The 2008 GOLD RESERVE, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Mourvedre (40%) and Syrah (10%), is a fairly typical Gold Reserve, on par with recent vintages, but a little too young at this point to appreciate fully. It sports a lot of power at the moment, gripping, intense and rather drying on the finish after being poured for 90 minutes or so. It starts out very new world and ends earthier and with a lot more character. The elegant mid-palate coupled with the power can give it an austere demeanor at this point, but I’m leaning up a little considering the fine structure here. Crisp and austere, it may not reach its potential, but certainly needs a little patience. It will probably show a lot better around 2013. Drink 2012-2019. Massaya, run and owned by Lebanon’s Sami and Ramzi Ghosn, with participation by the owners of Chateaus Vieux Telegraphe and Bellefont-Belcier in France, is a relatively familiar Lebanese brand. Their top label is the Gold Reserve, which usually shows quite nicely.Importer: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620

The 2007 GOLD RESERVE, a new release, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Mourvedre/Syrah (50%). In its mid-palate, it is quite elegant this year, perhaps to a fault, and I liked the oak treatment here, subdued and well integrated. As with the ’06, it showed drying tannins to pit against its rather slight mid-palate, but it does show focus and good fruit as well. It grew on me a bit with aeration, and I loved the increasing purity of the fruit. The astringency does give it a hard edge, though, it is a little lean, and needs to show that it can come around in the cellar. At the time this review was written, this wine was not quite released yet into the USA market, but it is expected to be released soon. Drink 2011-2018. Massaya is one of Lebanon’s most familiar wineries, run and owned by Lebanon’s Sami and Ramzi Ghosn, with participation by the owners of Chateaus Vieux Telegraphe and Bellefont-Belcier in France.Importer: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620

The 2006 GOLD RESERVE, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Mourvedre (40%) and Syrah (10%), is laced with a little licorice, and able to hold a reasonable time. With air, some considerable tannic astringency becomes evident, the wine fleshes out a bit and develops a little more character, some earthiness and a hint of game. It takes awhile to get past the sweet, initial overlay, though, when it seems very new world, despite the participation of those French wineries. This keeps showing more and more power with air, ultimately becoming rather mouth-drying. This has many merits, but I did find it a little hard to warm up to. Drink now-2017. Massaya is one of Lebanon’s most familiar wineries, run and owned by Lebanon’s Sami and Ramzi Ghosn, with participation by the owners of Chateaus Vieux Telegraphe and Bellefont-Belcier in France.Importer: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620

The 2005 GOLD RESERVE, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Mourvedre (40%) and Syrah (10%), is rather tannic and penetrating and built to hold in the cellar a reasonable time. The mid-palate is on the elegant side and it is worth wondering whether the tannins will win out in the long haul. There is a little licorice apparent and some grip on the finish. It is approachable—but probably better in a year or two. It certainly improved with 60-90 minutes of aeration, although the next day, while drinkable, it had thinned and lost some flavor. Drink now-2016. Massaya is run and owned by Lebanon’s Sami and Ramzi Ghosn, with participation by the owners of Chateaus Vieux Telegraphe and Bellefont-Belcier in France.Importer: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620