Chateau Musar White (2010)

Chateau Musar White is a truly unique white, made from ancient Lebanese varieties Obaideh and Merwah, dating back thousands of years. Reputedly the ancestors of Chardonnay and Semillon, they are among only 6 indigenous grapes still commercially cultivated in Lebanon. The vineyards were planted between 50-90 years ago, at around 1,300 metres above sea level in the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains on stony, chalky soils, and on the seaward side of Mount Lebanon on calcareous gravels. The vines are still on their own roots and few vineyards of this calibre remain in the world.

This was the year of the heatwave in Lebanon which lasted for 23 days as from the 10th July. The Chateau White 2010 was a very small vintage despite the fact that the indigenous white varieties, Obaideh and Merwah were less affected by the intense heat as the micro-climate of the Lebanese mountains resisted the heat far better than the Bekaa Valley floor.

The 2010 vintage was fermented and aged partly in new oak barrels for 9 months and partly in stainless steel vats with temperatures ranging between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. Normally Obaideh reaches higher alcohol than the Merwah but they balance each other in the blend – this year however, both reached lower alcohol levels (Merwah 11.5%) and when it has lower alcohol, it tends to dominate the Obaideh, so although it is only 40% of the blend, it is more obvious.

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