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Chateau Ksara Blanc de Blancs
Kevin's comments: Made from a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, this wine is matured for several months in French oak casks. The result is a wine with a floral aroma and finesse, elegance and freshness on the palate.
Chateau Tasting Notes
CHATEAU KSARA BLANC DE BLANCS
Ksara Estate lies in the heart of the Bekaa Valley near Baalbeck, where the ruins of the Temple of Bacchus from the Greco-Roman era can be found. It is called Ksara because it was the site of a ksar or fortress at the time of the Crusades. The property was acquired by the Jesuits in 1857 when it was already famed as a vineyard, and they maintained the tradition of winemaking on the estate.
Climatic conditions in the Bekaa provide Ksara's vineyards with exceptional advantages. There is almost no rainfall during the growing season and diseases seldom strike the vines. Their grapes can be considered to be grown organically because pesticides and herbicides are not used. Harvesting is done by hand, but there is no need for selection because the grapes achieve full ripeness without fear of rot.
Chateau Ksara is the largest producer in the Lebanon with 334 hectares and 38% of the local production.
Grapes: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Vinification: Picked in cases and pressed pneumatically as whole grapes, sedimentation and fermentation are carried out at a controlled low temperature of 18°C. After it has fermented to dryness, the wine is racked off and sulphured to prevent malolactic fermentation.
Maturation: The various wines are matured for several months in French oak casks, before being blended, fined, stabilised and bottled.
Taste: The Chardonnay gives this wine its finesse and elegance, the Sauvignon its subtle aroma of hazelnuts and exotic fruits, and the Semillon provides roundness, length and finesse. The result is an elegant wine with a floral aroma and freshness on the palate.
Serve: Chilled at 8°C as an aperitif or with delicate fresh fish and shellfish. This wine is best enjoyed young, but can be kept for 2-3 years.
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