no
245
Chateau Musar
Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault
A great reliable red, a pleasure with food, from Gaston Hochar, Lebanon
Lebanon, Beeka Valley, Chateau Musar, Gaston Hochar, 2011
Introduction
This 2011 one was released in spring 2018, Chateau Musar’s blended reds remain superb. The grapes are approximately equal parts of Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault, grown through dry-farming, with around 300 days of sunshine. The country’s wine history goes back 6000 years and the Hochar family history to the 12th century settling in Lebanon from France. Gaston Hochar planted his first vines in 1930, based in Ghazir, ca. 20km north-east from Beirut.
Influenced by the Bordeaux wines over the subsequent years and already in its second generation the wine is only ‘discovered’ in 1979 with its 1967 vintage. And it carried on with awards and producing great wines, even during the civil war of 1975 – 1990, under the dedicated leadership of Gaston’s son Serge Hochar. The current MD of the family-owned winery is Gaston Hochar, named after his grandfather. The wine is widely available, well respected and exported around the world.
Introduction
This 2011 one was released in spring 2018, Chateau Musar’s blended reds remain superb. The grapes are approximately equal parts of Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault, grown through dry-farming, with around 300 days of sunshine. The country’s wine history goes back 6000 years and the Hochar family history to the 12th century settling in Lebanon from France. Gaston Hochar planted his first vines in 1930, based in Ghazir, ca. 20km north-east from Beirut.
Influenced by the Bordeaux wines over the subsequent years and already in its second generation the wine is only ‘discovered’ in 1979 with its 1967 vintage. And it carried on with awards and producing great wines, even during the civil war of 1975 – 1990, under the dedicated leadership of Gaston’s son Serge Hochar. The current MD of the family-owned winery is Gaston Hochar, named after his grandfather. The wine is widely available, well respected and exported around the world.
Year:
2011
Approx:
£ 28.00
Best Served:
18 °C
Vol:
14.0 %
Review Date:
05 . 06 . 2019
Origin:
Lebanon, Beeka Valley
Wine specifics
Can keep for many years to come (the Chateau says decades, some say within 2020-2034). Balanced, full-bodied, smooth, soft, fruity, hints of mocha. Serving all types of main courses, meats, game, pastas, grills, roasts, casseroles, mature cheeses. Organic certified, suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Obtained in the UK. Recommended to decant and allow sediments to settle before opening/decant, put it upright the day before.
Can keep for many years to come (the Chateau says decades, some say within 2020-2034). Balanced, full-bodied, smooth, soft, fruity, hints of mocha. Serving all types of main courses, meats, game, pastas, grills, roasts, casseroles, mature cheeses. Organic certified, suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Obtained in the UK. Recommended to decant and allow sediments to settle before opening/decant, put it upright the day before.
Insights:
2011 was for the Chateau an exceptional year with very diverse and unusual weather conditions. Even the hand-harvest was spread out over 3-4 weeks (September – October). Bottling takes place after 3 years, having initially been aged in French Nevers oak barrels. Nevers forests are in central France, growing a hard oak, renowned for contributing spicy, cinnamon-like flavours. Another red is Hochar Père et Fils en in 2007 the Chateau started with a new range called Musar Jeune, which we will review soon. Lebanon had in the 90’s just a few vineyards and nowadays over 40. Most of them are small/mid-sized producers, with the Beeka Valley as the main wine area. There is a Chateau Musar red, white and rosé.
Review Date:
05 . 06 . 2019
