Red Wine

Bargylus

Grand Vin de Syrie 2017, 75cl

Syria

Bargylus

“The finest wine produced in the Eastern Mediterranean is… [Bargylus]…” – Jancis Robinson & Hugh Johnson, World Atlas of Wine, 7th Edition, 2013

The city of Latakia is located in the Orontes Valley, at an altitude of 900 meters, near the Jabal Al-Ansariyeh mountain and 60 km from the Mediterranean Sea. The vineyard covers 12 hectares, with vines aged between 14 and 19 years (planted since 2003). The planting density is 6,250 vines per hectare, with a yield ranging between 1 kg and 1.5 kg per vine.

Harvesting is done by hand, with grapes picked into small 15 kg crates and rigorous selection, sometimes performed in two passes during difficult vintages. The soil consists of clay, limestone, and flintstone, giving a unique terroir. Harvest runs from early September to mid-October, with an average annual rainfall of 1,100 mm.

Bargylus Red is made up of 60% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot. Vinification includes double sorting on reception and gravity flow, with gentle extraction by pigeage (manual punch-down), complemented by pumping over.

The wine is aged for 14 months, with 20% in new barrels. The maturation includes gentle extraction through pigeage and pumping over.

Allergens information

Contains sulphites.

Johnny R. Saadé Holdings S.A.L.

The Saadé family, of Greek Orthodox Christian origin, has its roots in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, known in antiquity as Laodicea ad Mare. With a commercial tradition established since the 18th century, the family distinguished itself in international trade, maritime and land transport, and industry, with a presence in various countries across the Middle East and Europe. In the 2000s, under the leadership of Johnny R. Saadé, the family founded Johnny R. Saadé Holdings S.A.L. Today, his sons, Karim and Sandro Saadé, manage the wine estates — Domaine de Bargylus and Château Marsyas — with a contemporary and international vision.

Established in 2003, with the first vintage released in 2006, Domaine de Bargylus is often described as the best wine in Syria. Located at 990 meters altitude on slopes facing the Mediterranean Sea, the vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir: limestone soils with clay, significant daily temperature variation, and high rainfall. Production follows an approach inspired by the French style, under the guidance of renowned French winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt, whose philosophy emphasizes terroir expression, sustainability, and minimal enological intervention. Despite logistical challenges arising from the geopolitical context, winemaking is rigorously supervised: samples are sent outside Syria for tastings and technical decisions in close collaboration with the winemaking team.

In 2007, the Saadé family expanded their winemaking project to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon with the establishment of Château Marsyas. Covering approximately 600,000 square meters, the estate is located in the villages of Kefraya and Tell Dnoub, in a region historically known as the Marsyas Valley. Château Marsyas follows the same philosophy of precision and authenticity applied to Bargylus, also benefiting from the consultancy of Stéphane Derenoncourt. The wines reflect the character of the Lebanese terroir, combined with the sophistication and elegance of modern and demanding winemaking.