Having enjoyed a wonderful evening with Ramzi Ghosn, Owner/Winemaker of Massaya & Co. located in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, I was excited to attend a tasting of their wines at house red in the Chicago area three days later. Ramzi was there, holding court at the tasting table and meeting curious patrons many of whom had never tasted a wine from Lebanon. To make it more enticing, Neb, owner of house red, made available small plates focusing on Lebanese fare to pair with the wines ~ perfect!
Thanks to the mountains which protect the Bekaa Valley from the influences of the Mediterranean Sea and desert, the area is a land perfect for viticultural endeavors. The area is protected from snow and heavy rain and is frost free with long summers and wet winters. The limestone clay soil has varying chemicals throughout so winemakers are able to vary their rootstock in order to nurture many different varietals. Grown at Massaya are Chardonnay, Clairette, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Tempranillo. Ramzi explained that his approach to winemaking is to be as mimimal as possible so that the expression of the terroir is evident. Organic techniques are paramount to the unique qualities of wines from Massaya. Their website is a plethora of information about the wines, terroir, history of Lebanon and its place in the wine world of today. I encourage you to follow the link above to their site and hope that my articles make you want to learn more!
What was on the wine tasting menu at house red?
**2010 Massaya Blanc – I enjoyed this wine in March and continue to do so! Consisting of 35% Clairette, 35% Obeidi, 15% Sauvignon Blanc, and 15% Chardonnay grapes, this wine was the light and refreshing. The Obeidi grape is indigenous to the area and is fragile with a soft skin. All of the grapes were grown in the Massaya vineyards. Its color was pale gold and on the nose were white flowers and some minerality. I loved the blending of the grapes with the Clairette contributing a floral note and the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay adding citrus. With a smooth and lingering finish this wine is perfect with just about anything…or on its own! The Massaya Blanc has 13.5% alcohol and is available for around $14.00. I recommend this for a delicious wine off the mainstream wine list.
**2011 Massaya Rose – Now this was a lovely wine! This Rose is 40% Cinsault, 30% Syrah, anad 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is fermented in stainless steel tanks to retain its fruit flavors. I tasted raspberries, some strawberries, and stone fruits and its bright acidity and lingering finish. It pairs well with goat cheese, prosciutto, and of course, summer picnic fare! Cost is $11.00 and yes, I have a bottle of this too!
**2008 Massaya Classic – The Classic is an easy drinking red wine vinted from 60% Cinsault, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Syrah. The tastes of cherries and raspberries with some spice for kick (thanks, Syrah!) makes me want to pair this wine with just about anything! This wine was kept in concrete vats for eight months in order to develop character and preserve the fruit characteristics before bottling. The cost? $12.00
**2006 Massaya Silver – Once again, Cinsault is an important part of the blend since it offers aromatics and softness. 40% Cinsault, 30% Grenache, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Mourvedre come together for an oaky, spicy wine with medium body and a nice warm, elegant feeling. You can purchase this wine for around $16.00.
**2008 Massaya Gold Reserve – I never expected to like the Gold Reserve since I favor lighter wine. However, the blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah created a full bodied, earthy selection with a “wow” factor of concentrated tannins and aromas of incense. Fermented in stainless steel tanks then two years in French oak, the balance was there…not one characteristic outweighed the other…and this wine will be perfect for ageing then decanting before serving. The Gold Reserve is well worth the cost of $30.00 and it’s at home waiting for just the right time to enjoy.!
Cheers to wines from Massaya! ~ Cindy
*Please note: On Monday, May 28, my article and tasting notes of Massaya’s arak, Lebanon’s noble drink, will be posted~ So check back and read about another “grape experience”!
