Made from two ancient and indigenous varietals, Obaideh and Merwah, thought to be related to Chardonnay and Semillon Blanc. These vines are on their original rootstocks and are grown in at 1200-1400 metres above sea level in the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountains.
Both varietals are fermented with natural yeasts, the Obaideh in tank whereas Merwah is barrel fermented and aged in 225 litre French oak barriques, racked after 6-8 months, then blended and bottled in the July or August following the vintage. Bottles are aged in the winery’s cellars before release.
“Pale amber wine, very broad bouquet that hits you like a cloud not an arrow. This is not oxidised but is waxy, with a green, vegetal sort of Sémillon note on the nose. Then on the palate it has depth, real presence and something definitely salty about it – but citrus too. It’s certainly not rich. Bone dry, with a hint of walnuts, and really quite light in the mouth. Truly unlike any other wine I can think of. It is indeed difficult not to find the idiosyncratic, impish but utterly assured spirit of Serge Hochar in this one-off wine. Fully mature but definitely not decayed. Extremely clean in fact” – Jancis Robinson, March 2018
