Chateau Musar

Notes - Created in 1930 in the cellar of an old 17th century castle. After a long stay in France, Gaston Hochar returned to Lebanon and created Château Musar in the cellars of the old 'Mzar' castle in Ghazir, overlooking the Mediterranean sea. The family's love for wine grew and in 1959, after completing his oenology diploma in Bordeaux, the eldest son, Serge, entered the business. The vineyards of Château Musar are located at an altitude of over 3,000 feet (1,000 meters) in the Bekaa Valley where the vines are sheltered by the surrounding mountains running parallel to the Mediterranean coast. They cover 180 hectares and produce a limited yield of about 35 hl/ha. The Bekaa Valley is almost frost and disease free, with long mild summers, rainy winters with an annual rainfall of 500mm, and an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius . The red wines are made from a blend of different grape varieties, mainly: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan. The vines are grown on a gravely soil with a limestone base. The composition varies from one year to the next, giving Château Musar a different character and identity each year. The 2000 vintage of Chateau Musar is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan – approximately one third of each. The colour is a deep dark red, perhaps darker than usual at Chateau Musar. The nose is a complex intriguing mixture of figs, prunes, leather, dark tea, tobacco, black olives with spices and a certain earthiness. On the palate, you will find ripe black cherries, figs, damsons-even chocolate and olives. There is good acidity with nice smooth tannins resulting in a wine which full-bodied, rich and velvety with very long length. Perhaps more Bordeaux like in character than in previous vintages.
 
     

Enter your e-mail address and click the button to opt into the Fareham Wine Cellar mailing list: