Tag: lebanese wine

Revisiting Lebanese Wines: Chateau Kefraya Les Exceptions Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

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Name: Chateau Kefraya Les Exceptions Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2016
Country: Lebanon
Region: Bekaa Valley
Date Consumed: September 5, 2026

Every time we visit Château Kefraya, we try at least one bottle from their Les Exceptions series. The main reason is simple: we can’t find Les Exceptions bottles anywhere else. So this time, and for a second time, we tried the single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from 2016, and my first impression was just… wow. Last time we had it was back in 2024.

In the glass, the wine has a deep ruby color, with brick-red tinges around the rim and a noticeable amount of sediment. The first sip introduces a harmony of dark fruit, licorice, cedarwood, and tobacco. The finish is long, leaving behind secondary notes of leather and black pepper.

After my wife and I emptied the bottle, I spent a moment wondering whether I should take one home. But our energetic 18-month-old toddler and restless dog made me forget all about it.

Review of Chateau Oumsiyat Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Lebanese Wines: Chateau Oumsiyat Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Chris KhatschLeave a comment

Name: Chateau Oumsiyat Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2016
Country: Lebanon
Region: Mount Lebanon
Date Consumed: November 22, 2025

Chateau Oumsiyat’s Cabernet Sauvignon is an easy bottle to open on any night. It’s affordable, solid, and reliable. So, if you’re looking for a straightforward Cabernet character, something full-bodied with firm tannins, look no further.

Expect notes of black fruits, cocoa, and tobacco.

Pair it with red meat, grilled pork, or strong cheeses, and drink it by the fire. (‘Tis the season!) Personally, I think it goes really well with Lebanese-style home-cooked beefsteak and fries.

No big surprises here: just a confident Lebanese cabernet that does its job well.

Will I buy another bottle? Almost certainly. I’m also curious to know what it would taste like if I age it for a couple of years.

Verdict: This may not be the best cabernet sauvignon you can find in Lebanon, but I would say it’s one of the most convenient bottles in the market today.

Cheers!

Reviewer of Lebanese wines reviewing a red wine from Lebanon called Skarya Le Rouge

Lebanese Wines: Skarya Le Rouge 2021

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Name: Skarya Le Rouge 2021
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Merlot, Syrah
Year: 2021
Country: Lebanon
Region: Beit Lahia, Beqaa
Date Consumed: February 13, 2025

I had some friends over last night, and the ideal atmosphere to try new wines was created. We were sitting by the fireplace, chitter-chattering, enjoying our time. So, I went ahead and uncorked a bottle none of us had ever tried.

Here’s Skarya Le Rouge, a wine made by a distillery called Striped Hyena Distillery, which is clearly named after Lebanon’s national animal, which is, of course, the striped hyena…

Comparatively, we can say that Skarya is a new wine, a noob amongst well-established Lebanese wineries. At the time of writing this, Skarya Le Rouge as well as the other wines made by Striped Hyena Distillery are almost unknown to the general public. Their bottles aren’t commonly found in supermarkets. And when I looked them up on the internet, I found very little information about them. This may or may not change, depending on the quantity of bottles they produce and the budget they allocate for marketing.

Now, a few words about the wine itself, Skarya Le Rouge:

The Skarya Le Rouge is a casual wine that doesn’t require your full attention and can be drunk in informal settings. It comes with warm and cozy notes of friendship. It has its flaws and imperfections, but it is not sipped to be judged. It is young and promising, but it is not who it wants to be yet.

Overall, it can be said that it is an acceptably good wine. But that is all.