1998 Chateau Musar, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
$149.99 USD
Though Middle-Eastern wine is something of a novelty here, wine is nothing new to this area; the cultivation of the vine goes back to the Phoenicians who did a brisk business trading their wares along the Mediterranean sea ports, introducing viniculture into many parts of southern Europe. Perhaps the oldest running wine concern in the region, Chateau Musar has been making fine wine 15 miles north of Beirut since 1930! These are reds of great character and subtlety, decidedly Old World in style. According to Michael Broadbent "1997: First tasted with Serge Hochar in the Chateau Musar cellars, December 1999.
The wine was still in individual vats: Cinsault from the garrigues of Kefraya in the Bekaa Valley: crisp, fragrant; attractive, some elegance. Carignan from Ana, a little further north: more flesh, nice fruit, very tannic. Cabernet Sauvignon was an incredibly deep colour; green, stalkv nose; austere, astringent. It would be another year before blending. Most recently, seemed fully developed, good flavour, lovely aftertaste. Last tasted May 2002. According to the Wine Spectator: "Chateau Musar produces world-class wines that age magnificently."
Winemaker Notes
The red wines of Chateau Musar are known for their complexity and maturity. The wine is aged 12 to 15 months in Nevers oak, and blended in its third year, before being bottled and aged in the cellar for four years. The Chateau Musar Red 1997 is a great vintage - a very important wine with immense power and concentration of fruit, a very great year with fabulous colour and incredible potential for living.
Press
Rated 94 points Decanter
A rollercoaster of a wine over the week of tasting; very difficult to judge. At the first taste it seems quite developed – even over the hill – but it was nicely built on the palate: 90 points. Then it improves slowly, retaining those autumn leaves and leathery aromas but developing a most sensual texture on the palate and a complex finish: 93 points. After four days, it reached its first summit – that of a developed Musar; lovely. Then it went down again, only to resurge after a week, with a very complex expression of almonds, hazelnuts, dates and figs: gorgeous! (PBT)