Marquis de Beys Chardonnay Lebanon

Intro to Marquis de Beys Chardonnay –

Marquis de Beys Chardonnay from Lebanon is a very aromatic stylish wine from one of Lebanon’s leading producers.

Full tasting note and wine making –

Marquis de Beys Chardonnay from Lebanon has aromas of ripe stonefruit, vanilla and a touch of hazelnut complexity. The palate is rich with bright, slightly exotic fruit flavours and cinnamon. The wine has enough acidity to provide balance and the finish is long, nutty and elegant. This is unique and rewarding Chardonnay.

These 20-25 year old vines are located in West Bekaa, 1050m above sea level. Vine density is 3.500 vines/ha. Grapes are 100% manually harvested with intensive selection. Traditional vinification in concrete vats, the alcoholic fermentation takes 10 days to finish then the malolactic fermentation begins spontaneously. The wine is blended then aged in French and American oak barrels for eight months.

THE PRODUCER –

Domaine des Tourelles is one of the longest established and most highly acclaimed wineries in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Founded in 1868 by French adventurer François-Eugène Brun, Domaine de Tourelles was the first commercial cellar in Lebanon producing wines, arak and other spirits. In 2000, the estate was bought by descendants of Brun’s Lebanese wife, Nayla Kanaan Issa-el-Khoury and Elie F. Issa.  It is run by their children, Faouzi Issa (winemaker), Christaine Issa and Emile Issa-el Khoury.  This young and dynamic trio have decided to proudly apply similar artisan winemaking skills and traditions to their handcrafted wines – this includes minimum intervention in the vineyards and cellar, use of indigenous natural yeasts, no fining or filtering, and only very small amounts of sulphur. The winery boasts intelligent ancestral architectural design that keeps the ideal ambient temperature all year round, and concrete vats (a rarity in Lebanon) that provide the best biological conditions for natural winemaking processes – preserving the authentic taste of Lebanon’s terroir.

Faouzi Issa, graduated with winemaking and viticultural degrees from Bordeaux and Montpellier Universities. He then trained with René Rostaing in Cote Rôtie and at Chateau Margaux before moving back to the, by now, family winery at Domaine des Tourelles. Faouzi has secured the future of this noble estate by introducing “a few modernities here and there…” but is adamant their ancient vineyards continue to be the expression and philosophy of the estate and is proud of the winery’s strong francophile links.

Domaine des Tourelles – a prestigious and traditional property classified amongst the finest boutique wineries of the Middle East.

Drink with –

Chicken in a creamy sauce or grilled veal chops with mushrooms.