Cave du Monastere St-Jean, Sendiäna Rouge, 2014

When it comes to Lebanese wine, most people have only heard of Château Musar, but the wine scene has flourished in the last 20 years. In the late 1990s you could count the number of producers on one hand - today there are more than 35 active wineries. Cave du Monastere St-Jean is actually the country's oldest winery, but has only existed in its current incarnation since 2006 when production was modernised and the range overhauled; before that it produced sweet wines in the traditional monastic style. This sleek number is the epitome of modern winemaking - smooth, with warm dark fruit, full-bodied but fresh. Mostly Cabernet and Merlot but with a dash of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, it would be perfect with a winter stew.