Obaideh (60%), Merwah (40%)
75cl * Vegan * 12% ABV * Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Serge Hochar, the driving force behind Lebanon's Chateau Musar, once remarked of the Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, ‘this is the only serious temple erected to Bacchus - the god of wine - anywhere in the Roman world. And they put it here, in the Bekaa. Why? Because the Romans and Greeks, the Phoenicians and Minoans, and all peoples who came before them, all knew that the Bekaa is the spiritual home of wine.’ His wines most definitely uphold this legacy.
The Chateau Musar white is produced from the ancient Lebanese grape varieties of Obaideh and Merwah, grown on the slopes of Mount Lebanon. The 2010 Vintage was marked by a heatwave lasting 23 days from July through to early August. Luckily, the micro-climate of the Lebanese mountains protected the vineyard from much of the heat.
Although the yields were smaller, the quality remained high. The fruit was fermented and aged partly in new oak and partly in stainless steel for 9 months. As the grapes each reached lower alcohol levels in this vintage, the Merwah is more obvious in the blend than usual.
The result is a wine that is citrus, herbal and floral on the nose, with sweet honey and thyme. The palate is lush, with excellent depth of fruit - it's peachy, lemony, and has a hint of pine resin. Despite the warmer growing season, there is a fresh acidity and vibrancy on the finish. According to The Spectator (2019), this unique wine is a 'taste worth acquiring.' Cellared correctly, there is excellent aging potential here.