Pinot Noir in the Bekaa is close to an act of faith. Château St. Thomas were among the first in Lebanon to try it, and the altitude does the work, with hot days ripening the fruit and cold nights holding onto the acidity that the variety cannot do without.
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby. Floral violet notes with red cherry, rhubarb and brambly strawberry. Elegant and full bodied on the palate, with balanced acidity, fine tannins and layers of cherry cola, earthy undertones, tobacco and sweet spice, closing savoury and memorable. Around ten months in oak gives structure without covering the fruit.
Quick Facts
- Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
- Origin: Lebanon, Bekaa Valley at around 1,000m, between the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges
- ABV: Approximately 13 to 14%
- Style: Dry red, medium to full bodied, oak aged
- Winemaking: Around ten months in oak, minimal intervention
Food Pairing
Roast poultry or duck, lightly spiced lamb or veal, mushroom dishes, and soft to semi-hard cheeses.
Serving
Serve at 15 to 16°C. Open fifteen minutes before pouring.
About the Producer
Château St. Thomas is a family estate in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, founded in the early 1990s by Saïd Touma and now run by his son Joe-Assaad alongside Nadia, Nathalie, Claudine and Micheline. The estate works with international varieties and with rare indigenous Lebanese grapes such as Obeidy, and takes part in the Wine Mosaic initiative to preserve Mediterranean native varieties.
