Tag: red wine

Review of Ainata Reserve Cuvee 12, a wine from Lebanon

Lebanese Wines: Ainata Reserve Cuvee 12 2013

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Name: Ainata Reserve Cuvee 12 2013 (by Chateau Salomon)
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Not Mentioned
Year: 2013
Country: Lebanon
Region: North Lebanon
Date Consumed: December 3, 2025

This bottle has a bit of a story for me. It was made by a friend’s family, and for the past three years it’s been sitting quietly among our other wines. It’s one of those bottles you keep meaning to open, but somehow never do.

A few days ago, however, while my wife and I were reviewing our wine inventory, trying to pick our Christmas lineup, we said it was finally time to see what it had become.

And I’m glad we uncorked it.

The Ainata Reserve Cuvée 12 turned out to be a surprisingly confident wine, full-bodied and delicious. And for its age, it tasted quite young.

Lovely.

Review of Chateau Oumsiyat Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Lebanese Wines: Chateau Oumsiyat Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

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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!

Chateau Trois Collines Nysa Review

Lebanese Wines: Chateau Trois Collines Red Nysa 2022

Chris KhatschLeave a comment

Name: Chateau Trois Collines Nysa 2022
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Mourvèdre, Tempranillo, Agiorgetiko
Year: 2022
Country: Lebanon
Region: Bekaa Valley
Date Consumed: November 15, 2025

An interesting blend suitable for many occasions. Good for casual nights, but equally at home during a proper wine night with friends. It’s not the red that everybody will talk about the next day, but it’s definitely one of the first two or three bottles you’ll want to open. Especially if you’re heading into the kind of evening where six, seven, eight bottles or more mysteriously disappear.

It’s a smooth, fun, and lively wine that everybody can enjoy.