Subtle aroma of quince. High toned cherry and raspberry fruit, with a succulent acid finish. Tight and focused. Significantly lighter and "cleaner" than the wines that were to come.
From the famous 2003 heat wave year. Aroma of musty basement, much like a traditional Rioja, cherries and again, quince. On the palate, candied cherries, stewed fruit and earth. Powerful, grippy, tannic finish. A very aggressive wine after the subtle 2004.
OK now we're getting into funky Musar territory. VA, nail polish on the nose. It quickly blows off, and reveals a palate of candied cherry and balsamic vinegar and maybe even some black olives. Silky tannic finish.
Also funky but in a slightly different way: Bretty nose, very similar to a Belgian ale like Orval. Has some piney, herbal notes that are not present in the other wines. Nice soft tannins on the finish.
Back to the VA aroma, along with some... bread yeast? A bit of a coffee character in the nose as well. On the palate, cherry, raspberry, olives and loads of earth. Tannins are still very firm and grippy.
Musty basement like Rioja again. I think that by this point we're starting to see what happens to mature Musar: Complexity is ramping up significantly: sweet fragrant cherry, olive, licorice, basement must, earth. A wine of considerable elegance.
Very similar to the 1999, but a bit "cleaner". Sweet fruit is up in front, and the earthy funkiness takes more of a support role. Very nicely balanced and together. Licorice and olives add nice complexity. Finish has soft tannins and higher acidity. Up to that point, WOTN. The entire 98-00 trio had been outstanding, suggesting that 18-20 years is maturity for Musar.
First thing I noticed is the orange bricky color, clearly further down the line than the previous ones. Then the aroma hit me: Like a freshly pulled espresso served with an orange peel, vivid and intense! On the palate, espresso, balsamic vinegar, spice, intense sweet cherry and currant fruit, leading to a long finish of soft acidity. Brett, VA, and must were nowhere to be seen. The notes might seem a bit similar to the other ones, but so much more together and intense. Simultaneous power and elegance. In my sheet I just wrote in big letters "AMAZING". The woman next to me was sort of chuckling at me because I was visibly moved.
2004 Chateau Musar 92 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
Subtle aroma of quince. High toned cherry and raspberry fruit, with a succulent acid finish. Tight and focused. Significantly lighter and "cleaner" than the wines that were to come.
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2003 Chateau Musar 92 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
From the famous 2003 heat wave year. Aroma of musty basement, much like a traditional Rioja, cherries and again, quince. On the palate, candied cherries, stewed fruit and earth. Powerful, grippy, tannic finish. A very aggressive wine after the subtle 2004.
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2002 Chateau Musar 91 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
OK now we're getting into funky Musar territory. VA, nail polish on the nose. It quickly blows off, and reveals a palate of candied cherry and balsamic vinegar and maybe even some black olives. Silky tannic finish.
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2001 Chateau Musar 91 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
Also funky but in a slightly different way: Bretty nose, very similar to a Belgian ale like Orval. Has some piney, herbal notes that are not present in the other wines. Nice soft tannins on the finish.
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2000 Chateau Musar 92 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
Back to the VA aroma, along with some... bread yeast? A bit of a coffee character in the nose as well. On the palate, cherry, raspberry, olives and loads of earth. Tannins are still very firm and grippy.
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1999 Chateau Musar 93 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
Musty basement like Rioja again. I think that by this point we're starting to see what happens to mature Musar: Complexity is ramping up significantly: sweet fragrant cherry, olive, licorice, basement must, earth. A wine of considerable elegance.
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1998 Chateau Musar 94 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
Very similar to the 1999, but a bit "cleaner". Sweet fruit is up in front, and the earthy funkiness takes more of a support role. Very nicely balanced and together. Licorice and olives add nice complexity. Finish has soft tannins and higher acidity. Up to that point, WOTN. The entire 98-00 trio had been outstanding, suggesting that 18-20 years is maturity for Musar.
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1994 Chateau Musar 97 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
First thing I noticed is the orange bricky color, clearly further down the line than the previous ones. Then the aroma hit me: Like a freshly pulled espresso served with an orange peel, vivid and intense! On the palate, espresso, balsamic vinegar, spice, intense sweet cherry and currant fruit, leading to a long finish of soft acidity. Brett, VA, and must were nowhere to be seen. The notes might seem a bit similar to the other ones, but so much more together and intense. Simultaneous power and elegance. In my sheet I just wrote in big letters "AMAZING". The woman next to me was sort of chuckling at me because I was visibly moved.
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