Chateau Musar

Contents

Sweetness: Dry

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Cinsaut

Grape info: Equal parts Cabernet Carignan and Cinsaut. Cabernet’s deep colour, high acidity and high tannin will confer longevity while its aromatic profile and affinity with oak give it a world-renowned complexity. Carignan too adds tannin, colour and age-ability to Cinsaut’s attractive, perfumed fruits.

About: Founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar, Chateau Musar first won international acclaim for their 1967 vintage at the Bristol wine fair. Serge, Gaston’s son, would be recognised by Decanter magazine as their first ‘Man of the Year’ in 1984 in recognition of his dedication to producing wine throughout Lebanon’s civil war (1975-1990).

The varietal components in Chateau Musar Red undergo lengthy fermentations in cement vats. Six months after the harvest they are transferred into French barrels for one year. The components are brought together two years after the harvest; the resulting blend is then placed back in cement tanks before being bottled 12 months later. Each wine is blended to reflect the character of the vintage. After 4 years’ bottle maturation in the deep stone cellars of Chateau Musar, the finished wines are released a full seven years after the harvest.

Tasting note: It has a bright ruby colour and there are sweet red cherries, mulberries and plums on the nose with a hint of tea tree and liquorice. The tannins are soft and well-integrated and this vintage has good acidity, depth of fruit and a long finish. Cellared well, it will age beautifully for decades.

Character: Cherry, tea tree, liquorice