Château Musar
Bekaa Valley Red Blend
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
2001 Musar is a great way to start to an amazing week. A delicate blend of Cabernet Savignon, Cinsault and Carignan aged in oak for over a year. At its peak from my cellar - 23 years later it's showing notes of dried cherries, cassis, prunes, some leathery vanilla oakyness. The complexity is off the charts and I'm getting aromas of smokey Tennessee tobacco barn and cherry bramble which is a combo I never imagined I would want so bad. The structure is light and balanced. Silky smooth acidity and fine tannins which is a hallmark of this exquisite wine.
2001 Musar is a great way to start to an amazing week. A delicate blend of Cabernet Savignon, Cinsault and Carignan aged in oak for over a year. At its peak from my cellar - 23 years later it's showing notes of dried cherries, cassis, prunes, some leathery vanilla oakyness. The complexity is off the charts and I'm getting aromas of smokey Tennessee tobacco barn and cherry bramble which is a combo I never imagined I would want so bad. The structure is light and balanced. Silky smooth acidity and fine tannins which is a hallmark of this exquisite wine.
Apr 21st, 2024
Spearmint, cigar, lavender, violet, rosemary, bay leaf, fresh red currants. High acidity, very integrated soft tannins now.
Spearmint, cigar, lavender, violet, rosemary, bay leaf, fresh red currants. High acidity, very integrated soft tannins now.
Oct 14th, 2023
It was Father’s Day and I had decided on grilled rack of lamb for dinner so I selected this bottle of 2011 Chateau Musar rouge from our cellar. According to Musar’s records, the 2011 vintage was one of the most challenging since the early 1990’s. It was ultimately a late-maturing vintage with harvest taking place on October 13th, the latest since the 1983 vintage!
I decanted this bottle about eight hours prior to dinner. It should be noted that immediately upon opening, the bouquet was strikingly gorgeous with powerful aromatics that were obvious from several feet away and this trait carried through until dinner time.
In the glass, the wine presents a deep garnet color. Slightly turbid with a near opaque core. On the nose, black plums, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, organic earth, exotic spices, leather, spiced meat, and pomegranate. I detect a touch of VA as well. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the nose with an added bit of red rope licorice. Lovely, long, savory…amazing. This was a brilliant compliment to the lamb (which was served with beets and goat cheese and fattoush) and everything I wanted in a Musar tonight. Drinking well now with a hefty decant and I expect well cellared examples to drink well past 2035.
It was Father’s Day and I had decided on grilled rack of lamb for dinner so I selected this bottle of 2011 Chateau Musar rouge from our cellar. According to Musar’s records, the 2011 vintage was one of the most challenging since the early 1990’s. It was ultimately a late-maturing vintage with harvest taking place on October 13th, the latest since the 1983 vintage!
I decanted this bottle about eight hours prior to dinner. It should be noted that immediately upon opening, the bouquet was strikingly gorgeous with powerful aromatics that were obvious from several feet away and this trait carried through until dinner time.
In the glass, the wine presents a deep garnet color. Slightly turbid with a near opaque core. On the nose, black plums, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, organic earth, exotic spices, leather, spiced meat, and pomegranate. I detect a touch of VA as well. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the nose with an added bit of red rope licorice. Lovely, long, savory…amazing. This was a brilliant compliment to the lamb (which was served with beets and goat cheese and fattoush) and everything I wanted in a Musar tonight. Drinking well now with a hefty decant and I expect well cellared examples to drink well past 2035.
Sweet, plummy, leather, VA. Possibly a compromised bottle, or just Musar shenanigans. Either way, kinda meh for me.
Sweet, plummy, leather, VA. Possibly a compromised bottle, or just Musar shenanigans. Either way, kinda meh for me.
Nov 24th, 2022Thank you, Chris Struck!
Thank you, Chris Struck!
Oct 30th, 2022
The 2016 Chateau Musar, the winery’s latest vintage on release, is much less forthcoming on the nose than the 2013 and ‘15 that I’ve tried recently, despite - or perhaps because of - the fact that the Hochars consider 2016 to be a successful and very ageworthy vintage.
The nose is quite dense and tightly wound, much like a left bank Bordeaux presents in its youth, not yet revealing its cards besides aromas of cedar, steeped plum, smoked beef and cinnamon. The palate, however, is open for business - powerful and saturated, striking that wonderful Musar balance between dark fruit and tangy acidity, expanding towards a puckering finish with good length.
The lasting impression here is of a very modern rendition of Musar, with great clarity and purity to the fruit, fine tannins, refreshing acidity on the palate and great drinkability now (though equal potential to age). My preference of late remains the 2013, but that’s now quite hard to buy - so I’d happily have a case of this instead.
94+
The 2016 Chateau Musar, the winery’s latest vintage on release, is much less forthcoming on the nose than the 2013 and ‘15 that I’ve tried recently, despite - or perhaps because of - the fact that the Hochars consider 2016 to be a successful and very ageworthy vintage.
The nose is quite dense and tightly wound, much like a left bank Bordeaux presents in its youth, not yet revealing its cards besides aromas of cedar, steeped plum, smoked beef and cinnamon. The palate, however, is open for business - powerful and saturated, striking that wonderful Musar balance between dark fruit and tangy acidity, expanding towards a puckering finish with good length.
The lasting impression here is of a very modern rendition of Musar, with great clarity and purity to the fruit, fine tannins, refreshing acidity on the palate and great drinkability now (though equal potential to age). My preference of late remains the 2013, but that’s now quite hard to buy - so I’d happily have a case of this instead.
94+
Decanted for around an hour, the 2015 Chateau Musar showed quite differently throughout the evening - at times effusive, at others more reserved - but at its best was a glamorous young wine with elegance and great tension.
The nose was exotic, as is often the case with Musar, with aromas of cassis, cedar, vanilla and soy. The palate is explosive and demands food at this embryonic age, totally saturated with ripe cherry, fig and orange zest.
This should age rather well, but that’s hardly a bold statement for Musar!
Decanted for around an hour, the 2015 Chateau Musar showed quite differently throughout the evening - at times effusive, at others more reserved - but at its best was a glamorous young wine with elegance and great tension.
The nose was exotic, as is often the case with Musar, with aromas of cassis, cedar, vanilla and soy. The palate is explosive and demands food at this embryonic age, totally saturated with ripe cherry, fig and orange zest.
This should age rather well, but that’s hardly a bold statement for Musar!
I had a few members of the Tasting Group crew join me in a sort of, "help me drink down my cellar" gathering. Everyone had an opportunity to dig through the cellar and select a bottle of their choosing; the identity of the wine was kept from everyone else and then presented double-blind though, since the bottles were being pulled from my cellar, it wasn't a true double-blind situation for me. This was poured into a decanter and served within two hours of opening. The wine poured a deep ruby, bordering garnet color and slightly turbid. On the nose, it was immediately apparent that this was a vinous wine with abundant ripe red and black fruits some of which came across bruised and desiccated. Along with the fruit was a striking smell of barnyard funk, pipe tobacco, leather, and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine was dry and the fruit set was more or less confirmed. The fruit was gorgeous, fully mature and the finish was long and savory. The tannins were pretty well integrated. Plenty of acid to keep everything afloat. I was headed to the Rhone based off the evidence, something with age and probably from a traditional producer in Chateauneuf du Pape. Due to the color, signs of sediment, abundance of dried fruit and the strong presence of secondary characteristics, I figured this was at least 15 years old from a warmer vintage. After thinking, I called 2005 Pegau. After drinking the 2005 Pegau later, I don't hate my call. This wine is singing and will likely last for at least another decade.
I had a few members of the Tasting Group crew join me in a sort of, "help me drink down my cellar" gathering. Everyone had an opportunity to dig through the cellar and select a bottle of their choosing; the identity of the wine was kept from everyone else and then presented double-blind though, since the bottles were being pulled from my cellar, it wasn't a true double-blind situation for me. This was poured into a decanter and served within two hours of opening. The wine poured a deep ruby, bordering garnet color and slightly turbid. On the nose, it was immediately apparent that this was a vinous wine with abundant ripe red and black fruits some of which came across bruised and desiccated. Along with the fruit was a striking smell of barnyard funk, pipe tobacco, leather, and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine was dry and the fruit set was more or less confirmed. The fruit was gorgeous, fully mature and the finish was long and savory. The tannins were pretty well integrated. Plenty of acid to keep everything afloat. I was headed to the Rhone based off the evidence, something with age and probably from a traditional producer in Chateauneuf du Pape. Due to the color, signs of sediment, abundance of dried fruit and the strong presence of secondary characteristics, I figured this was at least 15 years old from a warmer vintage. After thinking, I called 2005 Pegau. After drinking the 2005 Pegau later, I don't hate my call. This wine is singing and will likely last for at least another decade.
Jan 28th, 2022
#AgedWineTuesday
Light ruby in color with medium intensity.
Dry on the palate with a great nose.
Showing blue and black fruits with tobacco, cedar, leather, chocolates, licorice, spices, earth, herbs, light vinaigrette, wet leaves and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a great Cabernet based blend from Lebanon. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient.
This 22 year old is easy drinking, spicy and interesting and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
The 1999 vintage was a great one in Lebanon, and it is showing so nicely now.
I had it all by itself, but good with food too. Elegant and delightful.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$80.
#AgedWineTuesday
Light ruby in color with medium intensity.
Dry on the palate with a great nose.
Showing blue and black fruits with tobacco, cedar, leather, chocolates, licorice, spices, earth, herbs, light vinaigrette, wet leaves and peppercorn.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a great Cabernet based blend from Lebanon. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient.
This 22 year old is easy drinking, spicy and interesting and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
The 1999 vintage was a great one in Lebanon, and it is showing so nicely now.
I had it all by itself, but good with food too. Elegant and delightful.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$80.