Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan
37.5cl * Vegan, Organic & Sustainable * 14% ABV * Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Chateau Musar undoubtedly is one of the world’s wine icons. Since it’s founding in 1930 by Gaston Hochar, the Hochar family have acquired a reputation for producing outstanding wines inspired by Lebanon’s 6,000-year winemaking heritage. It was the late, great Serge Hochar, Gaston's son, who perfected the formula for Chateau Musar’s Red and helped build iconic status, becoming Decanter Magazine’s first ‘Man of the Year’ in 1984.
Seven years in the making, Chateau Musar Red is an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya on gravelly soils over limestone. Planted from the 1930s onwards, yields are low from these mature bush vines. They have an average age of 40 years old and produce just 15 to 35 hectolitres per hectare.
Each individual variety was fermented and aged in French oak for 12 months and then eventually masterfully blended in the January of 2021. After a period of amalgamation for the blend, the wine was bottled in August 2021. it aged for a further 2 1/2 years before released for the Musar cellars.
Lusciously deep garnet colour in the glass with dried cherries and mature red fruits on the nose. The palate is rich and concentrated with cranberries, raisins, and figs. Balanced acidity and fine tannins. The finish is smooth with dried fruit and soft liquorice undertones. It is already developed and mature.
Chateau Musar recommend Butler's Thief cork remover to open their wines as corks can degrade during a long cellaring. After careful decanting (and discarding of sediment, usually in the last centimetre of the bottle) the wine should be allowed to breathe for an hour and served at 18°C with roasts, grills (especially lamb), casseroles, game, and mature cheeses.