For many years, Lebanonese wine seemed to be synonymous with Chateau Musar, an iconic producer renowned for savoury, long-lived wines. But the breadth of Lebanon wine is just starting to be noticed on BC shelves, spearheaded by some of the province's leading wine importers.
These wines are a fun discovery for curious wine geeks, but they're anything but new. Grape vines were first planted in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon's predominant grape-growing region, over 6,000 years ago. Domaine des Tourelles is comparatively young in that context, founded 150 years ago by Francois-Eugene Brun in the town of Chtaura, halfway between Beirut and Damascus.
Pete Marshall of Sur Lie started bringing in the wines late last year. I was immediately impressed by the quality – and distinctiveness - of the wines, especially the Red. The wines are made by Chateau Margaux-trained winemaker Faouzi Issa, one of the region’s rising stars. But the wines stay true to the Bekka Valley, using both Bordeaux and Rhône varieties that are well-suited to their unique terroir.
Tasting Note
This Red is a blend of dry-farmed Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, and Cinsault from 20-year-old vines planted at 1,000 metres in elevation. There's a lovely combination of fruit and savoury complexity, with remarkable freshness thanks to the high elevation. Sun-soaked dark cherry and black raspberry fruit is accented by leather and game notes, with no shortage of complexity. The wine continues to evolve in the glass over an hour or two, and it will no doubt improve with another 4-5 years in bottle. An impressive, distinct wine – and an absolute steal at this price.
Food Pairing
Mediterranean grilled lamb chops