2005 Chateau Musar

Community Tasting Note

4 comments have been posted

• Comment posted by Dovberg:

  7/27/2015 7:04:00 AM - What do you think about magnum? Have two and wonder how long I should wait before I open one...

• Comment posted by MacLizardking:

  7/28/2015 3:30:00 AM - Hi Dovberg... A good question...I'm agonising over two of these as well! I guess the rule of thumb is the smaller the bottle, the swifter the peak? The 375ml are just perfect now...though may improve over another year or three. The 750 (last time I tried it - 8 months ago, or so) is lovely now, but still offers many years of flavour enhancement, potentially to become something VERY special (hence it seems to be sold out EVERYWHERE! Or the prices are crazy!) so, by this thinking, the 1500ml must offer the greatest opportunity for improvement given a lengthy gestation period? I've asked another friend of mine (more knowledgeable on maters Musar!) for his pop, and will add his thoughts when I get them...
  
  Remember, what makes this Lebanese gem so incredible, is the variety amongst the different years, yet despite variation, the continually high quality achieved, even to "legendary" status in the case of the 05, and that this alchemy-in-a-bottle offers a wine (like other great legends) that can be laid down to develop and enhance, not only over the years, but, with this delicious drink, potentially over the decades!
  
  Let me know what it's like is you do open one, but I'd be more likely to go for a Magnum of 07 prior to an 05, purely based on the development of the 1/2 bottle (amazing, but almost past it -imho) the full bottle (DELICIOUS right NOW...though can lie for a bit longer) or the Magnum...as yet, untried by me!
  
  Cheers...

• Comment posted by angelvillan:

  7/28/2015 4:56:00 AM - Snr.
  As you know, I still have my 2 Magnums of '05 Musar in my wine fridge. I haven't had a 75cl for over a year now and have drunk all but one of my 18 37cl bottles. Both are still readily available (on line) but as you know, are now quite difficult to track done in the usual retail spots. In any case they are a little more expensive than what we paid for initially.(Such is the case with most !). I personally am holding back on trying the Magnum until 2030-2040 (Assuming I get to that age). I believe this 05 possesses the requisite balance; So I expect the 75cl should soften beautifully into it's plush drinking window by about 2020- 2025 and then gracefully for a further 5+years and beyond . We are of course fortunate to have the 37cl as a gauge. Again, I haven't had one of these for about a year -but my guess is that this should be holding up fabulously for the next 5 years or so at least...(Good to probably try these every 10-12 months -assuming you have any left!)
  A

• Comment posted by MacLizardking:

  7/28/2015 5:43:00 AM - Thank you angelvillan! As ever, a more "professional" summation of my ramblings....The '05 1/2 bottles (down to 9 and counting!) are indeed phenomenal drinking right now, and I'll bring one/some next time I see you in Town for comparison. Agreed with your time estimations on the full and magnum bottles...though may find those target dates tricky to abide with for the magnum...!!! Though, and this goes for Dovberg too, I would not plan on opening the magnum for, at the very least, the remainder of this decade...or, if all goes well in both life and quality of storage/cellar conditions, possibly the one after that too! Cheers...