Chateau Qanafar Red Bek’aa Valley – 2013

Chateau Qanafar is a family-owned winery started in 2004 by George Naim, a former executive with Exxon Mobil. Their 17 hectares of vineyards are situated at 1200mts altitude on gently-sloping, east-facing hillsides in Lebanon’s Bek’aa Valley, about 30kms east of Beirut. The view from the winery (which translates as “beautiful lighthouse) is spectacular! The vines are worked organically, with no irrigation, and the wines themselves are made with minimum intervention by George’s son Eddy, who trained as a winemaker at UC Davis in California. His clear goal is to produce fine wines which express their terroir. Their flagship red is a blend of mainly Syrah, Merlot and a little Cabernet Sauvignon, which is aged in French oak barrels for 1 year and then a further 4-5 years in bottle before being released for sale.

This blend of 72% Syrah and 28% Merlot from the relatively cool but dry 2013 vintage is extremely complex, elegant and well-balanced. It has full body, multi-layers of cassis and black fruit flavours with hints of spice, and velvet-smooth tannins. At 15% alcohol it is powerful, but never feels too alcoholic due to its beautiful balancing acidity. Classy, rich and fine.

11,000 bottles were produced. Drink 2021-2033.

Serve with beef steak with a mild or spicy sauce, or strongly-flavoured cheeses such as Gruyère, aged Emmental or Roquefort.