VOSKENI 2016 Old Vines 130 Reserve Areni Aghavnadzor Armenia

• Origin: Vayots Dzor region Grape variety: Areni
• Characteristics: deep ruby color with garnet hue, aromas of dark cherries, red fruits and spices matched by wood notes like coffee and chocolate. Full bodied wine, with very round on palate with mild tannins and long finish.

VOSKENI winery is a special winery with a unique history. It took an expat American Armenian from Boston, the Communist revolution in Russia and a family’s insistence on taking back what once was theirs to realize their great grandfather’s dream of making world class wines.

VOSKENI winery is a family owned and managed winery located at Sardarapat, Ararat Valley. The estate vineyards were once owned by Smbat Mateossian, the great grandfather of the current owners. Smbat (that’s him), a successful businessman from Boston, moved back to Armenia in the early 1920s with dreams of buying vineyards and making great wines. Unfortunately for Smbat, his newly acquired lands were confiscated by the Communists and Smbat died without realizing his dreams.

In 2008, the family was able to buy back the lands once owned by their great grandfather and are making world class wines.

The diverse Ararat valley microclimate with its extraordinary terroir create unique conditions for cultivating exquisite grapes and producing elegant wines reflecting the 6000-year old rich authentic wine making tradition of Armenia.

Areni is the indigenous red grape varietal of Armenia.

VOSKENI 2016 Old Vines 130 Reserve is made from some of the oldest Areni vines in Armenia; planted over 130 years ago at an altitude of 5500 feet in the mountainous region of Vayotz Dzor, Aghavnadzor Village. The relatively cool region allows the grapes plenty of time to develop unique flavor characteristics.

Aged 12 months in new Armenian/Caucasian Oak barrels, it is bright, well structured, well balanced with a rich flowery nose, more perceptible fruit flavors in the mid palate and a long finish.

Characteristics of Armenian/Caucasian Oak are such that the wine develops the aromatic nature of the grape varietal. It brings tannins which help the structure of the wine. Its aromatic contribution is low in lactones, thus the wine develops less intense woody character and more fruity flavors.