2003 Chateau Musar, Lebanon, Bekaa Valley, Wine Review

Chateau Musar is one of the great wineries of the world. Add to that the idea of making wine in Lebanon and its even more remarkable. This wine is outstanding. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault. Deep ruby in color with some dark brown swirls. On the nose, this has cherry and black cherry fruit with an earthy barnyard. On the palate, this is slightly sweet. Nice texture. Still medium tannins. Black cherry fruit over a damp earthiness. Long finish. I don't think it will get better from here but it should develop a bit more. This easily has another decade at this level and closer to two. It will work better with food and went will with a mid-eastern spread. It should also go well with stews and roasted meats.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2003

Current Price:

$55.00USD

2013 Domaine des Tourelles Marquis des Beys, Lebanon, Bekaa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$20.00USD

This is a 50/50 Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from the Bekaa valley in Lebanon. It is a reasonably priced wine and well worth the price of admission. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, spice and a bit of char. On the palate, this is tasty with black raspberry fruit. This is about easy drinking in the near term. No tannins. It probably needs to be drunk soon at this point (it is already six years old). It will go with a wide variety of foods. Obviously mid-eastern foods come to mind, but it will work well with Indian foods too.

2015 Chateau Musar, Lebanon, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$55.00USD

Sitting in a wine bar in Charlotte, NC, I got up to peruse the shelves and found a single bottle of this for $80. Despite it's youth, the opportunity could not be passed up. It is an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya on gravelly soils over limestone. Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose seemed very clean with black cherries, cassis, slight char and vanilla. Medium tannins. Full bodied. Good balance. On the palate, cassis and black cherries with underlying spice and slight cho

2016 Chateau Musar Hochar Père & Fils, Lebanon, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$28.00USD

This is a second wine of Chateau Musar. It is a blend of Cinsault (50%), Grenache (35%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). Purple in color, ruby at the rim with some browning. Dusty with black cherries on the nose. The palate has a nice texture. Black cherry fruit with a dry earthiness. Tannic. This has a nice complexity that indicates there is some upside to this wine. It should improve a bit and be good for the next seven to ten years. It should go well with stews or burgers or even pastas.

2003 Chateau Musar, Lebanon, Bekaa Valley, Wine Review

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