Chateau Musar Chateau Musar Red 2004

Wine Type:
Style of Wine:	Big & Bold
Country of Origin:	Lebanon
Grape Varietal:	Cinsault, Carignan, and Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Format:	750mL
Case Size:	6 bottles
$479.70 Per Case ($79.95/btl) Add to Cart Out Of Stock, Expected: Jan, 2020

Tasting Notes

1999 was an exceptional year. A mild winter with very little rainfall was followed by usual spring weather. The summer was also mild, with a cloudy July and August preceding a hot and sunny September. The resultant grapes reached maximum maturity with great all round concentration, displaying good acidity and a high sugar level.

The Musar reds are made from three grape varieties, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan, all of
which are grown around three wine villages, Ammiq, Aana and Kefraya, made even more complicated by
the diversity of soils from rich to rocky, which with vintage variations, necessitate the sort of juggling act at which Serge Hochar is a supreme performer.

Tasting the component parts of the 1999 vintage:
First a single vineyard Cinsault from Aana – rich soil, yield restricted to 25 hl/ha: lovely deep velvety colour, an appealing aroma reminiscent of a wine from sun-baked Provence; sweet, wonderful richness and flesh, delicious flavour. Next a Carignan also from Aana but on lighter soil: deep, velvety, a scented aroma reminding one of
Corbières. And third a Cabernet Sauvignon grown on rocky soil in Kefraya: again, a very deep velvety appearance; marvellous fruit, sweet, with a good crisp flavour, excellent tannin and acidity, with an end taste of violets and Cabernet blackcurrants.

Fermentation took place in cement vats with maceration periods of up to four weeks, and then the wine was aged for one year in French Nevers oak. It was blended at the end of its second year (August 2001) and bottled in the summer of 2002.
The colour is a brilliant, deep red with a nose full of red and black fruits – cherries and cassis, with nuances of vanilla and chocolate. This follows through to the palate which is rich, well balanced and powerful. Mellow spices are evident in the beginning, mature red fruits surround very smooth tannins and a hint of orange is apparent on the very long finish.

Critical Praise

“ Fans will know what to expect – others will be delighted to discover a rich, dark, velvety wine with cedar, smoke, even chocolate and liquorice, topped off with a wonderfully fragrant perfume ”
Simon Hoggart – The Spectator 28th January 2006

“If the 1997 was Bordeaux-style, this gives more of a nod to the Rhône. An enticing, dangerous scent of violets, game and incense, with a concentrated, full-throttle flavour of dense, sweet fruits.”
Andrew Jefford – Decanter Magazine The Magic of Musar January 2004