| Description: |
Chateau Musar Red
The wines of Chateau Musar are a unique expression 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. French in origin, the Hochar family arrived in Lebanon in the 12th century and have remained there ever since. Chateau Musar's red vineyards are situated towards the southern end of the Bekaa valley, north of Lake Qaroun and about 30 km south-east of Beirut. The ancient and indigenous white grapes prefer slightly cooler temperatures and are grown at high altitudes on the mountain slopes, some 1,500 metres above sea level. Every wine at Musar is produced naturally with a 'non-interventoinist' wine making philosophy and the winery was the first in Lebanon to implement organically certified viticulture in 2006 for its Chateau Musar red and white grapes.
Chateau Musar Red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya on gravelly soils over limestone. Planted in the 1930s, yields are small from the bush vines averaging 40 years of age. Grapes undergo long fermentations in cement vats at temperatures below 30°C. 6 months after the harvest they are transferred into French barrels for one year. When it comes time to blend, each variety is 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. The wines are aged in bottle for 4 years; the finished wines are released a full seven years after the harvest.
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| Taste: |
Tart and dried fruit showing black and red cherry, raspberry, black currants, and freeze-dried strawberries. There’s dried leaves and earth with underlying notes of black pepper, cigar box, dried leather and savoury dried herbs. The wine is dry, full-bodied with nicely integrated tannins, the finish is long. |
| Cellaring Potential: |
Drink now or cellar for 15+ years |
| Food Matching: |
Roasted pork, beef brisket, green bean casserole, roasted potatoes and firm and aged cheeses. |