Château Belle-Vue Le Château 2014

Cabernet Franc and Syrah, with dark fruit, white pepper and the patina of age.

Le Château is the estate’s more limited red, built around Cabernet Franc and Syrah. In the 2014 vintage, ripe fruit and spice have come together in a profile shaped by time: black cherry and clove, lifted by white pepper and a subtle earthy note. Velvety tannins give the wine breadth without obscuring its spicy character, while 24 months in French oak barrels help bring the blend together.

Cabernet Franc contributes aromatic definition, complementing Syrah’s darker, more savoury character. Now more than a decade old, this is a wine to explore for the interplay of mature fruit, softened tannins and the nuances developed in bottle. Give it time in a decanter to reveal its evolving character.

In Bhamdoun, high in the Mount Lebanon mountains, Naji Boutros set out to revive his family’s vineyards in the early 2000s, planting the first vines in April 2000 among the ruins of his great-grandfather’s former hotel. Château Belle-Vue farms terraced vineyards at elevations of 950–1,250 metres, on clay-limestone soils in a climate characterised by dry summers. The estate follows organic farming practices, avoids herbicides and pesticides, hand-harvests its grapes and relies on indigenous yeasts for fermentation. Its three principal wines explore distinct blends of international grape varieties, shaped by Lebanon’s mountain conditions.