2009 was a truly memorable year in the Bekaa Valley and a vintage of two halves: before and after the rain. There were two days of unprecedented amounts of rain in September. The highest amount since record keeping began in 1870. Conditions until mid-September had been exemplary. No rain or snow fell for the first three months of the year but surprisingly the rain and snow came back at the end of March and gave the blossoming vines and the soil a much needed moisture boost. Low humidity in May, June and July promoted excellent vine health. Sultry conditions at the end of the summer brought the harvest on quickly. With low pH and high acidity and sugar, the grapes held exceptional promise. After the September rain, the red grapes were harvested and were juicier than usual, showing a full bodied structure and a very fragrant nose. The blending took place 3 years later in 2012 and the wines spent a year in French Nevers oak barrels. The Cabernet Sauvignon in particular flourished this year, from flowering to dominating the final structure and taste of the wine. Released in the spring of 2016.