Mersel Wine "Phoenix" Skin Contact Merwah 2021

Mersel Wine's Phoenix line comes from the rise of the Lebanese national bird, the Phoenix. The firebird that keeps rising, using its passion and determination to try something new. Mersel is one of the first wineries in Lebanon to produce a completely natural, organic wine that is free from additives and that is unfined and unfiltered. 

The local, indigenous Merwah grapes come from 150-year-old vines and spend three weeks on the skins fermenting in Amphora. Ripe apricot, orange rind,, a touch of oxidative funk, and a glimmering acidity. Not overly grippy and bitter, there's just a sense of bitterness at the back of the palate. A summer sipper, for sure.

Picked in middle of October and crushed into 2-proportional lots, then fermented in stainless tanks and amphoras. The wine is fermented on skins for 3 weeks, the cap is gently broken by hand a few times a day, and is then racked off skins in the middle of November into half neutral barrels and half stainless tanks. The temperature at the winery reaches -5 degrees celsius, consistently in winter,  allowing for natural cold stabilization of the wine. MLF happens in Spring, the wine is bottled in May.