Château Musar
Levantine De Musar Red Blend
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 Levantine de Musar pours a deep, nearly impenetrable ruby with a bright ruby rim. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is so fresh! Black cherries, brambles, licorice, purple flowers, tobacco and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose, this continues the theme of freshness and I love it. The finish is long, tart and satisfyingly bright. This is a distinctive expression of the Bekaa and Musar that, while built well enough to age, is clearly made to enjoy while the fruit is fresh.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 Levantine de Musar pours a deep, nearly impenetrable ruby with a bright ruby rim. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is so fresh! Black cherries, brambles, licorice, purple flowers, tobacco and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose, this continues the theme of freshness and I love it. The finish is long, tart and satisfyingly bright. This is a distinctive expression of the Bekaa and Musar that, while built well enough to age, is clearly made to enjoy while the fruit is fresh.
Oct 20th, 2023This was my second experience with the 2020 Levantine (the first bottle was, unfortunately, flawed) which is the result of Musar’s effort to adjust for a changing climate. In this case, they worked with a single-vineyard that has been planted with a portion of Tempranillo. The results are very encouraging.
Popped and poured; no formal notes. An exotic nose with dark fruits, plums, blackberries…and some blueberries too with purple flowers, iron and teriyaki. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. On this initial pour, it’s a touch “frizzante” but that dissipates after some time in the glass. This was a wonderful accompaniment to paella with mussels, prawns, snails, chicken and squid. Ultimately, I find this to be a really lovely, fresh and crunchy version of Musar that is different and yet distinctively Bekaa Valley. Drink now and over the next 5-10 years.
This was my second experience with the 2020 Levantine (the first bottle was, unfortunately, flawed) which is the result of Musar’s effort to adjust for a changing climate. In this case, they worked with a single-vineyard that has been planted with a portion of Tempranillo. The results are very encouraging.
Popped and poured; no formal notes. An exotic nose with dark fruits, plums, blackberries…and some blueberries too with purple flowers, iron and teriyaki. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. On this initial pour, it’s a touch “frizzante” but that dissipates after some time in the glass. This was a wonderful accompaniment to paella with mussels, prawns, snails, chicken and squid. Ultimately, I find this to be a really lovely, fresh and crunchy version of Musar that is different and yet distinctively Bekaa Valley. Drink now and over the next 5-10 years.
Really bad wine. Initially I got notes of blackberry and higher alcohols on the nose. Finishes quite dry. then hubby points out that it smells AND tastes like nail polish and I could not unring that bell. Pretty pricey and most of it went down the drain.
Really bad wine. Initially I got notes of blackberry and higher alcohols on the nose. Finishes quite dry. then hubby points out that it smells AND tastes like nail polish and I could not unring that bell. Pretty pricey and most of it went down the drain.
Jun 1st, 2023
Murky, decadent, sweet and sour tease of the Musar capability in a fresher, direct impression.
Aromatically rich with a mix of fruit and that iodine note reaching way back to your upper brain.
Fresh, vibrant, crunchy mouth. Wild Maine blueberry crumble, metals and violets. Spiced coffee cake, orange and lemon zest and milk chocolate shavings.
You could smell this all day. It fights through the teeth. We both win.
Murky, decadent, sweet and sour tease of the Musar capability in a fresher, direct impression.
Aromatically rich with a mix of fruit and that iodine note reaching way back to your upper brain.
Fresh, vibrant, crunchy mouth. Wild Maine blueberry crumble, metals and violets. Spiced coffee cake, orange and lemon zest and milk chocolate shavings.
You could smell this all day. It fights through the teeth. We both win.
Another stellar Musar, very approachable and forward than the cab.
Another stellar Musar, very approachable and forward than the cab.
Feb 4th, 2023
