Chateau Musar Vertical

A tasting of the '98 - '03 by a local retailer was something I looked forward too. My time encounter with a Musar, although I have heard good things about them.

Overall I find the wines consistent depsite their age and in the older vintages are very graceful, light but full of textures and flavours. I was surprised that they were either 13.5% - 14% alcohol but they felt much lesser. All of them had that element of the Chinese preserved plums on the nose which I found interesting. Some of them even had scents similar to that of Lardo!

As these wines were opened much earlier and showing well, Musar wines really need that extra time in the bottle and thereafter in a decanter to show it's best. Drink them slowly!

• 1998 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Double decanted 5 hours prior
  
  Nose: Smokey nose, lithe on the nose with fresh plums and chinese preserved plums. Some tobacco detected as well
  
  Taste: Started out initially tart for the first split second then evolved into savoury fruit notes. At one point had a slight taste (but not the heat) of ethanol. Notes of charred meat and the preserved plums on the palate as well. Very layered with a medium length finish. Drinking well but you really need to let it breathe for a while.

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• 1999 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Double decanted 5 hours prior
  
  Nose: Similar in style to the '98, just much tighter on the nose. Had a 'baked' aspect to it and some interested notes of nori.
  
  Taste: Rounder on the palate and slightly richer than the '98 yet with a slightly tingling on the top of my tongue as I was tasting it. Long finish. Similar savoury notes with sour cherries at the end. Nice stuff.

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• 2000 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Double decanted 5 hours prior
  
  Nose: Red fruits and chinese preseved plums. Unique notes of smelling salt and Lardo di Colonatta (cured lard)
  
  Taste: Even rich and fruitier still than the '99 but balanced with enough acid. Nice earthy tones and a bit of a stewed fruit compote element to it. I found myself smacking my lips after this.

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• 2001 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Double decanted 5 hours prior
  
  Nose: Similar to the '00 but tighter on the nose. A light creamy aspect and beef stew
  
  Taste: Softer on the palate, rounded and creamier than the older vintages in the tasting. Some spices and fine tannins on the finish. Mid-palate was a little bit hollow. Not as much acid compared to the rest.

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• 2002 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Double decanted 5 hours prior
  
  Nose: Big primary nose. Similar to previous vintages but less layers. Some notes of hay as well.
  
  Taste: As per the nose, it was richer and bigger but vibrant as well. A soft mouthfeel but sufficient acid. Medium length finish compared to some of the longer ones in the tasting. Still needs time to evolve further to reveal more textures.

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• 2003 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Double decanted 5 hours prior
  
  Nose: Christmast fruitcake nose with some animal notes. A touch of herbaceousness at the tail end of the nose.
  
  Taste: The most tannic in the tasting (naturally) but the tannins don't get in the way. Soft texture but held in place by some good acid. Still very primary and needs time; but good potential.

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