2010 Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley Rouge
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Region | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2020 - 2035 |
Description
Château Musar Red 2010: A rare vintage
The Château Musar Red 2010 is an extraordinary witness to a challenging vintage in the Beqaa Valley. Extreme weather conditions, including a heat wave that reached temperatures of up to 48.5°C, drastically reduced the harvest. This resulted in a vintage characterized by its exclusivity and intensely concentrated aromas. The year 2010 is known for the unprecedented challenges it brought, including a severe water shortage and a particularly short ski season, which affected the ripening of the grapes.
Flavors and aromas of the Château Musar 2010
This remarkable wine has a deep, rich garnet red color and unfolds an enchanting bouquet of raisins, cedar, plums and cinnamon. The Château Musar Red 2010 offers a spicy and savory flavor profile, with delicate spices flowing seamlessly into figs and raisins on the palate. The wine is elegant with a fresh acidity and a long, dry finish that enhances its complexity.
Vinification process
After the challenging harvest, the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan grapes were carefully fermented with natural yeasts at temperatures between 26°C and 28°C. This was essential to preserve the fruity aromas despite the heat that had affected the grape skins. The wine was then aged for a year in untoasted French Nevers barrels before being assembled in 2012 and bottled in the summer of 2013.
Serve this Château Musar Red at a temperature of 14°C to 18°C to experience the full range of its aromas and flavors. The wine has a storage potential of more than 15 years, allowing it to develop further and acquire even more complexity.
Given the limited production due to difficult weather conditions, the Château Musar Red 2010 is sold worldwide exclusively on an allocation basis. This makes each bottle all the more sought after among collectors and wine enthusiasts.
FACT: In the 'Attachments' tab you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will send this to you automatically when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and when you pick up the wine you will often receive a nice discount . You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Collect' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht almost next to the A16 with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Lebanon |
| Region | Bekaa-vallei |
| Winery | Chateau Musar |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Drinking as of | 2020 |
| Drinking till | 2035 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Tasting Profiles | Earthy, Complex, Dark fruit, Dry, Aged on wood, Powerful, Tannines, Full |
| 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.