Chateau Musar Red 1997
The palate is equally intriguing, with a mix of berry fruits and a hint of volatile acidity that adds to its character.
Producer
Country
Region
Appellation
Vintage
1997
Wine Type
Grape(s)
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Alcohol %
Bottle Size
Location
The Chateau Musar Red 1997 is a wine of remarkable complexity and depth. It presents a rich, warm color that has begun to pale towards the rim, indicative of its maturity.
On the nose, it offers a smoky bouquet filled with spices and fruits, including cherries, redcurrants, and pomegranates, complemented by Christmas spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
The palate is equally intriguing, with a mix of berry fruits and a hint of volatile acidity that adds to its character.
The Chateau Musar Red 1997 boasts good acidity and tannin levels, resulting in a classic structure with long aging potential. As it evolves in the glass, it reveals layers of flavors, from sweet fruit to more savory notes, making it a wine that continues to surprise and delight with each sip
Chateau Musar Red 1997 – A normal winter followed by a fresh spring with no hail or frost. Summer was mild with a very cloudy and fresh August and sunny September. These perfect conditions allowed the grapes to mature slowly at a pace rarely achieved.
The harvest started on 15th September and ended on 11th October for the reds, stopping for four days from the 30th of September due to rain. When picking resumed on 3rd of October, it was almost like harvesting in a different vintage. Minimal intervention: low sulphur additions, natural yeast fermentation in concrete tank. 12 months in French oak (Nevers); Blended second year after harvest; Bottled unfined/unfiltered in spring/summer of third year after harvest and aged in Chateau Musar’s cellars for a further 4 years prior to release.
The vines themselves are mature bushvines, with an average age of 40 years. Yields from these vines are low, ranging from 15 to 35 hectoliters per hectare.
Chateau Musar was established in 1930 by Gaston Hochar at the tender age of 20. His inspiration was both the 6,000-year winemaking history of Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and also his time in Bordeaux – a connection which was strengthened during the Second World War when he befriended Major Ronald Barton of Château Langoa-Barton while he was stationed in Lebanon.
Today it is overseen by the third generation: like their father and uncle, Serge’s eldest son Gaston now manages the day-to-day operation of the winery whereas his younger son Marc helps to control the commercial aspects. Ronald’s son Ralph also works in Musar’s UK office, and his daughter Elsa has immortalised the winery and her family’s rich history in a documentary.
Cabernet Sauvignon
World-renowned and well-travelled, cabernet sauvignon wines makes some of the world’s finest red wines, working either on its own, or blended with other varieties.
While many grape varieties are known for their friendly fruit aromas, cabernet sauvignon’s success as a fine wine lies in its subtleties: secondary, complex flavours that have the potential to develop deliciously in bottle over time. For this reason, cabernet is often seen as quite a ‘serious’ red wine designed for cellaring and keeping for many years. However, you can certainly find younger, fruitier styles to help you explore the flavours of this iconic grape.
Carignan
Carignan is a somewhat confusing red wine grape variety. It was once the most widely planted grape in France, right up until the late 20th century when Merlot arrived on the big stage, yet many wine drinkers to this day remain very unfamiliar with it.
Carignan vines are highly productive yielding large quantities of fruit, which is why many winemakers use it, or have used it, in regions such as Languedoc, to make high volume lower quality wines and blends. Today, it is on somewhat of a mini revival, being produced and nurtured as a quality red wine in its own right, particularly in warmer climates of Spain and Italy, notably Sardinia.
Cinsault
Cinsault, often spelled as Cinsaut, is a charming and versatile red wine grape that originates from the southern regions of France.
In the vineyard, Cinsault is recognized by its dark green leaves and the little down that covers them underneath. The grapes are quite large, with a purplish-black color and firm skin
Cinsault produces fresh and fruity wines, with a floral touch that’s just as captivating as its fruitiness.
- Suitable for Vegans
- Organic
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The Country
Lebanon’s winemaking heritage is as ancient as its history, with roots stretching back to the Phoenician era, when wine was traded across the Mediterranean as early as 1200 BC. The country’s wines are a reflection of its rich past and the influence of French viticulture during the period of the French protectorate from 1916 to 1943. Today, Lebanon boasts around 5,000 hectares of vineyards, producing approximately 78,500 hectolitres of wine annually, with red wines constituting over 70% of the production. The Bekaa Valley, with its favorable climate and terroir, is the heart of Lebanese winemaking, home to renowned wineries like Château Ksara and Château Musar. These wines are celebrated for their unique profiles, often blending traditional Lebanese grape varieties with international ones, resulting in wines that carry the essence of Lebanon’s diverse landscape and storied history
The Region
The Bekaa Valley is the heartland of modern Lebanese wine, producing nearly 90% of Lebanon’s wine.
The oldest winery in the area is Chateau Ksara, established by Jesuit Christians in 1857
The original Bekaa Valley vineyards were planted with Cinsaut, which was later joined by other French vine varieties.
The Producer
Chateau Musar was established in 1930 by Gaston Hochar at the tender age of 20. His inspiration was both the 6,000-year winemaking history of Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and also his time in Bordeaux – a connection which was strengthened during the Second World War when he befriended Major Ronald Barton of Château Langoa-Barton while he was stationed in Lebanon.
Today it is overseen by the third generation: like their father and uncle, Serge’s eldest son Gaston now manages the day-to-day operation of the winery whereas his younger son Marc helps to control the commercial aspects. Ronald’s son Ralph also works in Musar’s UK office, and his daughter Elsa has immortalised the winery and her family’s rich history in a documentary.
