2024 Chateau Oumsiyat - Assyrtiko Cuvee Membliarus Bekaa Valley (750ml)

Château Oumsiyat is a family-run estate whose winemaking heritage stretches back to 1950 in the mountain village of Mtein. Winemaker Joseph Bou Sleiman represents the fourth generation of the Bou Sleiman family to tend these vines, combining generations of local know-how with modern technique to craft wines that feel both rooted and contemporary. In 2024 the estate was ranked #75 on the World's Best Vineyards list, a distinction that specifically highlighted Cuvée Membliarus.

This bottling is a genuine rarity: Lebanon's only Assyrtiko, made in a country whose growing conditions have even sparked theories that the grape, more famously associated with Santorini, could have originated in Lebanon rather than Greece. The wine's name honors Membliarus, the Phoenician governor of Santorini, a nod to that ancient Mediterranean connection. The estate's 78-hectare vineyard sits above 1,000 meters between Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon range, where cool nights and warm days shape wines with real vibrancy and finesse. The 2024 blend is 95% Assyrtiko with 5% Sauvignon Blanc.

Expect subtle aromas of white fruit and flinty mineral notes, framed by a delicate floral character. The palate is linear and precise, finishing wonderfully refreshing and mouthwatering. Subtle white peach and lemon blossom lead into a vibrant palate of citrus zest, gentle spice, and a flinty mineral edge, crisp and clean with a lovely saline lift on the finish.

This wine pairs beautifully with grilled prawns, halloumi and courgette skewers, or a goat cheese tart, making it a bright, food-friendly companion to seafood or mezze-style dining.