The Lighter Side of Ksara

It was poignant to be tasting a small selection of wines from Château Ksara just as Lebanon was plunged into yet another crisis. On their doorstep the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Palestine has been raging for over a year. Within Lebanon, the sudden escalation of September 2024 as Israel began an offensive against Hezbollah has taken danger to a whole new level. It seems like it has always been thus of course. The story of Lebanon’s wine producers harvesting their crop whilst shells exploded around them has been told many times. When I visited Lebanon, the winemakers I met were such friendly and hospitable people, resigned to doing their best despite sometimes overwhelming odds. I wish them and the country well.

Château Ksara

One of Lebanon’s oldest wine companies founded in 1857, Ksara is also its biggest. With a production of up to three million bottles annually it accounts for a quarter to one-third of the country’s entire wine output. I last visited them in 2012 at which time I wrote in detail about the country’s wine history, geography and state of play as well as profiling a dozen estates including Château Ksara.

Three bottlesKsara’s many vineyards in the Bekaa Valley have an average altitude of 1,000 metres, and produce a broad range of wines from both indigenous grapes like Merwah and Obeidy, and from French varieties that remain the mainstay thanks to Lebanon and Ksara’s long history of French wine influence.

The different styles of wine this terroir is capabale of producing is mind-boggling, from full-bodied and lavishly-oaked deep reds, to crisp and fragrant whites. Here I had the chance to taste three of their lighter wines, two rosés and one white. The wines are imported into the UK by Berkmann Cellars.

The Wines

(2024) An unusual blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc blended with 25% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon, this comes from the high altitude vineyards of the Bekaa Valley. The Chardonnay component is fermented and given a couple of months maturation in French oak. It's a fresh, fragrant and zippy style, a peachy, nectarine ripeness cut by lime and just a small hint of gooseberry. The palate is textured, citrussy, dry and licked by a saline breeziness in the finish. A racy, fish and seafood friendly white that is medium-bodied and has a bit of substance too. Watch my full video review for more information.
(2024) Paler than it's Sunset cousin, Grenache Gris dominates this rosé along with 40% Carignan. More subtle and mineral than the Sunset cuvée, and a year younger, red fruits and peach in the background. In the mouth it is drier than the Sunset, with more of a lemony thrust of acid at its core but there is still sweetness to the berry and stone fruit, and that drier citrus finish adds welcome balance.
(2024) Blended from 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Syrah, this has quite a bold and vibrant cherry/pink colour. Cranberry and reducurrant on the nose, a little hint of rose petal. In the mouth this is a sweet and forward style. I suspect a touch of residual sugar adds to the sweet juiciness. It has texture and concentration, hints of spice and good balancing acidity.

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