info@buyersandcellars.ca
www.buyersandcellars.ca Cellar Profile
The vineyards of family-owned Jordan River Wines are located on the Mafraq Plateau, on a mountain 80 km north of Amman. This is a holy site to the Abrahamic religions and the World Heritage site of Umm El-Jimal. The iron-rich, organically-poor soil sits upon a massive basalt slab that makes the vines work feverishly to reach the water table. Jordan is ranked as the 3rd most water poor country on earth and the region receives scant rainfall during the dry summers. However, the adjacent Massive Jabal Al-Arab glacier feeds glacial melt into 400-metre-deep aquifers that sustain the vineyards. 330 sunny days per year, on average, allow for full phenolic ripeness in the skins. These grapes are grown at elevation (almost 3000ft), with huge diurnal temperature shifts that impart freshness and acidity in the wines produced. Over 45 different Italian, French and Spanish varieties are planted.
Region
Located on a remarkable landscape atop the Mafraq Plateau, at an altitude of 840 meters. At some point in antiquity, an extinct volcano (Jabal-Al-Arab) poured out fields of basaltic lava over the Mountain Heights Plateau, an area that is Jordan’s most fertile region. The Jordanian climate, with over 330 sunny days yearly, coupled with dry summers and constant breezes, is ideal for grapes and vines. Vast diurnal shifts between day and nighttime temperatures allow the vines to rest, which enhances the characteristics and retains balance of the varieties.
Vineyard
Over 40 types of world-renowned vines, of the best quality, thrive in the mineral rich volcanic soil of the Basalt Desert. Not knowing what works in Jordan, all forty are growing in this ideal mixture, ultimately producing elegant wines. The rain and melting snow, flowing off the 1800m-high Jabal Al-Arab, travels under the volcanic desert surface and accumulates in 400-meters deep aquifers. This water is brought to the surface and used to supply the 120 hectares of ‘dry-farmed’ vineyards.
Varieties
Chenin blanc (known also as Pineau de la Loire, among other names) is a white variety from the Loire Valley of France. Its high acidity means it can be used to make everything from sparkling wines to well-balanced dessert wines. Wine expert Jancis Robinson has noted that Chenin Blanc is probably the world’s most versatile grape, being able to produce quality wines of various sweetness, including dessert wines noted for their aging ability, as well as sparkling made according to the méthode champenoise and fortified wines. In the best vintages, the grapes can be left on the vines to develop Noble Rot, producing an intense, viscous dessert wine which may improve considerably with age.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested fruit is pressed and fermented cool using selected yeasts. The wine spends one year aging on its lees in a combination of neutral and new French oak barrels before bottling.
Tasting Notes
Golden color, with intense aromas of apple, lime, melon, honey, orange blossom and a hint of minerality. Lively on the palate, with flavours of peach, apricot, ginger and toasted hazelnut. Rich, but with balancing freshness. Chill lightly and serve with Triple Cream Brie, Chicken Souvlaki or Mussels in white wine and cream.