Château Ksara 2019
Château Ksara is the oldest wine-producing winery in Lebanon. It was founded in 1857 by French monks in the Bekaa Valley. In Lebanon, Ksara is the best known and most important producer. It produces a range of internationally acclaimed wines that are exported all over the world.
| Country | Lebanon |
| Region | Bekaa Valley |
| Wine maker | Château Ksara |
| Grape varieties | 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot |
| Terroir | The Bekaa has an altitude of 1000 meter up to 1600 meter above sea level. It has a semi-continental climate. The winters are cold with moderate rainfall and the summers are hot and dry. The altitude means that the hot summer days are balanced by cool evenings with a temperature difference of around 15°C. There is between 600 and 700mm of yearly rainfall, concentrated in autumn and winter. In contrast, the weather is dry during summer months and growing seasons, resulting in far fewer diseases. Pesticides and herbicides are not used, so the grapes are grown almost organically. The soil ranges from chalk, to clay and chalk, to clay and limestone, but it is always stony. |
| Harvest method | Handpicked. |
| Vinification | The grapes are destemmed and fermented separately at between 28 and 30°C. They are left for between 14 to 30 days before malolactic fermentation and transfer to French barrels, of which 50% are new oak, for 12 months, before blending and bottling. The wines are then aged for a further two years in the famous Roman caves of the Château. |
| Impression | Powerful, concentrated juice. Well-dosed wood aging. Blackberries and blueberries. Good acidity. Ripe and spicy than Bordeaux. |
| Did you know? | This Bordeaux-blend celebrates its centenary in 2021. The Château Rouge is a homage to Lebanon's Jesuit and Francophone legacy. |