🕰️ Collector’s Library Release
Extremely Limited Allocation | Cellar-Aged Excellence | Only a Few Bottles Available
Old Bridge 2017 Estate Reserve Areni Noir – Library Release (Arpa Valley, Vayots Dzor, Armenia)
We are delighted to announce a small, highly exclusive allocation of the Old Bridge 2017 Estate Reserve Areni Noir, a rare library release showcasing one of Armenia’s most collectible and age-worthy wines. This release comes directly from the estate’s private cellar, where the wine has been meticulously aged under ideal conditions to achieve perfect harmony and depth.
As Stepan Baghdassarian notes, “Few wines in our collection express longevity and refinement like Old Bridge Estate Areni Noir — each vintage is a testament to the soul of Armenian winemaking by the Khalatyan family."
Tasting Notes
The 2017 Old Bridge Estate Reserve Areni Noir offers a stunning bridge between youthful energy and aged sophistication. In the glass, it shimmers with a deep ruby-garnet hue. The nose opens with aromas of black cherry, plum, rose petals, and tobacco leaf, layered with subtle hints of cedar, leather, cracked pepper, and dried herbs.
On the palate, the wine is refined, elegant, and beautifully structured, displaying ripe black fruits, forest floor, and spice tones balanced by silky tannins and vibrant acidity. The long, graceful finish lingers with notes of dark cocoa, pomegranate skin, and a whisper of smoke, showcasing the maturity and finesse that only patient cellaring can achieve.
This vintage demonstrates the hallmark balance of Old Bridge’s high-altitude terroir — freshness, purity, and a mineral spine that ensures continued evolution over the next decade or more.
Winemaking & Provenance
Crafted from 100% Areni Noir grown in the Arpa Valley vineyards of Vayots Dzor, this wine originates from vines planted at 1,200–1,250 meters above sea level in sandy-clay soils rich with volcanic minerals.
Hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, the grapes underwent traditional fermentation in stainless steel tanks followed by 24 months of aging in 350-liter Caucasian oak barrels. The wine then rested in bottle for several years in the estate’s natural cellar before this limited library release — emerging more complex, supple, and expressive than ever.
Serving & Pairing
Best enjoyed at 16–18°C (60–64°F).
Perfect pairings:
- Grilled lamb with rosemary and garlic
- Roasted duck with cherry glaze
- Wild mushroom risotto
- Mature cheeses such as aged Manchego or Comté
The 2017 vintage pairs Old Bridge’s elegance with remarkable approachability — ideal for collectors seeking a wine ready to enjoy now yet built to age gracefully.
Key Facts
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Vintage: 2017 (Library Release)
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Region: Arpa Valley, Vayots Dzor, Armenia
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Varietal: 100% Areni Noir
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Aging: 24 months in Caucasian oak + 6 years bottle aging
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Alcohol: 13.5%
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Production: Extremely limited library allocation
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Winemakers: Armen Khalatyan & Arman Manoukyan
Collector’s Note
This library release offers a rare opportunity to experience Areni Noir’s evolution at its most expressive. After six years of careful bottle aging, the 2017 Old Bridge Estate Reserve shows extraordinary balance and depth — a true collector’s gem from one of Armenia’s most acclaimed wineries. Quantities are extremely limited, and once this small release is gone, it will not be repeated.
