EP 115 Lebanon Wines and How They Taste.

Wines tasted in this episode:

Episodes >


  • 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

  • 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

  • ya buddy…your wrong!
    You forgot that we all have blond hair.

  • ya buddy…your wrong!
    You forgot that we all have blond hair.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Julius

    Back in my day being in California meant hanging out in Candlestick Park listening to the Airplane and the Dead.

  • Julius

    Back in my day being in California meant hanging out in Candlestick Park listening to the Airplane and the Dead.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • TimF

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

  • TimF

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

  • Julius

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

  • Julius

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

  • I think your day was a few sunsets before mine Julius, cause mine is seeing Pearl Jam in Mountain View.

  • I think your day was a few sunsets before mine Julius, cause mine is seeing Pearl Jam in Mountain View.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • It’s all your fault Stallion!

  • It’s all your fault Stallion!

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • 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?

  • 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?

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • LOL….I tried to make amends

  • LOL….I tried to make amends

  • 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!

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • corkscrew

    Not sure if I ever had Lebanon wine. QOTD-I guess Greese counts, since I don't have any in my cellar I guess I did not like them. http://www.winelx.com

  • Semaan

    My all time favorite wine of Lebanon is Kefraya – Blanc de Blanc

  • Jrouss

    Never had a lebanese wine, but what is funny I just had a Lebanese friend ask about where to order a Lebanese wine so I sent them to the Wine Library.

  • The only one I’ve had was the Massaya classic and it was way funky, I mean there’s branyard and horse a$$ and this one was the second of those. I like terroir aromas and tastes but this was way too much for me.

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