2017 Zorah Yeraz Arenì Noir

The fabulous Zorah Yeraz Areni Noir is a natural field blend. Much like colourful threads in a tapestry, the grapes come from small vineyard parcels which encompass a vibrant mosaic of varying strains within the ancient Areni grape variety which have survived and evolved through the ages. These individual vines create a multiplicity within this variety which cannot be seen as anything other than the whole of the vineyard.
This is extreme, high-altitude viticulture with ancient ultra-centennial bush vineyards at 1600m above sea level. It’s a phylloxera-free terroir with a combination of volcanic, sedimentary and limestone soils with no irrigation.
Fermentation took place in rough, temperature-controlled concrete tanks using only natural yeast. The wine was matured in traditional amphorae of varying sizes for almost 24 months, with short passages in large, untoasted cask to soften the tannins. The wine was further aged for 12 months in bottle.
The wine presents  a lovely, ethereal nose and fine, elegant, pure and lingering flavour. Yeraz is like a blend of cru Burgundy mixed with top Sangiovese in character but with its own distinctive hints of spice and crushed raspberry. – Zorik Gharibian, Zorah