Tag: wine review

Lebanese Wines: Château Ksara Reserve du Couvent 2021

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Name: Château Ksara Reserve du Couvent 2021
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2021
Country: Lebanon
Region: Beqaa Valley
Date Consumed: January 11, 2024

One of the go-to wines of Lebanon, the Reserve du Couvent is a medium-bodied wine that you can enjoy almost anywhere and anytime.

Over the years, I’ve paired it with almost everything. It pairs best with red sauce pasta, grilled pork, rotisserie chicken, and all sorts of cheese.

It had been a while since I last had a glass of Reserve du Couvent. But when I had it last night, I remembered why it can be loved so easily. It doesn’t have to be an expensive bottle of wine for the wine to be good. There are great, affordable wines out there, and this is one of them.

Château Kefraya Les Exceptions Syrah 2018

Lebanese Wines: Château Kefraya Les Exceptions Syrah 2018

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Name: Château Kefraya Les Exceptions Syrah 2018
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Syrah
Year: 2018
Country: Lebanon
Region: Beqaa Valley
Date Consumed: January 7, 2024

The occasional trip to Château Kefraya has never been a bad idea. Whenever I’m there, I get to try something special. And I usually go for the “Les Exceptions” bottles because you can’t find them elsewhere.

My favorite Les Exceptions bottle up until now is the Cabernet-Franc 2017 that I paired with the Cumpay Volcan Maduro cigar back in May 2022. But when I asked for it this time, they were out of stock. So, we tried the Syrah instead. And I’m happy that we did.

I got hints of red fruits, including strawberry, pomegranate, and cherry. It paired well with the full-bodied Oliva Serie V that I was smoking, and I was in great company, so there was nothing I could complain about.

I’d give it 80/100.

Ardoum Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Lebanese Wines: Ardoum Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Chris Khatsch1 Comment

Name: Ardoum Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Type: Red Wine
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2018
Country: Lebanon
Region: Mount Lebanon
Date Consumed: November 2023

Earlier this month, my wife and I visited the Ardoum winery. We were with friends, some of whom knew a thing or two about wine and others who knew nothing. But we were all there to celebrate a birthday and have fun.

The plan was to visit a winery and then have lunch somewhere that served Lebanese Mezza. It all went according to plan, and most of us ended up at a cigar lounge, smoking cigars and discussing philosophy.

The Ardoum winery is located in Mtein in Mount Lebanon and is relatively small. For its size, though, it had a decent selection of wines. Of all the red wines I tried, I like the Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 best. Therefore, it ended up being one of the three bottles we brought home with us.

The Ardoum Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a wine for casual gatherings and cozy nights. I opened the bottle we brought with us on a weekday while my wife prepared dinner. We both had a couple of glasses, one before and one during dinner.