2022 Domaine de Baal - White Bekaa Valley (750ml)

Established in 1995, Domaine de Baal is a boutique, artisanal winery in Zahlé, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, working at about 1,200 meters. Founder Sebastien Khoury spent years living and making wine in Saint-Émilion before returning to Lebanon in 2006, and his approach pairs organic farming with minimal intervention in the cellar. The estate covers just six hectares and produces around 20,000 bottles a year.

The Bekaa is a high plateau between the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges, and the 2022 White blends equal parts Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from organically farmed vines there. Twenty percent of the wine was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, while the rest stayed unoaked. It is a dry, vegan-friendly white with high acidity, moderate alcohol, and four to eight years of aging potential.

Pale yellow in the glass, the wine opens with an elegant, mineral nose of citrus and grapefruit. Bright acidity drives the palate, delivering plenty of freshness, while the Chardonnay lends a touch of roundness. Crisp, clean, and refined, it is a Lebanese white that rewards close attention.