Ixsir Altitudes Red 2021

Region and Vineyards

IXSIR works across Lebanon's mountainous vineyard landscape, selecting sites from Batroun in the north to Jezzine farther south. The estate's current vineyard map spans roughly 400 m to 1,800 m above sea level, with clay, limestone and calcareous soils recurring across the range. This vertical spread is central to the Altitudes identity: warm Mediterranean sunlight promotes ripeness, while elevation helps preserve freshness and aromatic definition.

Two high sites illustrate the approach particularly well. Deir El Ahmar, at about 1,000 m, includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo on gravelly clay-limestone soils, while Ainata reaches 1,800 m, where Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Caladoc grow on shell limestone with clay. The combination of altitude, limestone-rich soils and contrasting microclimates gives IXSIR a broad blending palette, helping Altitudes Red marry ripe dark fruit with lift, spice and a surprisingly supple profile.

Winemaking

The 2021 blend is 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Caladoc, 22% Syrah and 17% Tempranillo. Grapes are harvested manually at night into 18 kg crates, then moved to the Basbina winery in temperature-controlled trucks. After gentle crushing and destemming, fermentation takes place in stainless steel under temperature control, a method designed to retain the clarity of the fruit and keep the wine's profile bright.

Maturation is deliberately measured rather than heavily oaked. Part of the wine spends six months in French oak, while the 2021 trade specification describes the barrels as used oak, allowing subtle toast and spice without overwhelming the blackberry, blackcurrant and cherry character. The finished wine is listed at 14.5% alcohol, with pH 3.7, total acidity of 3.85 g/L expressed as tartaric acid, and just 2 g/L residual sugar, confirming a dry, generous yet controlled style.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep ruby to black-cherry red, with bright ruby and subtle garnet reflections that give the wine an attractive, youthful depth.
• Aroma: Fresh blackberry, blackcurrant and dark cherry lead, joined by raspberry and strawberry nuances, gentle spice, a discreet herbal touch and restrained oak in the background.
• Palate: Dry and generously fruited, with ripe cassis, blackberry and cherry carried by supple, velvety tannins. Moderate freshness keeps its 14.5% alcohol in balance, while subtle oak and spice shape a smooth, savoury finish.

Did you know?

IXSIR means "elixir", deriving from the Arabic word "Iksir". The estate has built its identity around rediscovering Lebanese mountain terroirs, with vineyards climbing to 1,800 m. Its Batroun winery combines a traditional 17th-century Lebanese house with a modern winery integrated into the hillside, reflecting the producer's blend of heritage, contemporary winemaking and sustainability.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Charcoal-grilled lamb kofta: The lamb's richness softens the Cabernet-led structure, while cumin, pepper and grilled flavours complement the Syrah, Caladoc and subtle oak spice.
• Roast duck with cherry or pomegranate glaze: Duck has enough richness for the wine's body, while tart red fruit mirrors its cherry and berry character and refreshes the palate.
• Beef kebabs with roasted peppers: Charred beef suits the blackcurrant-driven fruit and tannins, while sweet peppers pick up the wine's subtle herbal and spicy nuances.
• Mushroom and lentil moussaka: Earthy mushrooms and savoury lentils work beautifully with the wine's dark fruit and understated oak, offering a satisfying meat-free pairing.

History of Ixsir

Ixsir was conceived by a group of partners—Étienne Debbané, Hady Kahale, Carlos Ghosn, and Gabriel (Gabi) Rivero—with a simple, ambitious idea: to revive historic mountain vineyards across Lebanon and craft blends that articulate site more than stereotype. Early consultation from Bordeaux luminaries such as Hubert de Boüard and the late Denis Dubourdieu helped shape the estate's stylistic compass toward clarity of fruit, refined tannins and measured oak.

From the outset, Ixsir operated as a multi-terroir project. Grapes are harvested by hand across dispersed, high-elevation plots, transported cool, and vinified by gravity in an energy-efficient, partly subterranean cellar. The winery lies beneath a restored 17th-century residence in Basbina (Batroun), reimagined by Raëd Abillama Architects and recognized by international design awards for its sustainability. The architectural statement mirrors the wines' ethos: modernity anchored in place.

Region and Vineyards

Lebanon's viticultural core combines Mediterranean influence with mountain altitude. The Bekaa Valley, a dry plateau around 1,000 metres, benefits from limestone soils, abundant winter rainfall and pronounced diurnal shifts, naturally preserving acidity. Coastal-mountain districts such as Batroun and Jezzine add wind-cooled mesoclimates and calcareous profiles, broadening the palette of aromas and textures.

Ixsir sources from a north-to-south patchwork of sites: Basbina (Batroun, ~400 m), Jezzine (~950 m), Kab Elias (~1,100 m), Deir el Ahmar (~1,000 m), Niha (~1,200 m) and Ainata (up to about 1,800 m). Predominantly clay-limestone and marl-calcareous soils, older gobelet-trained vines, and staggered harvests across altitudes yield fruit with tension and aromatic lift. The result is a stylistic through-line of freshness—even in warm years—without sacrificing ripeness.

Wine Range of Ixsir

The portfolio is structured in three tiers.

• Altitudes (red, white, rosé) offers early-drinking brightness from multiple sites; the white often champions Obeideh alongside Muscat and Viognier, a nod to local heritage.
• Grande Réserve steps up density and complexity: the red typically blends Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon from elevated clay-limestone parcels, while the white marries Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, sometimes with a discreet touch of oak for texture.
• At the summit, EL Ixsir is a rigorous selection with longer élevage. EL Red—commonly Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot—sees extended ageing in French oak (around two years, depending on vintage), delivering graphite-lined structure and layered dark fruit. EL White—principally Viognier and Chardonnay—is aged in oak for roughly a year, balancing creamy mid-palate weight with mountain-derived acidity. The estate also distills a traditional Arak from Obeideh, further affirming its commitment to indigenous varieties.

Did you know?

The winery's rooftop is planted as a living garden and vine conservatory—reportedly Lebanon's largest green roof—where more than twenty grape varieties grow side-by-side, a literal tasting map of Ixsir's diversity.