Musar Red – 2013

Founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar, Chateau Musar is THE flagship winery of Lebanon. Their vineyards are planted at 1,000mts altitude on bush vines between 30 and 60 years old. Certified organic since 2006, all work is done by hand in the vineyards and no irrigation is used during the growing season to optimise the expression of each different terroir.

Chateau Musar Red 2013 is a blend of one third Cabernet Sauvignon grown on gravel soils, one third Cinsault grown on limestone soils and one third Carignan from silty soils. It has a wonderful mix of Bordeaux-style tannic structure, Southern French warmth and wildness, and a fresh core of acidity from the relatively cool 2013 vintage. 

“Strong tang on the nose. Damson and leather and cobbler’s glue. Deeply meaty, on the biltong/bresaola/basturma spectrum. Intense, the acidity spiralling through the palate and drawing in a kaleidoscope of flavours: dried tomato, sumac, goji berries, pomegranate molasses, cinnamon, rosehips, hibiscus petals, fresh sweet clementines, cobblestone-market dust. Chalk- and chalk-dust-textured tannins slipping into the taste of cold river pebbles under the fruit and spice. Complex, long, a labyrinth of hidden corners and spaces to explore. Decant for a few hours if you have to drink it now, but wait as long as you can. Like 10 years…” 17++pts on Jancisrobinson.com