When you are a winemaker you have the luck
to work with something that is alive and you should never kill it. – Serge
Hochar.
Unique Wines from an Ancient Tradition
The
wines of Chateau Musar are unique expressions from a country with an ancient
wine making culture, as vines have been cultivated from Lebanon’s high altitude
Bekaa Valley for over 6,000 years.
From
around 4,500 BC, the sea-faring Phoenicians (ancestors of the modern Lebanese)
distributed their wines and vines throughout the Mediterranean, travelling as
far as Cadiz (and possibly beyond) in their robust cedar boats. Their
resilience in the face of repeated invasion gave rise to the legend of ‘The
Phoenix’. They
also invented the alphabet to help keep records of their various transactions.
The
ancient city of Baalbek in the northern Bekaa Valley, takes its name from the
Phoenician fertility god, Baal. The Roman god Bacchus was in turn worshipped
here and the temples built in his honour remain among the most perfectly
preserved in the world. The region’s wines are mentioned many times in the
bible, with the first recorded evidence of wine transactions coming from Byblos
(‘book’ in Greek, hence ‘Bible’) an historic fishing port north of Beirut.
French
in origin, the Hochar (pronounced Hoshar) family arrived in Lebanon in the 12th
century, Preux Chevaliers and has remained there ever since.
In
1930, at just 20 years old, Gaston Hochar founded Chateau Musar, inspired by
Lebanon's 6,000 years winemaking tradition and his travels in Bordeaux. His
'wines with noblesse' greatly impressed senior officers in the army following
on from the French mandate of the 1920s. Major Ronald Barton, of Château
Langoa-Barton, stationed in Lebanon during World War II became a great friend,
strengthening the links between Chateau Musar and Bordeaux that remain to this
day.
Wine
Enthusiast in Indonesia can finally get a taste of these Chateau Musar imported
by Dimatique International, one of the biggest wine distributors in Indonesia.
Wine
list that Dimatique bring for Chateau Musar is:
2005 Chateau Musar Red
The
2005 vintage is a deep blood red colour with a smoky, spicy, nose of black
fruits, toasted bread, dark chocolate and cigar box – an impressive fragrance
of fruits and spices. The palate is well structured; full of black and red
fruits such as cherries, blackcurrants and prunes with a hint of dark chocolate
and fresh tea leaves. The finish is long and fine with velvety tannins.
2004 Chateau Musar Red
In
2004 winter was normal with snow until March; spring and summer were very mild.
Fresh, cool air was present throughout the year and in this climate the grapes
were slow to mature. Sugar and acidity levels were relatively low around
harvest time then a sudden heat wave struck, lasting a week. “The 2004 Chateau
Musar Red has all the musky, spicy, leathery depth this wine is famous for, but
it also has a kind of airy lightness which makes it a beguiling drink,” said
Simon Hoggart – The Spectator, March 3rd
2011.
2003 Chateau Musar Red
The
2003 harvest was a unique experience and two words can aptly summarize it:
alcohol and acidity – this vintage is rich in both. After the rainiest winter
in 15 years, not a drop of rain fell from mid April onwards and it was hot and
sunny throughout the summer months. In May when flowering started, a 10 days
heat-wave reduced the harvest quantity by about 30% and this phenomenon was
responsible for the concentration of sugar and acidity in the grapes. Our first
indications even at the racking stage were that the 2003 vintage would be
full-bodied, powerful with great length and 7 years later upon release in 2010,
we were proved right. These will be the defining characteristics of 2003.
1999 Chateau Musar Red
1999
was an exceptional year, starting with a dry winter, leading to a fresh spring
and good flowering (although yields were reduced by lack of water). Summer was
mild; July and August were cloudy; September was hot and sunny, enabling grapes
to achieve high levels of alcohol, acidity and extract. “Chateau Musar uses
French grape varieties, each vinified separately, spending one year in tank,
one in oak, the final blend made, like mixing paints on a palette, by Serge
Hochar, a true artist of wine. At any rate, I admire the results, which are,
for the foregoing reasons, noticeably different each year. I am currently
enjoying the 1999. Not claret, nor Burgundy, not Rhône but Lebanon.”
2006 Chateau Musar White
We
would summarise 2006 as a year of great character – an astonishing year, where
to start? The winter was cold and snow covered the Bekaa Valley for more than
two weeks, leaving the soil untouched for 45 days due to the resulting mud.
When spring arrived, it never ended. In 2006 we only had 10 days of our usual
summer climate during the whole summer season with a maximum temperature of 30
degrees in the day and 22 degrees in the night. It was an unbelievable thing to
witness – as if it was a year from the 1950s, when the climate was cooler, the
winds more gentle and when nature was balanced ecologically. The whites from
this year will be outstanding with an unusual late maturing of the Merwah grape
variety, which was picked as late as the 18th October. Fragrant and honeyed,
rich, creamy and intensely zesty, the Chateau Musar White 2006 is well balanced
with a long, fine finish.
Musar Jeune Red 2011, Cinsault, Syrah,
Cabernet Sauvignon
The
Musar Jeune Red 2011 is a blend of 50% Cinsault (vines of more than 40 years of
age), 35% Syrah and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from our organic vineyards. The
grapes were naturally fermented in concrete vats at an average of 28 degrees.
In accordance with our natural and authentic wine-making philosophy, the wines
were not filtered or fined and the sedimentation occurred naturally. This wine
was bottled 11 months after the harvest to preserve the freshness and true
expression of the vintage and terroir, enhanced by organic viticulture.
The
2011 vintage has a bright violet colour with a nose of blueberries, violets,
red cherries and red berry fruits. The palate is very fresh and fruity with
blueberries, blackcurrants and red plums. This very balanced wine with its
fruit concentration, soft tannins and long, warm finish is best enjoyed in its
youth.
Musar Jeune White 2013 - Viognier, Vermentino,
Chardonnay
The
3 grape varieties, 35% Viognier, 35% Vermentino and 30% Chardonnay are an
eclectic blend of French and Sicilian grapes (none of which are found in
Chateau Musar White) were harvested in August 2013 and fermented in stainless
steel vats. The vines used for the Musar Jeune White come from two different
terroirs – Chardonnay and Vermentino are grown on limestone based soils, while
the Viognier comes from vineyards with silty soils. Pale lemon in colour with
fruity and herby aromas – of apricots, white peaches, pears, honeysuckle and
elderflower. The grapes were very fragrant and vibrant in 2013 which has
resulted in an aromatic wine with a hint of nuttiness on the rich, textured
palate with gentle acidity and a peachy finish. A wine to enjoy in its youth
(in contrast to the Chateau bottling, which is not released until its seventh
year) and best served gently chilled with lightly spiced dishes such as
teriyaki glazed salmon, satay chicken and Lebanese mezze.
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