1996 White Varietal/Style: Marwah & Obaideh blend Origin: Bekka Valley, Lebanon Vintage: 1996 Winemaker: Serge Hochar Rating: 13.5/20 Retail Price: $21

Tasting Notes: You'll probably never find anything to compare to this dry, Lebanese blend, at least not in America. It's a complex wine; aromas of fresh-cut grass, almonds and toasted oak lead to a surprising evolution of flavors from apricot cream to roasted nuts to black licorice. It may be hard to believe a white table wine could run such a gamut, but like we said, there's nothing quite like it. (Date tasted 11/5/00)

Profile: Founded over 70 years ago on the outskirts of Beirut, Chateau Musar is heralded for its Rhône varietal-based red blend. But the winery also produces small quantities of white and rosé table wines each year. As winemaker since 1959, Serge Hochar, son of the winery's founder, Gaston Hochar, has been hailed both genius and madman, the former for his track record in producing world-class blends, the latter for his persistence in producing Lebanese wine through years of unrest.

Address:
Broadbent Selections
City: San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415-931-1725
Web site: www.broadbent-wines.com
E-mail: sales@broadbent-wines.com