A day of Musar with Gaston Hochar

Tasted Tuesday, October 25, 2005 by AndrewSGHall with 1,573 views

Introduction

My favorite local wine merchant rings my cell in the morning. "Dude, can you get down here? Gaston is here pouring Musar!" I am there in a jiff and start enjoying a series of Chateau Musar wines with the representive of Broadbent Selections, my buddy Ken from the distributor and Gaston Hochar. We started off at the wine shop with the alternate wines and the 98-90 Chateau. Later, after a quick shower, I met up with the party at a local restaurant to re-taste the wines and partake of the treasures of the 1972 and 1969.

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

Flight 2 (7 Notes)

  • 1998 Chateau Musar

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Just brought to the US recently. Suprisingly foward, lush and fruity. According to Gaston, a very dull and steady vintage from the winemaker's perspective. Nice fruit, medium body. Maybe the stuffing to go, but a lot to reccomend this now. Nice finish develops over time and much later, as well as some complex tobacco and tar notes.

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  • 1997 Chateau Musar

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    (half-bottle) An acidic mess and completely slammed shut. Gaston concurred. I can't evaluate this.

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  • 1995 Chateau Musar

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Very young. Lingering finish with tobacco, brick and berries. Slight spice. Quite tannic and tight with very firm structure, but elegant. Well-balanced and very wel put-together. A serious ager. Gaston says 15-20 yrs instead of the usual 10.

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  • 1994 Chateau Musar

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Odd, even for Musar. Short finish, more oxidized notes than usual. Nice body with a suprising fatness. Hint of cedar and spice on the edges. Not sure what is going on here.

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  • 1990 Chateau Musar

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Last war vintage. Harvested 2 weeks early to avoid and it shows. Very lean, austere and acidic. Green notes that are almost the fruit and spice one expects. Well-made and a tribute to perserverance and skill, but not long on enjoyable.

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  • 1972 Chateau Musar

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    I could smell this in the decanter before I sat down. Seriously. Old perfumes, pipe tobacco. Just waves of it. Incredibly silky and soft with crême anglaise and orange peels. Gorgeous clear light ruby colour, pure and constant. Long, long, long finish. Waves of complexity. Amazing. Carried on for all of lunch. Just incredible , near perfection.

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  • 1969 Chateau Musar

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Such a contrast to the '72. Dusty, cloudy blood colour. Mushroom and forest floor on the nose. Bulky acidity and clumsy body. Smooth finish on a whole different palate - earth, moss, stones. Funky fruits and mineral bits. Really harmonious and deep. Blind, I'd have said an MSD or Clos la Roche. Less perfect and pure than the '72, but more soulful.

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