Chateau Musar (1996)

Musar. A wine that has survived war, commercial wilderness and even comments that it has a ‘weird, briney note to some vintages’. Why? Because it is one of the most interesting, unique and complex wines in the world. Its grapes are grown in the Bekaa valley, the ‘bread basket’ of ancient Rome, and transported over the high coastal range to Serge Hochar, son of the founder Gaston.

Overview

The weather patterns during the year of 1996 were fairly normal. The rainy and cold winter was followed by a mild spring with good flowering. The summer was fresh and moderate, if not cooler than previous years. The combination of the colder, wetter weather delayed the maturity of the grapes and in fact almost stopped it. The crop this year was quite large, but because the wines were not powerful and concentrated, it was decided to reduce the production of the 'Chateau' wine in 1996. This was a conscious decision to produce a wine of finesse and elegance and one which completely expressed the classic nature of the vintage.

Grape Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan

Winemaking

The experiences of the previous harvest pushed us to protect the wine with a little bit of sulphur during racking. At the time Serge felt the 1996 was too weak, and that we should release it early, but it has grown to become a wine of poise, beauty and elegance.

Tasting Notes

Delicate, pale garnet colour with an aroma of soft red fruits, sweet spice and a savoury, truffle scent. Initial impressions are of a lighter vintage, but there is balance of power, elegance and complexity on the palate; autumnal flavours are lifted with a hint of spice and refreshing acidity throughout the finish. This vintage is suited to a wide of dishes from grilled meats and vegetables to more savoury game stews or roasts, mushroom, squash and root vegetable dishes.

In the tasting room we were able to taste, pre-release the 1996 Musar, sweet, rich lovely flavour – Michael Broadbent

Chateau Musar makes every effort to produce its wines naturally, letting each develop its own character, and the grape composition varies from year to year. This red has an interesting nose, combining gamey, farmyardy and leathery aromas. Lovely texture on the palate, round and lots of lively fruit, good length – Decanter Magazine, June 2002

Fine mature garnet red, quite diffuse at the rim but no browning. Lovely florality on the nose for a wine of this age, with lifted freshness thanks to the Cinsault. Fine clarity of red fruits on the palate that hint of claret, and a natural warmth that looks to the Southern Rhône. But above all this is Musar: gamey, freshly leathered, ready in it’s half-bottle state for several more appearances on stage – Steven Spurrier, September 2019

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