First, it’s 100% Areni Noir?  Ever heard of it?  Most haven’t.  It’s an ancient indigenous grape of Armenia.  Yes, I said it, “Armenia”.  You know what Armenia is also known as?  The birthplace of winemaking.  In the late 2000s, archaeologists discovered the remains of a 6,100 year-old winery, the world’s earliest known wine production site.  And what was it producing? Areni Noir.

Zorah’s monastic, ungrafted vineyard is perched under the watchful eye of Mount Ararat in Armenia, just across from this ancient discovery.  The limited 2017 release has unbelievable purity, explosive aromatics, and vibrant fruit that seems to dance the Kochari across your palate.  The production process is totally unique:  Grapes are hand-harvested into small baskets, de-stemmed, and then sent to ferment naturally in epoxy-free concrete tanks.  The wine is then aged 12 months in amphorae (a container design straight from the Neolithic period).  The amphorae are wax-sealed and buried underground to ensure a steady temperature during maturation.  Afterward, the containers are dug up and the wine is blended together and bottled.  It then ages for an additional six months before it’s ready to leave the winery.

Opening a bottle of Zorah’s “Karasì” will be a life-changing experience.  It literally is history in a bottle.  If you’re looking to push your palate out of its comfort zone; this is the time and the bottle.