Knowing about Chateau Musar takes more than a sip or a glassful, however fascinating the taste of that wine might prove to be. To know Chateau Musar takes an understanding of terroir, of natural winemaking, of human nature and of history. All of these factors have a powerful influence over the way the wine appears in the glass – how it tastes, smells, lives, breathes and changes.
The story of Musar’s survival during the Lebanese civil war of 1975 to 1990 is well documented. It was a formative time for the wine and for its creator, Serge Hochar, who was only just beginning to trust his grapes (as he famously said) to ‘become what they wanted to be’. From 1975, he had no choice. They were harvested when the shelling paused; their transit to the winery took as long as avoiding militia check-points permitted (sometimes days), and winemaking could only happen when the coast road was clear and Serge could reach the winery. And yet the war is only a tiny part of the history that makes these wines what they are.
Hochar Pere et Fils is sourced from a single vineyard in the Western Bekaa Valley, near the village of Aana, characterised by deep, gravelly soil over a limestone base. Yields are low, 20-25 hectolitres per hectare, which results in concentrated full flavoured juice.
2019 – Cinsault 50%, Grenache 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%
The grapes fermented at temperatures ranging between 27-29˚C with 15 to 20 days maceration in cement vats, followed by 6 months in French Nevers oak barrels. The 2019 vintage was blended in the winter of 2021 and bottled during the following summer of the same year.
A fragrant and deeply coloured vintage, full of generously ripe and brambly fruit. There are black cherry, plum and blueberry notes on the nose and palate with a touch of spice. The 2019 vintage has great ageing potential although the tannins are already soft, ensuring its immediate appeal and approachability upon release in the spring of 2022.
Produced naturally with a non-interventionist wine making philosophy. The first winery in Lebanon to implement organically certified viticulture.
