Key takeaways: founded by Sébastien Khoury, Domaine de Baal unites Saint-Émilion excellence with exceptional Lebanese terroir located at 1200 meters altitude. Organically certified, this Bekaa vineyard favors natural winemaking without inputs to reveal authentic vintages, to discover among all estate wines.
Facing flavors uniformization, how to identify wine truly expressing its origin soil purity? Domaine de Baal brings singular answer from Bekaa Valley summits through uncompromising organic philosophy. We detail here artisanal methods allowing this altitude vineyard creating living and authentic cuvées.
Lebanese terroir, organic philosophy
Altitude vineyard in Bekaa Valley
Domaine de Baal stands on Mount Lebanon foothills, at 1200 meters altitude. It directly overlooks Bekaa plain, historical site for regional viticulture.
Terroir distinguishes itself through its clay-limestone soils. Climate is ideal, alternating snowy winters and very sunny summers.
Commitment to natural wine
Philosophy is clear: creating organic wines remaining pure and unadorned expression of their origin.
This involves total respect for vine life cycles.
Production emphasizes elegance and precision, aiming to reflect Mediterranean terroir unique character and its soils.
Man and cellar, embodied vision
Sébastien Khoury, Saint-Émilion heritage
Winemaker Sébastien Khoury cut his teeth on prestigious Saint-Émilion lands before returning to roots. It's in 2006 that he signed Domaine de Baal first vintage, thus concretizing his own cellar foundation.
His approach doesn't copy France; it adapts Bordeaux rigor to Lebanon solar identity. This fusion gives momentum to wines deeply respecting their origin terroir.
Architecture serving wine
Far from flashiness, architecture aims minimalist and ecological, designed to fully integrate into mountainous landscape. This bioclimatic design allows maintaining constant freshness, vital for juices quality.
Here's how building naturally protects wine:
- One-meter thick walls for thermal inertia.
- Green roofs for natural insulation.
- Barrel cellar vaulted and semi-buried.
Cuvées telling story
Estate's emblematic range
Domaine de Baal wines embody demanding philosophy. Here are identities of these cuvées tailored for aging.
| Cuvée | Blend | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Domaine de Baal Rouge | 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon | Long barrel aging, complex and structured. |
| Domaine de Baal Blanc | 50% Chardonnay, 50% Sauvignon Blanc | Barrel fermentation, lively and silky. |
| Le Petit Baal Rouge | 80% Syrah, 20% Cinsault | Balance between fruit, wood and spices. |
Low-intervention winemaking
Sébastien Khoury adopts low-intervention approach: whole cluster fermentation and indigenous yeasts, without additives to mask fruit.
Wines are produced without fining or filtration, with total sulfur content remaining deliberately very low, under 50mg/l.
This gives authentic wines like Domaine de Baal Rouge 2019 or Domaine de Baal Blanc 2021. Explore all estate wines.
Domaine de Baal thus embodies successful fusion between Lebanese altitude terroir and demanding organic viticulture. Thanks to Sébastien Khoury vision, these natural wines accurately express richness of Bekaa Valley. It's essential discovery for enthusiasts seeking authenticity and living respect.FAQ
Where exactly is Domaine de Baal located?
This Lebanese vineyard is found on Mount Lebanon foothills, at 1200 meters altitude. It overlooks famous Bekaa plain and flourishes on clay-limestone terroir, benefiting from climate with snowy winters and sunny summers.
Who is winemaker behind estate?
It's Sébastien Khoury who runs estate. After formative experience in Saint-Émilion, he founded cellar in 2006 to sign his first vintage, bringing vision mixing Bordeaux know-how and Lebanese identity.
What is Domaine de Baal's wine philosophy?
Estate fully commits to organic agriculture and natural wine. We favor minimal intervention, without chemical inputs, respecting soil and vine natural cycles to obtain pure terroir expression.
What types of wines does estate produce?
Production focuses on elegant blended wines. We find Domaine de Baal Rouge (Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon), Domaine de Baal Blanc (Chardonnay, Sauvignon), and Le Petit Baal cuvée, all vinified with little sulfur and without filtration.
