Arinarnoa

I stumbled upon the existence of this grape by accident, whilst looking through the Web site of Chateau Ksara in Lebanon - there is a wine which has a cepage of half and half Cabernet Sauvignon and Arinarnoa. At some point I got the impression that it was a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but that is simply not the case. Some sites list the grape as a Merlot x Petit Verdot cross, whilst VIVC asserts it to be a Tannat x Cabernet Sauvignon cross.

I finally met this grape in the 2013 Wine Fair, but the Chateau Ksara wine would require an expensive purchase. However at another stand showcasing Moroccan wines, I found this wine made from Tannat, Arinarnoa and Merlot. So I could taste a wine with Arinarnoa at the Wine Fair after all. The wine was a ruby colour with a currant blueberry nose. The palate was soft with less berry fruit, going onto a acid slightly tannic backbone. Interesting!