CH KSARA ‘LE SOUVERAIN’ R

Château Ksara ‘Le Souverain’ is the flagship red wine of Château Ksara, one of Lebanon’s most historic and respected wineries, produced from carefully selected grapes grown in the high-altitude Bekaa Valley. First introduced in 2007 to celebrate Château Ksara’s 150th anniversary, Le Souverain represents the estate’s most ambitious expression of Lebanese red winemaking. The current style is built around Arinarnoa and Marselan, varieties chosen for their depth, structure and aromatic intensity. The wine is selectively hand-harvested, unfiltered and matured for approximately 24 months in new French oak, giving it remarkable concentration, complexity and ageing potential.

In the glass, Le Souverain displays a dense, deep purple-red colour with impressive intensity. The bouquet is rich and complex, opening with layers of wild blackberry, black cherry, dark plum and cassis, followed by distinctive notes of liquorice, fennel, carob and exotic spice. As the wine develops, cedar, vanilla, cocoa, tobacco and subtle roasted nuances emerge from the French oak, while earthy and herbal notes add further sophistication. Older vintages can reveal leather, dried herbs and savoury roasted character, demonstrating the wine’s impressive ability to evolve with bottle age.

On the palate, Château Ksara ‘Le Souverain’ is full-bodied, powerful and beautifully layered, with a concentrated core of dark berries, black cherry, plum and cassis. Rich notes of liquorice, dark chocolate, cedar, spice and roasted herbs develop through the mid-palate, while the wine’s polished, velvety tannins provide structure and depth. The extended ageing in new French oak contributes elegant layers of vanilla, toast, cocoa and warm spice without overwhelming the fruit. A touch of mineral and savoury character gives the wine additional definition, creating a sophisticated balance between richness, freshness and structure.

The finish is long, persistent and beautifully complex, with lingering flavours of black fruit, liquorice, cedar, dark chocolate, spice and subtle herbal notes. The wine’s firm yet silky tannins and balanced acidity provide an excellent framework for extended cellaring, allowing additional tertiary notes of leather, tobacco, earth and dried fruit to emerge over time. Its combination of concentration, oak complexity and savoury depth makes Le Souverain a distinctive expression of the Bekaa Valley and one of Lebanon’s most age-worthy premium reds.

Food Pairing: This rich and structured Lebanese red is an excellent companion to grilled beef, premium steak, roast lamb, slow-cooked beef, venison and other game meats. Its deep fruit and savoury spice also work beautifully with braised meats, rich red-wine sauces, Lebanese grilled meats and hearty stews. For cheese, pair it with mature Cheddar, aged Gouda, Roquefort or other strongly flavoured cheeses capable of matching its concentration and tannic structure.

Serving Suggestion: Serve at approximately 16–18°C to allow its dark fruit, spice, oak and savoury character to express themselves fully. A young bottle benefits from at least 60 minutes of decanting, allowing the concentrated fruit and firm tannins to soften while revealing deeper layers of liquorice, cedar, cocoa and spice. Serve in a large Bordeaux-style red wine glass to enhance the aromatic complexity and appreciate its full-bodied texture and exceptionally long finish.