The Backstory

It was the autumn of 2018 when our Overton shop manager, Hayley, returned from a wine tasting in London visibly excited about a Lebanese Old Vine Cinsault that she had encountered and insisted that we should buy plenty, so confident was she that its winning combination of spice and berry flavours, complexity and supremely delicate touch would find willing customers.

Alas, it was only available in magnums but we bought as many as we could and sold the lot!

Shortly after Mark was given a copy of Margaret Rand’s gorgeous publication ‘101 Wines to Try Before You Die’ and within its pages this same wine and vintage was featured: 2015 Domaine des Tourelles Vieilles Vignes Cinsault.

What a coincidence.  How amazing that Margaret and Caviste were agreed.

Thankfully the wine has remained an affordable price for each successive vintage.

Domaine des Tourelles

Domaine des Tourelles is a true pioneer of Lebanese winemaking, established in 1868 by François-Eugène Brun in the heart of the Bekaa Valley. With over 150 years of history, it remains one of the country’s most iconic wineries, blending tradition with modernity. Now led by Faouzi Issa and his dynamic team, the winery produces award-winning, organic wines and the renowned Arak Brun, all crafted with minimal intervention to showcase the natural richness of the terroir.

At 1,050m above sea level, the vineyards enjoy perfect conditions for organic farming, boasting some of the oldest vines in the region. From handpicked grapes to fermentation in century-old concrete tanks, every detail at Domaine des Tourelles reflects a deep respect for the land and the craft, creating wines full of character, history, and vibrant Lebanese spirit.

Earlier this year Faouzi Issa, owner and winemaker of Domaine des Tourelles visited Caviste to host a tasting of his wines for Caviste customers and we persuaded him to release 60 bottles and 60 magnums of the same original vintage that won both our hearts and that of Margaret Rand.

The price is a notch or two higher than the current 2021 vintage but at 9 years old the wine is truly remarkable and I doubt we shall ever see this vintage again.

These 60 year old vines have seen enough warfare and strife, yet produce consistently sweet and sensational grapes each successive vintage.

An Absolute Must Try: 2015 Domaine des Tourelles Vieilles Vignes Cinsault

With its exotic mulberry fruit and a certain gamey spice with peppery tannins this old vine Cinsault combines the best of an evolved red Burgundy with a maturing Northern Rhone Syrah. Fermented on natural yeasts in old unlined traditional concrete tanks then aged in used French oak barrels the small concentrated grapes are encouraged to fully express themselves with minimum interference.

The wine cries out for autumn game and is a perfect match for a wealth of artisan English cheese whether stronger blue or pale creamy goats. Despite its delicate touch, the wine will persist and evolve for a further 5 to 10 years.

Available by the standard bottle and magnum!