2018 Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley White
| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Region | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (12%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2039 |
Description
Chateau Musar is considered one of the most special wine estates in the world. On the one hand, it is the location, the Lebanese Bekaa Valley, on the other hand, they still use a completely traditional method. The vineyards are located on siliceous limestone-clay soils at an altitude of around 1000 metres. The long, warm summers guarantee excellent ripening of the grapes. Owner Serge Hochar, who was previously named Winemaker of the Year by the English magazine Decanter Magazine, also received his wine training in France, which also explains why Musar is also called the Bordeaux of the Middle East.
In the white Musar we see two indigenous grape varieties: obeideh and merwah. Obeideh is close to chardonnay and sémillon; merwah to chasselas. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 1200 meters and the harvest starts with white, between 5 and 15 October. After fermentation, the white Château Musar is aged for nine months in French oak barrels. Then it is blended and bottled and gets a very long year of cellar maturation. The Musar White is light golden yellow in color with a light oxidative touch of the obeideh, while the taste stands out because of its enormous vitality with aromas of citrus and a nice balance between fat and acids. This is indeed a white wine for keeping, to be drunk between 10 and 15 years old, even older. By the way, it is also a shame to drink this white wine too cold. The recommended drinking temperature is 14 °C.
The white Château Musar is a unique wine. It has a Bordeaux-like character, despite the use of its own, unique grape varieties such as Obaideh (the local variant of Chardonnay) and Merwah, a grape that is somewhat reminiscent of Sémillon. It is particularly reminiscent of a matured white Graves, due to its dry, rich, almost honey-like character. The grapes are harvested from bush vines, with yields of no more than 10 to 20 hectoliters per hectare. The vineyards are partly located at high altitude, up to 1400 meters, on the slopes of Mount Lebanon. In combination with the perfectly ripe grapes, this gives the white wine an enormous richness and aromatic power, balanced by beautiful acids and bitters. The white wine is matured in oak barrels from the Nevers region for nine months. It is then stored in the bottle for no less than seven years before being marketed. This makes this a special white wine, with a unique, beautifully matured character.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | White |
|---|---|
| Country | Lebanon |
| Region | Bekaa-vallei |
| Winery | Chateau Musar |
| Grape | Chardonnay, Semillon |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2039 |
| Alcohol % | 12 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Tasting Profiles | Dry, Aged on wood, Powerful, Rich, Round, Full, White fruit |
| Drink moments | Barbecue, Cadeau!, Lekker luxe, Met vrienden, Open haard, Romantisch |
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.
