Château Musar
Bekaa Valley Rosé Blend
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
This was presented double-blind to the Tasting Group. The wine is copper in color with a pinkish hue, possibly due to skin contact. No signs of gas or sediment. No staining of the tears. On the nose, some slight VA, underripe stone fruit, grassy notes, slight petrol notes, olive brine, white pepper and very slightly smoky. On the palate, fruit is more pronounced; bright and tightly coiled. The stone fruits are confirmed…adding quince to the fruit set. The wine is quite floral too and there is a slightly toasted marshmallow thing. The wine is dry. Not tannic. Acid is medium+. Wonderful texture. Guesses were all over the place but when I said that it was not testable, one taster called Chateau Simone Palette Rosé which, is a really great call. Anyway, Musar Rosé ended up being too far a stretch for even this group of seasoned wine geeks. This was my first experience with the 2018 Musar Rosé and I would recommend to hold for a few years an allow to uncoil and flesh out.
This was presented double-blind to the Tasting Group. The wine is copper in color with a pinkish hue, possibly due to skin contact. No signs of gas or sediment. No staining of the tears. On the nose, some slight VA, underripe stone fruit, grassy notes, slight petrol notes, olive brine, white pepper and very slightly smoky. On the palate, fruit is more pronounced; bright and tightly coiled. The stone fruits are confirmed…adding quince to the fruit set. The wine is quite floral too and there is a slightly toasted marshmallow thing. The wine is dry. Not tannic. Acid is medium+. Wonderful texture. Guesses were all over the place but when I said that it was not testable, one taster called Chateau Simone Palette Rosé which, is a really great call. Anyway, Musar Rosé ended up being too far a stretch for even this group of seasoned wine geeks. This was my first experience with the 2018 Musar Rosé and I would recommend to hold for a few years an allow to uncoil and flesh out.
Jun 14th, 2022
This is the BEAUTIFUL 2018 Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar made from a blend that includes Obaideh and Merwah, indigenous white grape varieties, with a touch of Cinsault for color.
It has a deep salmon hue with complex aromas & flavors including expressive notes of licorice, anise, fennel, bruised apple, honeydew, Smarties®, dried chamomile, white tea, baked peach, lily, menthol, mint, mandarin peel, orange pith, almond skin, hazelnut, honeycomb, crushed stone, pool toy, vanilla, & acrylic paint.
On the palate this wine is dry, with crisp acidity, a creamy and textured mouthfeel, medium alcohol (12.5% ABV), and a persistent finish.
With each sip, it reveals layers, dimension after dimension. It’s a lovely, cerebral, and gastronomic wine. The culmination of history and artistry in the glass; a testament to the enduring passion, resilience, and soul of the Hochar family.
This is the BEAUTIFUL 2018 Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar made from a blend that includes Obaideh and Merwah, indigenous white grape varieties, with a touch of Cinsault for color.
It has a deep salmon hue with complex aromas & flavors including expressive notes of licorice, anise, fennel, bruised apple, honeydew, Smarties®, dried chamomile, white tea, baked peach, lily, menthol, mint, mandarin peel, orange pith, almond skin, hazelnut, honeycomb, crushed stone, pool toy, vanilla, & acrylic paint.
On the palate this wine is dry, with crisp acidity, a creamy and textured mouthfeel, medium alcohol (12.5% ABV), and a persistent finish.
With each sip, it reveals layers, dimension after dimension. It’s a lovely, cerebral, and gastronomic wine. The culmination of history and artistry in the glass; a testament to the enduring passion, resilience, and soul of the Hochar family.