Massaya Terrasses de Baalbeck, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon

Massaya is run by brothers Sami and Ramzi Ghosn in partnership with Frédéric and Daniel Brunier from Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe and Dominique Hebrard, formerly of Château Cheval Blanc.

Until recently Massaya’s vineyards have solely been located in the fertile Beqaa Valley, at an altitude of 1000 metres above sea level. At these Tanaïl vineyards the slopes are protected by Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon mountains. Free of frost and disease the Beqaa Valley enjoys a unique climate with long gentle summers, wet winters .

In recent years,  Massaya have established vineyards in the more extreme, mineral areas of the Beqaa valley, moving onto hillside sites to the North East (Ras Baalbek) and North West (Hadath Baalbek), as well as further north of Baalbek. These vineyards are planted with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

The wines are matured for 18 months in French oak. a deep colour leads to an expressive nose of damson, prune and sweet spices, allied to a full palate with intensity and fine tannins.

If you love your Chateauneuf du Pape then try this with roasts and casseroles.