Mezze Platter with Lebanese Wines #WinePW

The Lebanese Mezze Table: Much More Than Food, A Social Gathering! Meze or mezze is a selection of small dishes served to accompany alcoholic drinks in the Near East, the Balkans, and parts of Central Asia. In Levantine, Caucasian, and Balkan cuisines, meze is often served at the beginning of multi-course meals. (Source: https://www.nogarlicnoonions.com/)

Join us today as we explore Middle Eastern Food and Wine Pairings.......

I am hosting the Wine Pairing Weekend this month.  I asked the others to join me on an exploration of Middle Eastern Foods and Wines.  Some of us are sharing the wines.  Some the cuisine.  And some of us are sharing both.  We will be meeting up on Saturday morning, May 8th, at 11 AM ET on Twitter to chat about our findings.  We would love to have you join us.  You will find us by following #WinePW.  Here are the topics we will be discussing......

• Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles is Celebrating Sauvignon Blanc Day at the table with St. Supéry and easy Middle Eastern Dishes 
• Pinny of Chinese Food and Wine Pairing is Drinking Serious Wine from Israel's Domaine du Castel and Eating Causal Israeli Food
• Nicole of Somm’s Table is "Indulging My Lebanese Cravings with Chateau Musar Jeune Rouge" 
• Susannah of Avvinare shares Israeli Wine From the Judean Hills and Tabbouleh Salad
• Terri of Our Good Life talks about Kofte Kebabs and Ben Ami Cabernet Sauvignon: a BBQer’s Bliss. 
• Andrea of The Quirky Cork visits Lebanon and Syria, a Crossroads of Wines and Flavors 
• Cam of Culinary Adventures with Camilla is sharing Man'oushe + Château Musar Lebanon Jeune Red 2017 
• Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm made up a  Mezze Platter with Middle Eastern Wines
• Jane of Always Ravenous is "Pairing Middle Eastern Flavors with Wine" 
• David of Cooking Chat is serving Sesame Free Hummus with Wine from the Middle East 
• Gwendolyn of Wine Predator shares So Africa’s Organic Reyneke Syrah and Chenin Blanc with Instant Pot

I wanted to make Lebanese Food so I went on a search for Lebanese wines.  Easier said than done.  I finally found these two bottles at Woods Wholesale Wine in Detroit.  

2013 Chateau Musar 'Gaston Hochar', Bekaa Valley, Lebanon retails for $46.96.  Here are the winemakers notes as listed on the store's website.  

A dense deep red with our characteristic sweet/savoury/spicy blend of Cinsault, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon.

I don't know if I got a bad bottle or what.  It didn't smell as if it had turned, however it was extremely tart.  I took one sip and gave the rest of my glass to Frank who finished it but also did not care for it.  When our guests arrived, my friend Amy of Amy's Cooking Adventures, also tried a glass of this wine. She said that after the first two sips it was okay.  She switched to the black box wine I had on the counter after her first glass.  

Needless to say I was very disappointed in this wine and pairing with food did not help it.  I've noted that several others are sharing their thoughts on this wine as well.  I'm anxious to see what they thought. It will help me to determine whether I just don't care for this wine or if I just got a bad bottle.

The 2018 Chateau Musar 'Musar Jeune' Blanc, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, on the other hand, was a steal at an RSP of $20.99.  I enjoyed this wine thoroughly.  It was smooth and fruity.  Hints of lemon and very balanced.  I enjoyed a glass with the Mezza Platter and another with dinner of Shish Tawook, Beef Kafta and Lebanese Rice.

We were celebrating Frank's 70th birthday and had gorgeous weather making it possible to enjoy it outside on our deck.  I put together a Mezze Platter and set out hummus, baba ghanouj and garlic paste that I had bought from the Lebanese Grill.  I love that restaurant.

I hope that you will join us on Saturday, May 8,  at 11 AM ET for Twitter Chat.  You will find us by following #WinePW.