Ch.Musar 2002 750ml

Wine Advocate #238, Sep 01, 2018 by Mark Squires
It is still vibrant in terms of structure. The color is poor, though, and there is an oxidative hint here and there. That said, it is sensually textured, and the red fruits are bursting with ripe strawberries laced with herbs. It's pretty delicious, and it has gained complexity. Overall, although for different reasons, I like this as much or more now as when I first saw it. This won't fall off the table—the structure is very good—but I do have my doubts as to how well the fruit will hold itself together if it is aged a long while more. I'd drink it now and over the next few years, which is certainly a fine performance for the second-tier wine. If you're holding it longer, take it in stages—check in every now and then for safety.

Château Musar was established by Gaston Hochar in 1930 and is without doubt Lebanon's top wine estate. Few properties have consistently produced such high quality wines in the face of adversity and war, and it is a testament to the sheer will and determination of the Hochars that wine has been produced every single year, bar 1976 and 1984.
The property is located in Ghazir, 15 miles north of Beirut overlooking the Mediterranean, whereas the vineyards themselves are located a long and sometimes dangerous truck journey over the mountains to the east of Beirut in the Beqaa (aka Bekaa) Valley. The vineyards benefit from an altitude of around 1000 metres and the subsequent cool nights serve to lengthen the crucial ripening process.

Meats, Lamb