Vinification:
A rainy winter-
July and August were not as hot as they used to be in years gone by and certainly not as hot as it was in Europe in 2003.
The harvest started on 4th September and the grapes were very healthy with good maturity and ripeness.
The fermentation temperature was controlled between 21 and 30 degrees Celsius with 2 pump-
Malo-
Even at this stage the wines were showing an abubdance in tannins, acidity and colour.
The wines spent 9 months in cement vats and then a year in French nevers oak barrels. The three varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan which had been kept separately were very fragrant showing highly constrasting aromas. Reflecting the ripeness of the grapes and the concentration of sugar and acidity that make this harvest unique., they were well balanced and richly textured, with soft tannins The final blend rested for another 9 months in vats before being bottled and transferred to the Chateau Musar cellars high in the mountains at Ghazir to begin its journey of maturation and development.
Grapes and vines
Seven years in the making, Chateau Musar Red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya on gravelly soils over limestone. Planted from the 1930s onwards, yields are low from these mature bushvines (average age: 40 years): 35hl per hectare.
Winemaking
The varietal components in Chateau Musar Red undergo lengthy fermentations in cement vats at temperatures below 30°C. 6 months after the harvest they are transferred into French barrels (oak from the forest of Nevers) for one year.
Blending
The varietal components are brought together two years after the harvest; the resulting blend is then placed back in cement tanks before being bottled 12 months later. Each wine is blended to reflect the character of the vintage. After 4 years’ bottle maturation in the deep stone cellars of Chateau Musar, the finished wines are released a full seven years after the harvest.
Winery information:
The Hochar family’s philosophy of respect for the environment means that the 180 hectares of Musar vineyards are managed with minimal human interference and all the wines are made as naturally.
Chateau Musar was the first producer in Lebanon to achieve organic certification for its vineyards. Most are located in the Bekaa Valley, cradled between two mountain ranges running parallel to Lebanon’s Mediterranean coastline. Vines have been cultivated here for at least 6,000 years: the Phoenicians (seafaring ancestors of the modern Lebanese) were instrumental in bringing vines and wines from Byblos across to all of the areas around the Mediterranean.
This wine is the ‘Grands Vins’, each with their unique signature and imprint in the world of wine. Since 1930, every aspect of production – grape sourcing, fermentation, oak-
A guide to the style
In youth, Chateau Musar Reds are dense and richly-
Either set of qualities might dominate a particular vintage, but the style is always emphatically Lebanese: enticingly aromatic, with persistent fruit flavours. Over decades the wines acquire tawny hues and mellow notes. We still offer wines from the 1950s: mesmerising artefacts of vintage.
Flanked by snow-
All the grapes are hand-
Tasting Note:
A deep intense ruby in colour, with a complex, intriguing array of aromas – toasted bread,cigar box, fresh tea, plums and Eastern spices.On the palate, there are mature fruits: plums, figs and cherries with hints of tea leaves and dark chocolate.
The wine is intense , the first taste releasing complex notes of currants, cherries and spice. The structure is light and airy, blending Chateau Musar’s classic fruit flavours with a hint of game, finishing with a cleansing acidity.
Full-
Storage:
To keep the wines showing at their best, bottles must be cellared in darkness, lying on their sides and not subjected to unnecessary movement or fluctuations in temperature.
Food Recommendation:
Decanting and serving
Bottled unfined and unfiltered, Chateau Musar Reds are suitable for vegans (fining agents often contain animal proteins); they’re also richly-
Bin No.: 1814
Country: Lebanon
Region: Bekka Valley
Producer: Chateau Musar
Vintage: 2003 Vintage
Colour: Red
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape Varieties: Carignan, Cinsault
Status: Still, Organic Certification,
Status: Vegetarian, Vegan
Allergens: contains sulphites
Body Value: E (A is light, E is full bodied)
abv: 14.0% Bottle size: 75cl