1997 Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley Rouge
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Lebanon |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 1997 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | - |
| Available as of | Sep 1, 2025 |
Low Stock
Only 5 left
Backorder Information
It is possible to order this article in backorder. This is possible with items that we can generally have in stock again in 3-5 working days. You can simply order it, but it is important to mention that we only send the order when it is complete.
Description
EN PRIMEUR - DELIVERY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2025 - Library Stock Chateau Musar - Exclusive offer of older years Chateau Musar Red. Unique and very limited. From the cellars of Chateau Musar.
It will be clear that it takes a certain fanaticism to continue making wine under such difficult circumstances as in Lebanon. This fanaticism is abundantly present in the Hochar family. Chateau Musar was created in 1930 by Gaston Hochar in the historic family castle, which dates back to the 18th century. This lent itself perfectly to making and storing the wines. At the moment, about a million bottles are maturing in the cellars, waiting for the most optimal moment to present them to wine lovers from all over the world. During the civil war, winemaking here continued unabated. Only in the years '76 and '84 was no wine made because of the war. The grapes had to be transported across the fire line over a distance of 100 kilometers to the winery just north of Beirut.
Founder Gaston Hochar was succeeded in 1959 by his son Serge, who had studied oenology in Bordeaux and had done an internship at Chateau Léoville-Barton. He is assisted on the estate by his younger brother Ronald and now also by his children, Gaston and Karine. Due to Serge's background, with his studies in Bordeaux, it is very understandable that the red wine has a clear Bordeaux-like appearance in many years, with a powerful and ripe character, supported by beautiful wood. For some years now, a white wine has also been produced, which also has a distinctly powerful and aromatic character. It makes Chateau Musar a big name in the world of wine.
At Grandcruwijnen we have been carrying the wines of Musar for more than 12 years and because of this long relationship with the Winery and the Importer we are always allowed to let some special gems hitch a ride from great old vintages that are only released very sparingly. At Musar they have wines from all their wines from the 1935 vintage in their immensely impressive cellars.
This is the 1997 vintage and is a benchmark wine to see how these wines can age incredibly well. Under the Appendix tab you will find all the specifications of the Musar 1997.
Specifications
| Available as of | Sep 1, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Region | Bekaa-vallei |
| Winery | Chateau Musar |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 1997 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | En Primeur |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
Wijnhuis
Winemaking in Lebanon is far from a modern phenomenon. In the Beqaa Valley, evidence of wine production dates back to the Bronze Age, with the Phoenicians being among the earliest to cultivate vineyards. The famous Bacchus Temple in Baalbek also stands as a testament to the Roman's involvement in winemaking in the region.
Château Musar: a legacy of winemaking in Lebanon
The Beqaa Valley is an ideal location for grape cultivation. The valley is about eight kilometers wide and situated between two mountain ranges at an elevation of approximately 1,000 meters. This high altitude creates a unique microclimate where the intense heat of the day is offset by cool nights, allowing the grapes to retain their fruity aromas. Additionally, meltwater from the mountains ensures a reliable water supply, while the soil—comprising loam, pebbles, and gray limestone—provides a healthy environment for the vines.
Despite the ongoing conflict in the region, winemaking has persisted. The only exceptions were during the years 1976 and 1984, when war prevented wine production. Grapes had to be transported nearly 100 kilometers through conflict zones to reach the winery, located just north of Beirut.
The revival of Lebanese winemaking because of Château Musar
After a long hiatus due to Islamic rule, which imposed a ban on alcohol production for over a thousand years, winemaking in Lebanon was revived by Jesuit priests in 1857. In 1930, Gaston Hochar founded Château Musar during the French mandate period. He sourced grapes from the Beqaa Valley and established a winery and cellar on the western slopes of Mount Lebanon, in Ghazir, just north of Beirut. Hochar received guidance from French professors in setting up his winery.
The Influence of Serge Hochar
Gaston Hochar's son, Serge, played a pivotal role in bringing Château Musar to global recognition. After training at Château Langoa-Barton in Bordeaux, Serge Hochar developed his own philosophy of winemaking. He favored a unique blend, combining the firm and robust structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the fruit-forward character of Rhône varietals such as Carignan and Cinsault—a blend rarely seen elsewhere.
Serge Hochar was committed to natural winemaking techniques, using wild yeasts, avoiding fining and filtering, and famously describing his wines as "wines without makeup." The red wines from Château Musar are aged for an average of 12 months in French oak barrels that are not toasted, followed by several years of cellar aging. The final blend is determined purely by taste, with each vintage offering distinct characteristics.
The unique style of Château Musar wines
The red Château Musar is an exceptional and traditional wine, often considered old-fashioned in style. Its color is never truly dark, usually exhibiting a brownish hue, with notes of spices and a subtle herbal quality in both aroma and flavor. These wines have remarkable aging potential, with Serge Hochar recommending they be enjoyed at their peak after 15 years. Each vintage reflects its own personality, and the wines are renowned for their distinctive character and ability to age gracefully.
Château Musar continues to be celebrated worldwide for its commitment to tradition and unique winemaking approach.
EN PRIMEUR - DELIVERY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2025 - Library Stock Chateau Musar - Exclusive offer of older years Chateau Musar Red. Unique and very limited. From the cellars of Chateau Musar.
It will be clear that it takes a certain fanaticism to continue making wine under such difficult circumstances as in Lebanon. This fanaticism is abundantly present in the Hochar family. Chateau Musar was created in 1930 by Gaston Hochar in the historic family castle, which dates back to the 18th century. This lent itself perfectly to making and storing the wines. At the moment, about a million bottles are maturing in the cellars, waiting for the most optimal moment to present them to wine lovers from all over the world. During the civil war, winemaking here continued unabated. Only in the years '76 and '84 was no wine made because of the war. The grapes had to be transported across the fire line over a distance of 100 kilometers to the winery just north of Beirut.
Founder Gaston Hochar was succeeded in 1959 by his son Serge, who had studied oenology in Bordeaux and had done an internship at Chateau Léoville-Barton. He is assisted on the estate by his younger brother Ronald and now also by his children, Gaston and Karine. Due to Serge's background, with his studies in Bordeaux, it is very understandable that the red wine has a clear Bordeaux-like appearance in many years, with a powerful and ripe character, supported by beautiful wood. For some years now, a white wine has also been produced, which also has a distinctly powerful and aromatic character. It makes Chateau Musar a big name in the world of wine.
At Grandcruwijnen we have been carrying the wines of Musar for more than 12 years and because of this long relationship with the Winery and the Importer we are always allowed to let some special gems hitch a ride from great old vintages that are only released very sparingly. At Musar they have wines from all their wines from the 1935 vintage in their immensely impressive cellars.
This is the 1997 vintage and is a benchmark wine to see how these wines can age incredibly well. Under the Appendix tab you will find all the specifications of the Musar 1997.
| Available as of | Sep 1, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Region | Bekaa-vallei |
| Winery | Chateau Musar |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 1997 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Promotion | En Primeur |
| Tasting Profiles | Aards, Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
Winemaking in Lebanon is far from a modern phenomenon. In the Beqaa Valley, evidence of wine production dates back to the Bronze Age, with the Phoenicians being among the earliest to cultivate vineyards. The famous Bacchus Temple in Baalbek also stands as a testament to the Roman's involvement in winemaking in the region.
Château Musar: a legacy of winemaking in Lebanon
The Beqaa Valley is an ideal location for grape cultivation. The valley is about eight kilometers wide and situated between two mountain ranges at an elevation of approximately 1,000 meters. This high altitude creates a unique microclimate where the intense heat of the day is offset by cool nights, allowing the grapes to retain their fruity aromas. Additionally, meltwater from the mountains ensures a reliable water supply, while the soil—comprising loam, pebbles, and gray limestone—provides a healthy environment for the vines.
Despite the ongoing conflict in the region, winemaking has persisted. The only exceptions were during the years 1976 and 1984, when war prevented wine production. Grapes had to be transported nearly 100 kilometers through conflict zones to reach the winery, located just north of Beirut.
The revival of Lebanese winemaking because of Château Musar
After a long hiatus due to Islamic rule, which imposed a ban on alcohol production for over a thousand years, winemaking in Lebanon was revived by Jesuit priests in 1857. In 1930, Gaston Hochar founded Château Musar during the French mandate period. He sourced grapes from the Beqaa Valley and established a winery and cellar on the western slopes of Mount Lebanon, in Ghazir, just north of Beirut. Hochar received guidance from French professors in setting up his winery.
The Influence of Serge Hochar
Gaston Hochar's son, Serge, played a pivotal role in bringing Château Musar to global recognition. After training at Château Langoa-Barton in Bordeaux, Serge Hochar developed his own philosophy of winemaking. He favored a unique blend, combining the firm and robust structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the fruit-forward character of Rhône varietals such as Carignan and Cinsault—a blend rarely seen elsewhere.
Serge Hochar was committed to natural winemaking techniques, using wild yeasts, avoiding fining and filtering, and famously describing his wines as "wines without makeup." The red wines from Château Musar are aged for an average of 12 months in French oak barrels that are not toasted, followed by several years of cellar aging. The final blend is determined purely by taste, with each vintage offering distinct characteristics.
The unique style of Château Musar wines
The red Château Musar is an exceptional and traditional wine, often considered old-fashioned in style. Its color is never truly dark, usually exhibiting a brownish hue, with notes of spices and a subtle herbal quality in both aroma and flavor. These wines have remarkable aging potential, with Serge Hochar recommending they be enjoyed at their peak after 15 years. Each vintage reflects its own personality, and the wines are renowned for their distinctive character and ability to age gracefully.
Château Musar continues to be celebrated worldwide for its commitment to tradition and unique winemaking approach.
Related Products
Out of Stock
Currently unavailable
Backorder Information
It is possible to order this article in backorder. This is possible with items that we can generally have in stock again in 3-5 working days. You can simply order it, but it is important to mention that we only send the order when it is complete.