White Blend, NV. Keerk

Our selection comes from the Armas estate in Armenia, founded in 2007 by Armenak Aslanian, who returned to his home country for family, culture, and heritage. Armenak honors his grandfather, Armenak Aslanian Sr., who was the original winemaker in the family. He preserves their 80-year-old family winemaking tradition alongside his daughters at their state-of the- art ArmAs winery and distillery, which boasts the latest enological equipment and is held at the highest international standards.

Winemaker Emilio Del Medico crafts their wines, considered the finest in Armenia, with intensity and character, aging them traditionally in French and Artsakh oak barrels. The 250-acre vineyard is over 6,000 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest elevation vineyards in the world. The grapes are a blend of Kangun, a hybrid created in 1979, and Voskehat, a grape name meaning 'golden seed', in reference to its rich, floral aromas. Rkatsiteli was the main grape used to make the Kangun hybrid and its history goes back almost as far as Muscat, considered to be the oldest grape on the planet.

Armenia's wine history is unsurpassed. Archeologists have determined that the amphoras and grape seeds found beneath the surface of a cave in the Vayots Dzor region housed the first wine production facility and is at least 6,000 years old. It can safely be said that this wine is unlike any great wine made anywhere. It exhibits a luscious, honey-like component but then presents apple, pear and a touch of quince to almost shock the senses. The finish is tart and clean and ready to do justice to a shellfish stew with sourdough bread or a crab omelet.

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