Tag: Lebanon

Review of Reserve Ammiq Chateau 2013 - Lebanon Wine Reviews

Lebanese Wines: Reserve Ammiq Chateau 2013

Chris Khatsch1 Comment

Name: Reserve Ammiq Chateau 2013
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan
Year: 2013
Country: Lebanon
Region: Bekaa Valley
Date Consumed: September 18, 2025

A pleasant 12-year-old red wine made with 70% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cinsault, and 15% carignan. It was ferric, brick red, and fine sediment was present. It delivered strong notes of black fruits, black cherry, and oak. And then, hints of tobacco, dark chocolate, and leather.

Did I like it?
Yes. I almost emptied the whole bottle by myself. My wife only had one glass.

Will I purchase another bottle of Reserve Ammiq Chateau in the near future?
I’m not sure. Maybe. It’s an excellent wine, but there are many other excellent wines out there waiting for me.

Does it require further aging?
No, I don’t think so. I don’t think it will evolve to become any better than this.

Conclusion:
This is definitely a good Lebanese red wine to add to your wish list, but if I had to list the 10 or 15 Lebanese wines you should try first, the Reserve Ammiq Chateau wouldn’t make it on that list.

Cheers,

Reviewing the Blackened M81 cigar at Mareva Cigar Lounge in Lebanon

Have a Cigar: Blackened M81 Toro

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Name: Blackened M81 Toro
Country: Nicaragua
Shape: Parejo
Size: Toro (6 inches x 52)
Strength: Full

As soon as the Blackened M81 started burning, I ordered an espresso and a bottle of sparkling water. Espresso, of course, because I love pairing full-bodied Nicaraguan cigars with espresso. And sparkling water, of course, because I’ll occasionally need to clean my palate and experience anew the harmony of notes the cigar delivers. Later, a glass of Wild Turkey 101 was added to the mix as well. Why? Because the cigar lounge owner suggested I pair the M81 with a bourbon. So, in the end, I had three different beverages versus one cigar.

Branding: The cigar has two bands. The main band is a narrow one that just says, Blackened. At the foot of the cigar, we have a wider band that has the name and the tagline of the cigar: M81, Maduro to the Core.

Construction: Great.

Pre-light: Promising. You can already tell there’s going to be strong notes of chocolate in there. I close my eyes and see the black leather jacket who a tattooed woman who has just come out of a concert and is looking to take a risk to spend the excess adrenaline she has in her blood.

Cut: Straight cut, as always. I don’t remember the last time I went for a V-cut.

Burn: It burned quite evenly but not 100% of the time. I had to even it a couple of times.

Duration: Almost 120 minutes.

Draw: Excellent.

Smoke: Loved it. A generous amount of thick white smoke.

Ash: Good.

Flavors: (Heavy Metal) Notes of dark chocolate, leather, burnt toast, and black pepper.

Review of the Lebanese Wine called Musar Jeune Rouge

Lebanese Wines: Chateau Musar Jeune Red 2020

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Name: Chateau Musar Jeune Red 2020
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Syrah
Year: 2020
Country: Lebanon
Region: Bekaa Valley
Date Consumed: May 4, 2025

If you’ve never tried a Lebanese wine before and you make the Chateau Musar Jeune your first, I’d consider it a good start.

Here we have a full-bodied blend with strong tannins and notes of black fruits, cassis, olive oil, and spices. It’s a wine with a strong personality. Every sip is as assertive as the one preceding it, almost as if one is pushed to turn his sips into swigs. And then, by the time the second glass is emptied, one can taste in every swig the promise that the next one will be richer, fuller, and much more satisfying.

A warning, then: When one bottle is uncorked, many bottles may follow. So, when you open a Chateau Musar Jeune, make sure that you have a second one on the bench… just in case.