2015, El IXSIR, IXSI

How it tastes Black cherry, blackberry liqueur, cedar wood, bay leaf, liquorice and gentle spice notes, overlain by floral hints of violet. Full-bodied and structured, with dark fruit concentration, fine oak integration, peppery Syrah spice, mineral tension and a long, savoury finish with refined tannins. Contains sulphites. The producer IXSIR is a high-altitude Lebanese winery located in Batroun and surrounding mountain terroirs (400-1,800m) that focuses on sustainable viticulture, gravity-flow winemaking and blending noble international varieties on limestone and clay-calcareous soils. Food and drinking Good with red meat and lamb. Drinking well now, with a decade or more ahead of it. Serve at 16–18°C to fully express its depth and aromatic complexity.