Domaine de Bargylus 2012 Red Grand Vin de Syrie

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Domaine de Bargylus Red 2012 Grand Vin de Syrie Latakia, Syria

Domaine de Bargylus Red 2012 Grand Vin de Syrie is the flagship wine of Syria's only commercial winery and one of the world's rarest and most compelling fine wines. Produced by the Johnny R. Saadé Family, Domaine de Bargylus is crafted from mountain vineyards overlooking the Mediterranean near Latakia, where limestone, clay, and flintstone soils combine with altitude and maritime influence to create a wine of remarkable freshness, elegance, and unmistakable terroir.

Internationally acclaimed for both its exceptional quality and extraordinary story, Domaine de Bargylus has earned praise from the world's most respected wine critics. Andrew Jefford of Decanter described Bargylus as having "a story beyond parallel," emphasizing that the wines are outstanding on their own merits. The World Atlas of Wine calls Bargylus "the finest wine produced in the Eastern Mediterranean," recognizing its unique place among the great wines of the region.

The 2012 vintage followed a torrential winter that saturated the groundwater reserves. Spring was warm and dry, but the vines drew on the deep water reserves established during the winter, encouraging healthy growth and even flowering. Although summer brought periods of heat, the vineyard retained exceptional aromatic freshness, resulting in a harvest the winery describes as beautifully balanced and expressive.

The 2012 vintage also represents an important stage in the evolution of Domaine de Bargylus. The winery explains that while the inaugural 2006 vintage was an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot, the growing success of Syrah on the estate led to a permanent change in style. Beginning with the 2012 vintage, the blend became 60% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot, giving the wine greater aromatic complexity, freshness, and a stronger expression of its Mediterranean mountain terroir.

The wine is matured for 14 months in 100% French oak, with one-third aged in new barrels, one-third in one-year-old barrels, and one-third in two-year-old barrels. This measured oak program enhances texture and complexity while allowing the vineyard's mineral identity and fruit purity to remain at the forefront.

The vineyards are located at 900 meters above sea level on soils of limestone, clay, and flintstone. The combination of Mediterranean sunshine, cool evening sea breezes, and rocky soils produces grapes with remarkable concentration while preserving acidity and freshness. The vineyards are sustainably managed using wire-trained vines, green harvesting, hand harvesting into 10 kg crates, and double sorting, with no pesticides or herbicides used.

The 2012 opens with an elegant bouquet of black fruit, white pepper, earth, and black truffle. On the palate it is vibrant and beautifully balanced, showing fresh acidity, refined tannins, pronounced minerality, and a long, spicy finish. The wine displays the distinctive saline freshness that has become the signature of Domaine de Bargylus and confirms why the estate is considered one of the Middle East's great wine producers.

Jancis Robinson MW has consistently praised later Bargylus vintages for their balance, freshness, spice, and longevity, reinforcing the estate's reputation for producing wines capable of graceful aging over many years.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance - Deep ruby with purple reflections.
• Nose - Blackberry, black cherry, black olive, white pepper, black truffle, Mediterranean herbs, and subtle oak spice.
• Palate - Elegant and fresh with concentrated dark fruit, vibrant acidity, integrated tannins, earthy complexity, and pronounced mineral character.
• Finish - Long, mineral, spicy, and persistent with remarkable freshness.

Wine Style

Full-Bodied • Elegant • Mineral-Driven • Age-Worthy • Mediterranean Red

A Syrah-led blend that combines Rhône-like aromatics with Bordeaux structure while expressing the distinctive terroir of Syria's coastal mountains.

Grape Composition

• 60% Syrah
• 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 20% Merlot

Vineyard & Terroir

• Country: Syria
• Region: Latakia
• Producer: Domaine de Bargylus
• Altitude: 900 meters above sea level
• Soil: Limestone, clay & flintstone
• Vineyard Area: 12 hectares
• Vine Age: 10–14 years
• Planting Density: 6,250 vines/hectare
• Yield: 30 hl/ha

The vineyards are planted on the slopes of Jebel al Ansariyah, where Mediterranean sea breezes moderate daytime warmth and preserve acidity. The combination of limestone, clay, and flintstone soils contributes freshness, salinity, and the distinctive mineral signature that defines Bargylus.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand into 10 kg crates before undergoing meticulous double sorting.

The vineyards are managed using sustainable practices:

• Wire-trained vines
• Green harvesting
• No pesticides
• No herbicides
• Natural cereal cover crops between the rows

The wine is matured for 14 months in 100% French oak:

• One-third new French oak
• One-third one-year-old barrels
• One-third two-year-old barrels

This restrained maturation enhances complexity without masking the wine's fruit or terroir.

Food Pairing

Exceptional with:

• Dry-aged ribeye
• Beef Wellington
• Rack of lamb
• Braised lamb shank
• Venison
• Roast duck
• Wild mushroom risotto
• Truffle pasta
• Slow-braised short ribs
• Mediterranean grilled meats
• Aged Manchego
• Comté
• Parmigiano Reggiano

The wine's mineral freshness and integrated tannins also make it an outstanding partner for refined Middle Eastern cuisine.

Serving Recommendations

• Serving Temperature: 16–18°C (60–65°F)
• Decanting: 1–2 hours recommended
• Cellaring: Drinking beautifully today, with the structure to continue evolving in a well-maintained cellar.

Why You'll Love It

• Produced by Syria's only commercial winery
• Flagship Grand Vin de Syrie
• Internationally acclaimed by Decanter, The World Atlas of Wine, and leading critics
• High-altitude Mediterranean mountain vineyards
• 60% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
• Limestone, clay, and flintstone soils
• 14 months in French oak
• Hand harvested and double sorted
• Elegant balance of freshness, minerality, and complexity
• Rare collectible fine wine with exceptional provenance

Technical Details