765960264","url":"https:\/\/www.altcellars.at\/en\/collections\/wines-of-the-orient.oembed","provider":"ALTCELLARS","version":"1.0","type":"link"}