2017 Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley White Magnum

Chateau Musar White 2017 Magnum is one of the most exceptional white wines from the Middle East. This iconic wine from the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon is made from the indigenous Obaideh and Merwah grape varieties, some of whose vines are tens to even more than a hundred years old. In magnum format (1.5 liters), this wine develops even more slowly and harmoniously, giving it exceptional aging potential and making it perfect for special occasions.

Chateau Musar: a wine icon from Lebanon

Chateau Musar has been one of the world's most legendary wineries for decades. Under the leadership of the visionary Serge Hochar, the estate grew into a cult producer that continues to fascinate enthusiasts worldwide. The white Musar is perhaps the house's most unique wine. It is made from the centuries-old grape varieties Obaideh (60%) and Merwah (40%), varieties found exclusively in the mountains of Lebanon and forming an important part of the country's wine historical heritage.

The vineyards are situated on the slopes of Mount Lebanon in the Bekaa Valley at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters. The combination of warm days, cool nights, and calcareous soils results in grapes with great tension, freshness, and concentration.

Volume 2017

The growing season began with above-average rain and snow, ensuring excellent replenishment of water reserves. Due to a cool spring, bud development was delayed by approximately ten days. A late frost day in April ultimately resulted in a lower yield than expected, but precisely this limited harvest produced grapes with great concentration and character. According to Chateau Musar itself, 2017 ranks among the most promising white vintages of recent years.

The Obaideh was harvested on September 19 and the Merwah on September 27. Both grapes fermented separately for nine months in new French oak barrels from the Nevers forest. The wines were then blended and bottled in the summer of 2018. As is customary at Chateau Musar, a long period of bottle aging followed before the wine was released.

Tasting note Chateau Musar White 2017 Magnum

The Chateau Musar White 2017 has a bright light yellow color. The aroma is complex and refined, with notes of ripe apple, grapefruit, orange blossom, fresh hay, vanilla, and subtle spiciness. As the wine opens up, notes of peach, basil, caramelized apple, and a light touch of honey emerge.

On the palate, the wine is powerful yet elegant, with impressive concentration, lively acidity, and a long, mineral finish. As the bottle continues to age, aromas of nuts, beeswax, dried citrus, and complex tertiary notes develop, reminiscent of great white Burgundies, without ever losing its own character.

Magnum: even greater aging potential

The 1.5-liter magnum bottle offers ideal conditions for slow maturation. Due to the more favorable wine-to-oxygen ratio, the wine develops more gradually, allowing aromas to integrate even more subtly and preserving freshness for longer. For Chateau Musar White, this is a particularly attractive size, as this wine can age effortlessly for decades.

Drinking window

Chateau Musar is known worldwide for its exceptionally long-lasting white wines. While most white wines are meant to be drunk relatively young, the white Musars often only fully develop after many years. During aging, increasingly complex aromas of honey, beeswax, dried citrus, nuts, and spices emerge, while the wine remains remarkably vibrant.

The 2017 is already impressive, but it must be properly decanted. Chill the wine beforehand to approximately 12°C and, when pouring, preferably place the decanter in a wine cooler or ice water to maintain the ideal temperature. Thanks to the magnum format, the wine develops even more slowly and refinedly. Under optimal cellar conditions, this Chateau Musar White Magnum can be effortlessly stored until at least 2055, with further aging certainly not ruled out.