Château Saint Thomas Noor El Ain 2022
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (75 cL)
This rosé, with its strong notes of wild berries, is an ideal companion to grilled meats and salads.
The wines produced by Château Saint-Thomas, a winery located in West Bekaa, where the great Lebanese vineyards are concentrated, never disappoint. Their latest, a refreshing rosé called Noor el Ain (literally "Light of the Eyes"), an affectionate Arabic expression, is no exception.
A fruity little bombshell, with a fairly light pink color, this gourmet wine has a lovely texture on the palate: flavors of wild berries, particularly strawberries, combine with sensations of white-fleshed fruit. Designed to be a "delightful summer rosé", it's easy to drink, without any fuss and is ideal as an aperitif, as well as a wonderful accompaniment to grilled meats and salads.
This success owes much to the Toumas, originally a family of distillers well known in Lebanon: in 1888, grandfather Elias Touma founded a distillery producing arak - the local Levantine anisette similar to Greek ouzo - which is now renowned throughout the Middle East. His son, then his grandchildren, broadened their horizons by taking an interest in wine and planting vines on the land they own around the historic distillery. Their first vintage dates back to 1998. Since then, they have expanded their range to include a dozen wines, blends as well as single varietals, which are exported mostly to Europe and the United States.
Château Saint Thomas Noor El Ain 2022
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (75 cL)
Soil : Clay and limestone, stony
Farming : Traditional
Grape(s) : Carignan, Syrah, and Obeidy
Alcohol : 12.5°
Aging : Stainless steel tank
Serving : 8°C - 10°C
Conservation : Now until 2025
Decanting : Direct consumption
Pairing : Chicken or meat BBQ - Pizzas - Cold starters