Jay Kline

9.1

This was presented double-blind to the Tasting Group. The wine is copper in color with a pinkish hue, possibly due to skin contact. No signs of gas or sediment. No staining of the tears. On the nose, some slight VA, underripe stone fruit, grassy notes, slight petrol notes, olive brine, white pepper and very slightly smoky. On the palate, fruit is more pronounced; bright and tightly coiled. The stone fruits are confirmed…adding quince to the fruit set. The wine is quite floral too and there is a slightly toasted marshmallow thing. The wine is dry. Not tannic. Acid is medium+. Wonderful texture. Guesses were all over the place but when I said that it was not testable, one taster called Chateau Simone Palette Rosé which, is a really great call. Anyway, Musar Rosé ended up being too far a stretch for even this group of seasoned wine geeks. This was my first experience with the 2018 Musar Rosé and I would recommend to hold for a few years an allow to uncoil and flesh out. — 17 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

My first experience with the 2013 Musar Blanc. I opened this bottle about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the next three hours. Served at cellar temperature. The wine pours a bright golden color with medium, almost medium+ viscosity. The nose is…fascinating. Notes of lemon, herbs, marigolds, honey, marmalade, cloves, bandaid, and something that reminded me of an old rail yard. No cap. On the palate, lemon curd, slightly underripe star fruit, green herbs, a bitterness that reminds of walnut skin…the wine is really wooly, with a long smokey and rather saline finish. Medium+ acid that builds with air. This is about as Musar as it gets. Rustic, wild and irresistible all the same. I’m sure this bottle isn’t without flaw but that’s sort of what you get with Musar. Anyway, we had no trouble finishing off the bottle. It should be noted that the wine improved with air. I’ll hold my remaining bottle until at least 2028. — 2 months ago

Rachel De Jong

9.1

The Shack — dinner with Mike. Syrupy nose, clean, delicate palette. A tiny bit salty. Skin contacty. — 6 months ago

Ming L

9.5

The nose starts off with subtle barnyard, then turn to fig, caramel, brown sugar, balsamic, game, and tobacco. Sweet cherry magically emerges on the palate - so youthful and fresh, and lingers on. — 22 days ago

Matthew Hughes

9.2

Unique, creamy/silky texture, honey, citrus dry but rich. — 22 days ago

Ted

9.3

Wet fresh cut cedar, sawdust, cigar box. Simply delicious. Went for an afternoon run while on holiday and saw my second snake in 3 days. They are everywhere. This guy jumped over a small curb. I don’t know who was more scared. Me of the snake🥺 — 3 months ago

with Jeni

Jay Kline

9.1

Drank this alongside a 2005 Chateau Musar. Popped and poured. The “Pagodes” pours a deep garnet with a browning rim and some very fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and it’s a bit of a leather daddy: leather, mocha, cigar humidor, desiccated dark fruit, wet rock, cedar, decomposing leaves, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin…most of which is very well integrated and medium+ acid. Notes of desiccated dark fruit, leather, black licorice, tobacco and cocoa. Finish is medium long. Ready to drink now and if I had more I would be drinking them within the next couple of years. This is a really nice wine at nearly 17 years but the Musar is almost evergreen and wins the night by a country mile. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; consumed over three days. The 2017 Musar “Hochar Pere et Fils” presents a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. Moderate staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is funky cherry accompanied by desiccated strawberry, leather, damp earth, espresso, baking chocolate, and some exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the fruit characteristics and non-fruit characteristics whilst adding a licorice, prunes and a woody note reminiscent of a hollowed out log. I have to say…after some time (Day 3), it’s just the slightest bit mousy...showing some volatility too…but well within my acceptable range for it. Finishes long, lasting well over a minute. Savory. A tremendous wine with a very Old World (Ancient) sensibility. The best vintage of “Hochar” I have had to date? To my taste, yes. — a month ago

Byron Hewett

9.1

50% Cinsault, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tart. Nice flavors. Needed food. Should hold for several more years. — a month ago

M

9.0

2010. Very solid. Old nose and flavor. Really enjoyable. — 4 months ago