Musar Red – 2016

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 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.

2016 was an excellent vintage in the Bek’aa Valley, producing extremely high class Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan grapes. Red cherries, plums, carob and figs dominate the nose with a hint of eastern spice. Kirsch and plums follow through to the palate with blackcurrant and chocolate. The tannins are velvety soft and this wine has a lot of depth and fruit concentration with a long finish.
The 2016 harvest showed without a doubt, that global warming is causing higher annual temperatures and at the same time, successive years of low rainfall have resulted in drier soils in the Bek’aa Valley. Clearly, these factors may affect maturation of the grapes as well as the wine-making process but for 2016, with its much needed rainfall and almost perfect climatic conditions, we have high expectations for this vintages’ future for decades to come!

Drink 2022-2040+ 

Serve with game and roasted red meats; lamb tagine with apricots; rabbit with prunes; beef wellington; slow cooked lamb shanks, mature hard cheeses.