Chateau Musar Wine Dinner

Sarah and Andre's
Tasted Saturday, March 30, 2013 by peternelson with 790 views

Introduction

Thanks Max and Sarah for conceiving such a great theme. The various vintages were all so very different. These are really world class, hand crafted wines made in a very traditional style, after years of perfecting the wine-making technique and blend. It was a joy to try these, especially with such perfectly matched dishes prepared by Sarah and Andre! Thanks for having us, and thanks to everyone for sharing their wines.

Flight 1 - Mini-Crab Cakes (2 Notes)

NV Gosset Champagne Brut Excellence 90 Points

France, Champagne

Nice, classic, bright yeast, lemon notes with fine bubbles and medium aromatics.

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2003 Chateau Musar Blanc 92 Points

Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

Medium gold color, med. high viscosity in the glass; notes of mushroom, masonry, clay-earth and roasted almond; slight maderized-nutty notes adding to complexity; rich, oily mouthfeel, weighty in the mouth but very dry; very weak attack, gains a little bit in the mid-palate, but flavors build towards the back end to culminate with intense flavors and a long finish. As was mentioned, this is not a crowd pleaser, but very interesting, more cerebral wine. Really good with the epoisse.

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Flight 2 - Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm cider Vinaigrette (2 Notes)

2011 Cambria Chardonnay Unwooded 87 Points

USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

Straw yellow with green flecs; green apple aromas with green melon, jolly rancher; medium body, med. acid, clean, decent straight forward Chardonnay.

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2011 Cambria Chardonnay 87 Points

USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

Medium yellow-gold; Caramel, vanilla, cardamom, slight melon-baked apple fruit; creamy, more body than the unwooded. Interesting comparison with the unwooded. Goes without saying that the character of the two wines are drastically different, quality level is quite even. A bit too much oak in this for my taste but worked well with the roasted butternut squash salad.

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Flight 3 - Lamb Skewers with Lima Bean Puree and French Feta Salsa Verde (6 Notes)

2003 Chateau Musar 90 Points

Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

Red-ruby color; notes of fresh cherry, cranberry, a touch of raspberry with light cinnamon spice; limestony minerality, medium to medium+ body, good concentration, ample younger tannins still present. This is nice, more primary fruit notes with structure that will probably age well. Check in on this in another 10 years!

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2001 Chateau Musar 88 Points

Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

This had light bricking showing signs of possible premature aging--there was some fresh looking cork seepage; dried cherry, sour cherry, slight carmelized note, wet earth, and a touch maderized but not off-putting. We'll re-try this bottle later to compare condition. Flawed but agreeable.

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2000 Chateau Musar 93 Points

Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

Slightly cleaner ruby red color than the 2001; lovely aromatic notes of red flowers, mixed with pungent sweet barnyard and asian/exotic spices, animale, and wild forest berries; tangy tart fruits in the long finish; balanced medium tannins, good intensity and concentration, lots of character and complexity. WOTN for most I think. Great with the lamb skewers with lima bean puree and french feta salsa verde, although the 1996 was more elegant with finer tannins and may have been slightly better with the lamb.

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1996 Chateau Musar 93 Points

Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

Very pale translucent ruby color; very aromatic with sweet strawberry/cherry notes, lovely red floral notes, light dusty baking spice notes; light mouthfeel but with just enough very fine grained tannins to keep it structured; everything else in place and balanced, medium acidity, like a fine 10 year old Burgundy. This sailed with the lamb skewers and lima bean puree (if the lamb was more fatty and add potatoes, I might give the nod to the 2000!). Beautiful wine and amazing how beautiful and still structured this is despite its apparent light color.

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1994 Chateau Musar 88 Points

Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

Darker ruby red with black flecs; Earthy, musty notes with sweet blackberry/raspberry underneath; this showed a very slight corked aspect with muted fruit, muted palate, and very light mustiness. Seems to have good structure with potential. Still enjoyable but if not corked could be stellar. 88-92

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1991 Chateau Musar 92 Points

Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

Darker ruby with slight black flecs, slight bricking; darker berry fruit, tangy sweet blackberry/bramble, and light black earth note; slight raisin with hoisan sauce spices; medium plus acidity, barely perceptible fine tannins; this is quite fruity with sweet tangy dark berry fruits--unusual for a 22 year old wine! This was drinker very well, somewhat youthful, balanced, but not as complex as the 2000 and 1996 IMHO.

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