Mersel LebNat PetNat Gold from the Lebanese mountains, dangerously drinkable, bright with acidity and full of ripe banana, pineapple and ripe lemon, from Viognier grown at 1,700 metres in the Bekaa and 150 year old Merwah vines in the Qannboubine Valley.
Tasting Notes
The winemaker's own note is "this wine is okay, try it." What is actually in the glass is dangerously drinkable. Bright with acidity, showing ripe bananas, pineapple and ripe lemon. Dry and gently sparkling, with the yeasty, faintly cloudy character that comes from finishing fermentation in the bottle. No added sulphites.
Quick Facts
- Grapes: 50% Viognier, 50% Merwah
- Origin: Lebanon, Ainata in the Bekaa Valley at 1,700m and Dimane in the Qannboubine Valley at 1,600m
- Style: Pétillant naturel white, natural wine, no added sulphites
- Winemaking: Five days stabulation at 8°C, twenty day fermentation at 14°C, bottled at 3 PSI to finish fermentation in bottle, five months on lees, then disgorged
- Vines: Merwah vines at Dimane are over 150 years old
Food Pairing
As an aperitif, with Lebanese mezze, or with shellfish.
Serving
Serve at 8 to 10°C. Open carefully, natural sparkling wines can be lively.
About the Producer
Mersel Wine is a natural wine producer working in the Lebanese mountains, founded by winemaker Eddie Chami. The estate farms high altitude sites from Terboul at 700 metres up to Ainata in the Bekaa at 1,700 metres, working with the indigenous Merwah grape alongside international varieties, using hand picking, indigenous yeasts and minimal intervention.
