Description
Gaston Hochar founded the winery in 1930 following his travels in Bordeaux and inspired by Lebanon’s 6000 year old winemaking history. His wines rather impressed some senior officers in the French military during the mandate period, and he even became good friends with Major Ronald Barton, of Château Langoa-Barton, furthering the affinity for Bordeaux.
His eldest son, Serge, studied oenology formally in Bordeaux, and soon took over the winemaking duties in 1959. After a few decades, his wine finally began getting some international attention.
Such age-worthy dry whites are rare, and we promise you’ve never heard of the grapes this one is made with: Obaideh and Merwah, indigenous to the mountains of Lebanon, and said to be related to Chasselas, Chardonnay, and Semillon.
Both varieties are own-rooted, and are kept as untrained bush vines on opposing mountainsides of the valley. They are super low-yielding, lending the wine impressive concentration. It is fermented and matured in French oak barriques for 9 months before bottling, and held for seven years before release.
As for tasting notes, it’s not dissimilar to a nice aged white Bordeaux. Loads of yellow fruit, a bit of spice, and mellow floral tones.
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