About this WINE
Massaya
The Lebanese wine estate Massaya began in 1998 as wine-making partnership of Tanaïl Property, developed in partnership with the renown French experts Dominique Hébrard, founding family of Château Cheval Blanc, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, of Château Angélus, Daniel Brunier of Château Le Vieux Télégraphe.
Beyond the novelty factor, the Lebannon does not seem the most immediately felicitous location for vines, for reasons that are both politcal and topographical, and yet this winning French combination shows just what can be done here!
Massaya’s Tanaïl Estate is located at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon's wine hot spot, its slopes protected by Mount Lebanon and the Anti -Lebanon mountains. Free of frost and disease, the Bekaa Valley enjoys a unique climate with long gentle summers, wet winters and an average temperature of 25 degrees; all in all perfect for viticulture.
Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvèdre share the honours in the Silver Label and underline the close links between Massaya and the South of France, courtesy, in this instance, of the Châteauneuf du Pape connection.
Other Varieties
There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.
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Description
The Massaya vineyard is located on the steep slopes which look down on the Bekka Valley in the Lebanon. The palette of familiar grape varieties grown includes Merlot, Tempranillo and Mourvèdre in addition to the three we focus on here. The 2010 Classic is, inevitably, a triumph of endeavour and no little courage, its blend made up of 60% Cinsault, and 20% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah…
The wine’s aromas are rich yet very elegant with morello cherry, cassis and spice to the fore. On the palate it is concentrated and ripe, with plenty of perfumed, parma-violet character, fine tannins and excellent length. Tasted blind, one would probably identify a relatively warm provenance, but the structure is such that one would never imagine anything quite this far south. Massaya’s wines are more modern and in a sense more worldly than those of Musar; the two are perfectly complementary; and both are great ambassadors for their perennially troubled country
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer
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