Lebanon. It largely resembles a very polished, powerful Right Bank Bordeaux, but as it takes on air, a darker, wilder character emerges, because, of course—no one’s going to put Syrah in a corner! You don’t see Syrah and Merlot as bedfellows very often, but it works like a charm here: In the glass, the wine is a deep, nearly opaque ruby moving to magenta at the rim, with aromas emphasizing the black and blue fruits of ripe Syrah: black raspberry, mulberry, and tangy blueberry, followed by textbook notes of black olive, pepper, cumin, and lavender. The Merlot lends supple texture and some nice lift. It softens and lightens the blow of the Syrah beautifully.