2009 Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley Rouge Library Collection

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.

2009 was truly a memorable year in the Bekaa Valley and a harvest year of two halves, before and after the rains! This vintage will go down in history as the year of the two day flood in September, unheard of since weather records began in 1870. Conditions up to mid September were very good, with no rain or snow for the first three months of the year
but surprisingly the rain and snow returned in late March and gave the flowering vines a much needed moisture boost. The soils also needed this moisture after a few months of drought. Low humidity in May, June and July promoted excellent vine health and the weeds that also thrived in these conditions were removed by hand. The balmy conditions at the end of summer ensured rapid development and the red grapes began to arrive on 2nd September, Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Carignan with Cinsault last on the 7th and 8th. With a low pH and high acidity and sugar the grapes showed exceptional promise. After
the September rainfall the remaining grapes were harvested and they were juicier than normal, with a full structure and a very fragrant nose.

The Cabernet Sauvignon in particular flourished this year, from flowering to dominating the final structure and flavour of the wine, this vintage has a deep scarlet colour and a nose of blackberry, tea, dark chocolate and berries. On the palate the 2009 gives rich black and red fruit, especially blackcurrant, cherry, plum and fig with warm cinnamon notes and a hint of mint. This vintage is also characterised by a smoky earthiness. The tannins are well integrated, with good acidity and a long, dry finish.