(2024) Ixsir's delightful white is based around Viognier, blended with 25% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Chardonnay. These are not Lebanese grapes of course, but the is terrific nevertheless. I believe it spends around six months in French oak, and that adds a creaminess to aroma and texture, but it's the fragrant, floral and exotic lychee Nd nectarine fruit that dominates. Textured, sweet-fruited with a glacé orange character, ripe, with a pink grapefruit rush of juicy acidity. Really very good.
(2023) I've tasted various vintages of this wine since first visiting Ixsir over a decade ago. I have tobsay this isbthe best vintage yet of this Obedei, Muscat and Viognier blend. The floral of the aromas are presumably driven by the Muscat, to  delightful effect, musky, peachy and with lots of fragrance. The palate does somehow reflect that aromatic exuberance, lots of juicy peach, keen lime and a bracing saline-infused finish. Delicious, but with a bit of muscle too.
(2022) A blend of Muscat, Obeidi and Viognier from Ixsir's high altitude vineyards in Lebanon, this is fragrant, with the Muscat component driving the floral, jasmine and talcum aromas, but there's a hint of lemon and melon rind grip beneath. In the mouth that Muscat character dominates again, but there's a phenolic, pithy serious bit of acidity and grip here, swinging from juicy nectarine to lemon pith, in a textural, big mouthful of wine.
(2016) Though Château Musar has put Lebanon firmly on the map for wine lovers around the globe, there are several producers of terrific quality in the country, including the relatively new estate of IXSIR. This is an unusual blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Caledoc and Tempranillo, and the influence of IXSIR's French and Spanish winemaking team is obvious: the nose is redolent of creamy black berries, but with some graphite and a nice note of finesse with a cherry-ish, violet touch. In the mouth it is well-balanced and medium-bodied, the ripe fruit weighed against firm, tight tannins and a good acid structure. A wine that will also age for a few years. Watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.
(2012) Syrah and Caladoc, with a very pleasing, pale salmon pink colour with a peachy tinge. Intensely aromatic, with lots of floral, rose-like perfume, a little bubblegum, but very pleasing red fruits. On the palate dry and delightfully balanced, with a big core of citrus and plenty of raspberry and cherry fruit. A little hint of spice and tannin adds some grip. Not a saignée of the red - planted and made exclusively as a rosé.
(2012) A blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah, 26% Caladoc and 17% Tempranillo. Just a little bit of barrel component here. What a lovely nose, absolutely intense aromatics, with creamy black fruit aplenty, but some perfume of old roses and kirsch-like black cherry. Hints of mint and garrigue-like herbs. The palate is soft and voluptuous, adding to the easy drinking creaminess. It is perhaps just nearing over maturity, with soft tannins and a maturing style.
(2012) Syrah (61%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (39%) spends 12 months in French oak, 60% new and 40% second fill. Still very aromatic, adding a layer of spice and pepper to the creamy black fruit, but quite tightly defined and has a touch of earthiness and minerality. The palate has lovely fruit, approachable, richly textured and full, but a big drying core of tannin adds grip and weight, and is much grippier with plum skins and liquorice adding to the juicy structure of the finish. Serious, and nicely alive.
(2012) The name of this mystery wine is currently being registered so I was asked not to publish it. It will be the top wine of the estate. A blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot it has a powerful nose with kirsch and liquorice and some nutty notes, with lots of spices and peppery components and a really pure fruit character. The palate at this stage is hugely tight and concentrated, with a cedary edge to the fruit, the smokiness of the oak supporting crunchy, vivid, very pure and tight black. Lots of cassis ripeness and glossy purity, but grippy too and the oak not overdone.
(2012) Muscat, Viognier, Sauvignon and Sémillon (finished wine, but not bottled). A touch of sulphur at this stage that blows off to reveal powerful aromatics, the Muscat and Viognier adding lots of Spring flower top notes, some waxy and passionfruit character coming through and some herby, green notes. The palate has a rich texture, with the Muscat full and dry, the Sauvignon (though only 15%) adding lots of punch and the Viognier adding palate weight and texture. A very impressive, modern wine and punchy too.
(2012) Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, this finished fermentation in barrel then spent five months in 400-litre French oak barrels, 50% new. Lovely, buttery richness to the nose, with plenty of oak, but not too much as the succulent pear and almost tropical, pineapple ripeness come through. The palate has a huge citrus core of pithy grapefruit and lime, really focused and juicy, with a really nutty background. The juicy, fresh, aromatic and exotic character is still there, giving this a nice balance of opulence and firm, crisp structure. Will be better in a few months once the oak settles, but terrific quality.