Tag: Lebanon

Review of Chateau Nabise Equinoxe 2012

Lebanese Wines: Chateau Nabise Equinoxe 2012

Chris KhatschLeave a comment

Name: Chateau Nabise Exquinoxe 2012
Type: Red Wine
Year: 2012
Country: Lebanon
Region: Mount Lebanon
Date Consumed: October 10, 2026

Family and friends sit around the fire I started in the backyard of the Airbnb we rented in Tarshish. It’s a windy night. The fire is dancing wildly in the pit as if it’s a wildfire that doesn’t want to be tamed.

I uncork the first bottle of red of the night. I fill the glasses, and everybody takes a sip. It’s a 14-year-old wine. I taste the sweetness that comes with age. Then I get strong notes of wood, licorice, ripe black fruits, blackberries, black cherries, etc.

The wine is good.
Everybody is in a good mood.
Life is good.

Review of Tatuaje Tatttoo Adavino robusto cigar

Have a Cigar: Tatuaje Tattoo Adavino

Chris KhatschLeave a comment

Name: Tatuaje Tattoo Adavino
Country: Nicaragua
Shape: Parejo
Size: Robusto (5 1/2 inches x 58)
Strength: Full

The Tattoo Adavino is a full-bodied cigar that pairs nicely with spiced rum, blended Scotch whiskies, and whisky-based cocktails like Manhattans. I got notes of coffee, walnut, hazelnut, cayenne pepper, and subtle hints of honey. The overall experience, I’d say, was good… Although the flavors were a bit monotonous, a bit too consistent, the cigar produced a decent amount of thick, creamy, enjoyable smoke. The burn was occasionally uneven, but it wasn’t unfixable.

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.