One of the great, historic wineries out of Lebanon, located in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, Chateau Musar was founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar. In 1959, after studying oenology at the University of Bordeaux, his son Serge became winemaker. Serge produced wines even through the Civil War (1975-90). The Hochar family continues to run this historic winery. The vineyards of Chateau Musar are located in the Bekaa Valley and in Mount Barouk, around Kefraya and Aana, which is about a two-hour drive from the winery in Ghazir, just north of Beirut. Red wines are comprised of Cinsault, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah & Grenache while white wines are composed of indigenous varietals Obaideh (a native of Chardonnay) and Merwah (a native variant of Semillion), as well as Chardonnay, Viognier & Vermentino.
The new wines by Chateau Musar were impressive across the board. I loved the new 2010 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ White Wine (WWB, 92) which is a hugely novel white wine made from Obaideh and Merwah varietals. Even better is the new 2011 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ Red Wine (WWB, 93) which is sourced from old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault. Learn more about this famed winery at https://chateaumusar.com Here are the great new wines by Chateau Musar.
2017 Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ White Wine- The ‘Musar Jeune’ White Wine is sourced from young vines Viognier, Vermentino and Chardonnay that was all unoaked before bottling. The wine is fresh and forward with bright kiwi and citrus fruit flavors that mingle with minerals on the palate. Drink 2019-2023- 89
2010 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ White Wine- The 2010 Chaterau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ White Wine is an intruding blend of indigenous varietals, 75% Obaideh and 25% Merwah, that are sourced from vines that range from 60-90 years of age. Needing a one hour decant to be fully expressive, the ‘Gaston Hochar’ slowly unveils star jasmine, lemon curd, with suggestions of wet stone and honeydew melon that all meld together in the glass. The palate shows a silky texture and beautiful mouthfeel, unveiling ripe melon, citrus zest and shades of nutmeg infused Challah bread that come together. The sense of place and texture to the wine is really good, as is the mouth-watering acidity. Fantastic in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 92
2018 Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ Rose- This rose offers very faint red rose and red cherry tones that take shape in the glass. The palate shows a soft texture with delicate red fruits that dance with damp terroir and shades of citrus rind. The texture is really nice here. Drink 2019-2025- 89
2017 Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ Red Wine- The 2017 ‘Musar Jeune’ is a compelling young vine blend of 50% Cinsault with 30% Syrah and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from their estate vineyard. Unoaked, the wine opens with lovely wet stone and damp earth tones that meld with the rich black fruits and touch of chocolate on the nose. The palate has great freshness and verve with a strong salinity that races through the core of the wine. Forward and downright delicious, this wonderfully balanced wine will cellar well over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2019-2026- 89
2016 Chateau Musar ‘Hochar Pere Et Fils’ Red Wine- The 2016 ‘Hochar Pere Et Fils is sourced from sites near the village of Aana in the Bekaa Valley. Vineyards in the region are known for deep, gravelly soil over a limestone base. The wine is a beautiful blend of Cinsault (50%), Grenache (35%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) which was aged for six months in French oak before bottling. Right away you are allured by the high-toned rose petals and shades of licorice with bright red fruits and citrus rind tones that come together on the nose. The palate is marvelously balanced and poised, with a silky mouthfeel and bright sense of acidity and salinity that runs through the core of the wine. Showing some good weight, the wine yields red raspberry coulis with shades of tangerine zest and wild blackberry mingle with minerals and exotic spices on the palate. Highly novel and complex in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2033- 91
2011 Chateau Musar ‘Gaston Hochar’ Red Wine- The 2011 ‘Gaston Hochar’ by Chateau Musar is sourced from a vintage that saw a good deal of rain and cool temperatures which led to a later harvest than usual. Original vines for this wine date back to the 1930s as the wine is a blend of near equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya which are gravelly soils over limestone. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully expressive, the wine awakens to intense damp earth aromas that meld with sour cherry, wild mushroom and peat moss tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate has incredible verve and elegance, reminiscent of a great Right Bank Bordeaux. Damp earth and peat moss flavors combine with shades of clove and cinnamon stick infused red fruits, as well as shades of kumquat zest that round out this remarkable wine. Fantastic at this stage in its development, the 2011 ‘Gaston Hochar’ will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2038- 93