(Bekka Valley, Lebanon) I was fortunate to attend a Chateau Musar tasting this past fall, where the Chateau’s renowned red blend would be tasted through several vintages. This wine is legendary for its unique sense of place and incredible ability to age. I went fully expecting to be impressed with each distinctive vintage. What surprised me was the “little” wine handed to me as I walked in before the tasting began. This wine, which they call Jeune, is an unoaked blend of Cinsault, Cabernet, and Syrah produced from certified organic grapes grown in the sunny (300+ days a year!) soil of Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. After fermentation, the wine rests in cement for one year and is then blended and bottled unfined and unfiltered. It is intended to be enjoyed at release, quite the contrary to its big brother . You’ll find flavors of dark fruit, black olive, and herb, but what ultimately hooked me was the addictive aromatics. I found myself going back to the empty glass to just keep smelling. This will be served in heavy rotation at my house during the holidays and beyond. - Noelle Starr, Wine Consultant