Old-World Elegance, New-World Style
Fated for Greatness
By History and Nature
For thousands of years, Armenian vinetenders have fastidiously cultivated the ancient Areni Noir grape in the highlands terroir of Vayots Dzor. To make wines in this place, from this grape, is to follow the clear path of destiny.
The variety’s thick skins and naturally low pH make for tremendous aging potential. On the palate, the wines are harmonious thanks to medium-firm tannins, generous acidity, and appealing red and black fruit notes.
Methodical and Skilled
A Modern Approach
While the grape variety and land are both ancient, winemaker Alex H. learned his contemporary winemaking technique at the University of California, Davis, as well as during travels in the Napa Valley and beyond.
We harvest early in the morning to capture acidity, and collect the fruit in small bins to preserve the delicate structure of the grape clusters. After initial sorting and destemming, we do an additional berry sort by hand to select the most pristine and ripe individual grapes.
Our Wines
Khachen Areni Reserve
A selection of our finest blocks. Aged in French oak barrels, this expressive red wine is delicious now or will continue to mature and improve with a decade or more of cellar age. Silky on the palate and elegantly balanced, it reveals notes of plum, morello cherry and black pepper.
Current Vintage
2021
Work in progress ...
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2020
2019
2018
2020
2020
The vineyards enjoyed idyllic growing conditions with consistent weather and milder temperatures in 2020. The beginning of the year was notably dry; however, well-timed rainfall just before budbreak provided the necessary water for canopy development. Flawless conditions ensued during flowering and fruit set which led to higher-than-average yields. …
2019
2019
The winter of 2019 ended a five-year drought with January recording the most rainfall in over 20 years. The abundant rainfall continued into March, causing a modest delay in budbreak, and pushing bloom back by two weeks. Increased soil moisture allowed for healthy vine growth and development. ...
2018
2018
The winter of 2018 ended a five-year drought with January recording the most rainfall in over 20 years. The abundant rainfall continued into March, causing a modest delay in budbreak, and pushing bloom back by two weeks. Increased soil moisture allowed for healthy vine growth and development. ...
Khachen Areni
Our classic estate wine is pure Areni Noir, vinified in a lighter style for immediate gratification. Fresh notes of red and dark berries are accented by racy acidity, a medium body, and supple, refined tannins. The finesse of our classic estate wine makes it a spectacular match for a wide array of foods.
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