Peter van den Besselaar

9.5

Vintage 1996 | André Goichot | Tastevinage | Chambolle Musigny | Refinement, vanilla, very rich and with 28 years still tannins. Beautiful wine. — 7 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

We’ve been patiently waiting for the right moment to taste this wine following a friend’s recommendation; tonight felt like the right time.

This wine comes from the Bekaa (Beqaa) Valley of Lebanon, idealistically situated in the rain shadow of Mount Lebanon. The Valley offers an “oasis of agriculture” and is home to many acclaimed Lebanese wine producers, like Chateau Musar.

Gaston Hochar founded Chateau Musar in 1930, after finding inspiration while traveling in Bordeaux. Since then, it has remained in the loving hands of the Hochar family. While Chateau Musar wines are notably influenced by the winemaking practices of Bordeaux, they have a story to tell of the Bekaa Valley and terroir of this beautiful region.

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan. It’s more than 21 years old with a medium garnet hue.

The nose offers pronounced, layered, and complex aromas of dried fig, prune, plum, crème de cassis, violet, licorice, black olive, cedar, pencil shavings, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla, clove, potting soil, garrigue, bacon, leather, tobacco, and delicate barnyard. The palate is consistent with the nose.

The acidity remains fully present, supporting its longevity. The alcohol is medium at 13.5% ABV. The body is medium and tannins are fine-grained and smooth. It has a long, elegant finish. It’s delicious and is tasting wonderfully now.

Cheers to wines of the Bekaa Valley and Chateau Musar! — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Laura Ellis

9.3

Crisp, minerally — 8 years ago

Patrick Arres

9.5

Simply excellent and smooth. Diner at 5 + gaston — 10 years ago