Lebanon Wines and How They Taste.

Lebanon Wines and How They Taste. – Episode #115

October 25, 2006

Wines tasted in this episode:

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Today Gary makes 2 huge announcements to the WLTV Vayniacs and tries four wines from Lebanon and sees where these wines are these days.

120 Responses

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September 22, 2009

John J.
Great episode Gary, Lebanon wines! never had one, knew of them, really eager to try them now. Always love when you talk about the lesser known wines/wine areas. Speaking of which, an episode on vin jaune’s would be great. Would love to see you do one on tasting different charbono’s too.
June 2, 2008

Karl Laczko
Finally cracked open my 2004 Kefraya. Light and spicy on the nose, this is a medium bodied red, dark cherry in colour and with elegant legs. It sits delicately on the palate, light but perfectly balanced, mellow tannins at the front of the mouth and top of the tongue and a warming sensation at the back of the throat as it slips down. Flavours include cherry and chocolate with a medium finish. 89-90pts.
January 26, 2008

Grapedigger
I love Lebanese wines. The best wine that I had from the ME was a red Lebanese one: CH. Kefraya Comte De M 2000, a rival to the legendary Musar. Cheers.
June 9, 2007

Karl Laczko
Just had the 1999 Musar and it was excellent. I got cherries, chocolate and mint and it sounds like it was not too different to the 1997 in that respect (I know Musar don’t try to keep the style the same each vintage). If this where Lebanese wines are then I’m in. I also have the 2004 Kefraya in the cellar, so this review is making me more likely to open that sooner rather than later.
December 18, 2006

Michael
I have had the 1997 Musar and completely agree with your comments. It is not, however, for those who like extracted, Aussie style wines. My favorite Lebanese wine, however, is the 1997 Kefraya Comte de M, which is the flashsip wine from Kefraya. I took a bottle to our usual restaurant, which has a very solid wine list. The sommelier was even impressed with this wine. TRY LEBANESE WINES!
October 30, 2006

Italian Stallion
LOL….I tried to make amends
October 28, 2006

SS Chris
drwMD…

You wrote in #27, “Did the 2003 Musar get a Vayner-chuckle? Are those listed on Chrisâ€™ spreadsheet?”

Check out the SS….thanks for the input.
October 28, 2006

SS Chris
Gary, I’ve been real busy at work and I’m catching up on my SS responsibilities.

First of all, great episode…funny, informative, entertaining…it had it all. Is there any chance of WL getting more of the $10 bone Les Breteches?

Secondly, don’t worry, I definitely caught you busting my balls…as you were announcing the the “Ask WLTV?” feature, you said:

“Chris’s SS is up here as well, with the Bulletin Board, but more importantly…well…not more importantly than the SS….that is THE most important thing.” And then you kind of winked at me.

I LOOOOOVE it when you bust my stones like that….HYSTERICAL. And….I know I deserve it.

P.S. After I defend your honor w/ Derek re: the Corte Riva, and you allow the “Aussie” to go after me the way he did (#341 on Ep 114) LOL LOL
October 27, 2006

PattyO
And – wondering about the Musar Cuvee white GV poured out into the spit bucket…
Maybe it just needs another 40 years in the cellar. Who knows what “gasoline on the hand, stuck in a bucket of water” could turn into with 40 years to evolve…
Gary – can you put one away and re-taste it for episode #8,000?
October 27, 2006

PattyO
E – (#55) you asked ” Is â€˜97 the current vintage of Musar, and will it get better with time?”
I just listened (thanks to Tim F I think) to the Grape Radio episode from Sept. 11 (ironically – I just thought of that date and that it was an interview with a middle-eastern wine maker) which was an hour-long interview with Serge Musar. You have to listen hard because his accent is thick, but it’s fascinating! It seems that the Lebanese approach to aging wine is WAY different than what we’re used to. First, he says they NEVER even bottle prior to 3 years age. Then, he talks about that they’re just now drinking Musar WHITES that are vintages from the ’50s and ’60s. He says they’re positively unreal. So, while it is hard to even find anything on our market that’s older than about 2001, the ‘97 Musar would appear to be a baby in the Lebanese standard and from what Musar seemed to be saying, would just get finer and finer with even more maturity. If you could find it – I’d think that for $10 it’d be worth putting a half-case in the cellar and find out!
October 27, 2006

Brandon M
It’s all your fault Stallion!
October 27, 2006

PattyO
Happy Friday Vaynerbloggers!
I know old habits die hard..
Gary did suggest that we now use the WLTV Forum for the personal and non-episode-related chat, and keep this comment segment for dialog about the episode and the QOD. I notice that about the point where Stallion commented about Susan (#60 or so?) the conversation sort of migrated back into the old pattern of being about the bloggers and not about the episode or wine.
Just an observation.
October 27, 2006

Brandon M
I think your day was a few sunsets before mine Julius, cause mine is seeing Pearl Jam in Mountain View.
October 27, 2006

Julius
TimF – Terrible idea. The alcohol burns the throat as you inhale, as opposed to the soothing effect the water provides.
October 27, 2006

TimF
What’s the best weed/wine pairing? Does anyone ever use wine in lieu of water for their bongs?
October 27, 2006

Julius
Or sometimes catch a concert at the fillmore (Quicksilver Messenger Service, Vanilla Fudge, Procol Harem, etc) hhhhmmmm, I must be having an acid flashback.
October 27, 2006

Julius
Back in my day being in California meant hanging out in Candlestick Park listening to the Airplane and the Dead.
October 27, 2006

Tony
Hey, Stallion, did you see the smiley? I was just kidding! I was trying to parody painting Californians with a broad brush by painting New Yorkers with the same brush.

Jason, oh wow man! You pegged me exactly! Dude, how did you know? I mean, that’s like, totally awesome!

Time to get stoned, take the van down to the beach and surf. Wow, cool.
October 27, 2006

Brandon M
ya buddy…your wrong!
You forgot that we all have blond hair.
October 27, 2006

Jason R.
Brandon – You mean for the past 32 years I have been wrong??? All Californian’s dont surf, smoke weed, & drive around in flower painted VW busses?? WTH – LOL
October 27, 2006

Italian Stallion
forget all the fighting……lets all just be friends, drink wine and by God watch WLTV and our hero Gary Vay-ner-chuk. This thread is all about our love/passion for wine, not to argue. So i apologize to everyone.

Your the man Gary
October 27, 2006

Italian Stallion
Tony,

Definition of hypocritical:

“Hey, Iâ€™m from California, and have I ever been mean to you? I really think that painting all Californians with the same brush is just wrong……Being rude and unwelcoming is a New York thing, NOT a California”

So instead of painting all Californians with that brush, you’d rather paint New Yorkers with that brush……very ironic.

PS: I am a New Yorker, born and raised…..We aren’t rude, just HONEST and if that comes across rude then you need be more thick skinned.

Oh and Tony…you may want to read this article to see where New York stands on the list of “friendliest cities in the U.S”

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-03-23-best-cities_x.htm

Next time you make a claim, make sure its accurate or you lose credibility
October 27, 2006

Brandon M
I meant whoever said it, not you, that sounded bad after I read it back
October 27, 2006

Brandon M
October 27, 2006

Brandon M
Julius…that’s so great. Very well thought out!