Gaston Hochar Grand Cru Red Blend

Agree with other commentators, pearls were clutched when our host opened this but it was surprisingly accessible young, and unsurprisingly delicious and full of character

Beautiful color of dark ruby with a very wide reddish/ brick rim.

Very aromatic nose with wild flowers, blueberries, plums, cherries, red currants, light oak, tobacco leaf, light earth, dark chocolates, black tea, spices, herbs, black pepper and light green vegetables.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, sugared raspberries, spices, oak, light licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7-year-old red blend from Lebanon is still extremely young, but already very enjoyable, even by itself as a sipping wine. Elegant and interesting.

Soft and smooth, with a nice mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and very complex. Loved the nose here.

This is not a 'pop and pour' kind of wine, as you have to let it open up for a long time.

Not my first time having Chateau Musar, but this is definitely the youngest I've ever tried. I gave it 4 hours in the decanter.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 25 to 30 years, and shows potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Feels like a good quality old world wine, maybe like a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. So interesting.

Good by itself as a sipping wine and paired nicely with the Spanish Jamon.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault. Fermented for 6 months in concrete vats, and then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. After that, the varietals are blended together and aged for an additional year in concrete vats. Released only after 7 years from Harvest. Unfiltered and unfined.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$75.

Nutty salinity, salty, mineraly, leafy, and minty. Slightly oaky.

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.

Always a favorite

Brett and VA, at a good level though. Prune, fig, dried red cherry, hawthorn juice, lavender, rosemary, oregano, basil ash, orange peel, raspberry juice, pomegranate. Slightly mousy. Soft and well integrated tannins.

Ash, forest floor, mushroom, tar, graphite, minerality, hawthorn, red cherry juice. Super soft integrated tannins and acidity.

Tar, graphite, oregano, rosemary, blueberry, blackberry, red and dark cherry, crushed minerality on the palate. Elevated acidity, elevated soft tannins, medium garnet color. In a great place now.

Still standing firm and resolute. Great wine, great vintage. Throwing a lot of sediment. Potpourri of dried red fruits and herbs.

VA, dusty forest floor, fresh red cherry and raspberry, cherry liqueur, purple flower - lavender, red prune, just ripe fig, hefty nose of fresh rosemary, blackberry. Elevated acidity, fine pulverized integrated smooth medium tannins, crushed stone, dried red cherry, dried tomato, dried rose petal. Long lingering finish on the tomato leaf notes. This is what was paired with Grilled Lamb at Lazy Bear when we went late Aug 2022.