This is a medium-to-full bodied white showing off mineral aromas, as well as prominent lashings of white flowers, and lemons. With background hints of honey, this is very nice. Wonderful colour, crisp but with great body.
Massaya is run by two brothers – Sami & Ramzi Ghosn – in partnership with the Brunier brothers from Vieux Télégraphe and Dominique Hébrard, formerly from Château Cheval Blanc. With strong heritage behind them, the vineyards are carefully chosen to produce an arrange of wines.
These grapes are grown on the foothills of Mount Lebanon, between 1,200 and 1,600 above sea level. This is considerably higher than the Bekaa Valley's 1,000 metre average.The blend of white grapes allows the wine to show off terroir. The vineyards were chosen to show off the most mineral characteristics of all the grapes.
Wine has been produced in the area for over 6,000 years. It isn't heritage or climate that has made winemaking difficult here historically, it's war. During the last conflict, Ramzi Ghosn was holed up on-site with war surrounding him. The road by the winery was destroyed, but the wine and family remained safe.
The 20-year old vines here are grown on chalky clay soils.Different types of soil will affect how grapes ripen. Warm soil like sand or gravel increases ripening speed, while cold soils like clay reduce it. Chalk lies somewhere in between, while helping to increase a wine's acidity.