MITPTC #33 - Chateau St-Thomas Vallée de la Bekaa 2015

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Y'all, one of the great things about committing to this newsletter is that it pushes me to try new stuff. Indeed, now that I barely drink at all in this newborn-having phase of mine, I am trying to make every bottle I pop open interesting enough to be worth sharing here. And let me tell you this week will be an absolute TREAT when it comes to both new discoveries and great quality wine at a nearly unbelievable ROI.

When I got to my favorite wine shop a few weeks ago, I was curious to see a French label on the "Curiosity" shelf. I mean, someone must have misplaced it, yeah?

Nope - it just happened to be a rather rare example of a wine producing country I had read about but never tasted: Lebanon. Of course, I had to buy the bottle right then and there and was excited to share my thoughts on it with you fine folks.

Of course, Lebanon may not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of wine, but it probably should. Why? Well, maybe because it has been producing wine for over 5,000 years? Yup- not kidding. It's also no real surprise when you think of it: the place is?located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and has been a hub of trade and commerce for thousands of years. The Phoenicians, who were the ancient inhabitants of the region, were known to have produced wine as early as 3,000 BCE.

Lebanon is thus home to some of the oldest vineyards in the WORLD, and its wines have been enjoyed by many, including ancient civilizations and modern wine enthusiasts alike. And now they're making their way to this newsletter - talk about full circle, right?

Now, one of the most notable styles of Lebanese wine is the Bordeaux-style blend. This means wine made using grape varieties commonly found in the Bordeaux region of France, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, among others. While similar to Bordeaux in style, they also have their very own thing - mostly due to the unique geography, soil and savoir-faire of the place, which snooty wine folks call terroir (or turwaaaaaaahr if they happen to be from Australia - sorry Aussies).?

Lebanon's climate is characterized by hot summers and cold winters, with a significant diurnal temperature variation that contributes to the development of complex flavors and aromas in the grapes. Moreover, the country's high-altitude vineyards, which are located at elevations of up to 1,800 meters above sea level, benefit from the cooling influence of the Mediterranean Sea and the snow-capped mountains, creating ideal conditions for grape growing. It's really no wonder they planted grapes early there - it's pretty much perfect for that.

The result of all these factors is a wine that is rich, full-bodied, and complex, with flavors of dark fruit, spice, and earth. Lebanese Bordeaux-style blends are also known for their age-worthiness, meaning they can be cellared for years, allowing their flavors and aromas to develop and mature over time.

OK. Now that you have a bit of an intro, you're probably as excited as I was to sample this bad boy. On to the tasting phase!

Now, do you want the full tasting notes? If so, you'll have to sign up to my newsletter by?clicking here. See you in there, folks!