Under natural cork. Decanted for 2 hours to start. Deep, full ruby colour with some bricking at the rim. Super funky nose with lots of apparent brett! Sweaty saddle, sweet, ripe red fruits, green tobacco, VA, cherry syrup and even more earthy funk beneath all that. Not for the faint of heart! Full bodied, sweet funky fruit extract, high fine tannins, highish alcohol, mix of acids (regulat and VA) and a long finish. Less funky and more fruity on the palate than would be expected from the nose. Lots of sweet res fruits, highly extracted and wirh lots of skin contact, sweaty saddle leather, strong black tea and cedar bark. Finishes long and feeling dry, but I think it is the high tannins overloading the sweet fruit. Surely won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I've always loved Musar and don't mind the brett and VA, but admit this one is a bit over the top in that department. Tough call, but I'm only going 90 on this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I suspect that my Musar suplly.chain is compromised. I gave the bottle a bit ago a pass but this was so clearly oxidized and stewed that I now think the prior bottle was affected as well
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seema like Musar on point but I suspect I just don't like the volatile elements and what comes off to me as aged before it hit the bottle elements anymore.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Captivating, engaging, elegant Lebanese wine, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cinsault and carignan by the late great Serge Hochar (whom I was fortunate to meet guiding us through a tasting of his wines in NYC more than twenty years ago). Lighter body, gorgeous magenta/blue violet color. Enjoyed throughout the meal with eggplant appetizers, falafel and lamb shank at Tanoreen restaurant in Bay Ridge.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A unique wine with tons of spice nuance and complexity, but it’s drinking well. You get a different sense of terroir here, at least for this American hack. I hear these wines can lay down long, but it’s really fun at the ten-year mark. I’d love to visit this Lebanese winery!
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very approachable and open - sweet spices, mix of dark and red fruit, tobacco on the nose. On the palate quite acidic, nice tannic grip, good fruit. Good depth and length. Drink or keep. 91-93
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stored in my cellar since 2021. On the nose warm and rich, cellarnotes, decomposing leaves, red fruit and alcohol. On the palate very rich in leather, cellar, earth and some barnyard. Balanced acidity and tannins. Red and dark fruits; lingon, red currants and black berries. Long finish. An absolutely stunning wine. Ready to drink.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Almost spot on to my previous 2021 note, this time was noteworthy for the exotic bouquet of of aged cedar and aromatic frankincense on the nose & retro-nasally after each sip. Divine and ethereal, definitely hitting its stride. Not much sediment in the bottle, otherwise tannins provide a slight amount of friction across the palate before the acidity kicks back in with all the smooth, black fruit notes. Cleaned out the supplier of his last 2 bottles @ $51 / pop (around 2 years ago) and on WS now looking to see who has more. A (95) evaluation.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsaut, one third of each. The vintage 2013 in Beqaa began quite wet and snowy, followed by a cool April, resulting in an exceptionally verdant May. The summer was quite normal until a spell of exceptional heat in August, boosting the sugars of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan - but not Cinsaut, for some reason, which was ultimately harvested later than the other two varieties, ie. on normal schedule in late September. Fermented spontaneously - and at an atypically slow pace - in concrete, aged in French oak barrels for a year. Blended together in the spring of 2016, left to marry for a few months and bottled in summer 2016. 14% alcohol. Aerated in a decanter for four hours before tasting the wine.
Very deep, dark and almost fully opaque black cherry color - appears slightly darker than other Musars at this age. The nose feels pretty distinctive with a somewhat sweet-toned yet at the same time rather meaty nose with aromas of wizened cherries, some bitter almond oil, a little bit of blackcurrant compote, light lifted nuances of nail polish, a hint of cloves and other exotic spices and a rustic touch of animale funk. The wine feels juicy, firm and very harmonious on the palate with a full body and quite intense flavors of dark plums and ripe black cherries - even cherry liqueur and cherry pits, some wizened blackcurrants, a little bit of cloves and other aromatic spices, light savory notes of raw meat, a hint of ripe fig and a funky touch of new leather. The wine feels balanced and enjoyably structured yet not particularly tough or angular with its high acidity and ripe yet firm medium tannins. The finish is juicy, slightly rustic and somewhat grippy with a long, layered aftertaste of ripe boysenberries, black cherries and leathery funk, some wizened figs, a little bit of jammy blackcurrant, light lifted notes of nail polish, fragrant hints of cloves and other sweet spices and a touch of phenolic spice.
A very harmonious, balanced and immensely enjoyable - although at the same time a bit distinctive - vintage of Musar. Typical of the label, the wine does show not only slightly elevated levels of VA, but also a tiny bit of bretty funk - something that seems to be quite rare in the Musars of 2010's. However, what set this wine apart from the other vintages was its subtle yet perceptible streak of bitter almond oil and cherry pits, accentuating the other sweet-toned elements. This isn't an element that's for the better or worse, just setting this vintage apart from the others. Although the wine does show some solar qualities with its at times even slightly jammy fruit flavors, the wine still manages to be nicely on the fresh side, showing good sense of acidity and keeping the fruit department from veering into the raisiny dried-fruit territory. All in all, this was a lovely vintage with still tons of upside. Can't say there has been much evolution since my previous taste 1½ years ago - maybe the tannins have resolved and softened up a little since - but I still want to say I feel the wine is developing in the right direction. Solid value at 39,99€.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mid to deep garnet, the nose offers a multitude of pencil shavings, mothballs, bay leaf, kirsch eau di vie, raspberry jelly powder, fly spray, leather, stables (straw/hay), damson plum, and a meaty/stock cube element. The palate continues with old books/library and church pews. There is also a barnyard note giving a sauvage note that shows wet hay to cedar. The texture is chalky to tarry and quarry dust with well-integrated fine dry tannins, but there is enough sweet fruit to contrast with the tannins. The mid-palate to back is more balsamic reduction, dried oranges, and a dirty layer of muck. There is also a constant edge of acetic burn or VA lurking, yet overall, the wine has enough nuance and complexity to score well. Long finish. Blend of Cinsault, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon split equally. Old vines at 1000m asl.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First bottle from case. I heeded other reviews and gave this a six hour decant. Rose petals, ripe, sweet and dried fruits, especially plums and dates. Exotic spices in back. Very full and robust in the mouth. Wife says there aren't enough oo's in Smooth to do this justice (high praise from her!). Medium+ finish. Good acidity for food but delicious on its own.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gekruide, zuidelijke gerechten, rundvlees en lamsvlees van de grill. Chateau Musar geldt als één van de meest bijzondere wijndomeinen in de wereld. Enerzijds is dat de locatie, de Libanese Bekaa Valley, anderzijds hanteert men er nog een volstrekt traditionele werkwijze. De wijngaarden liggen op kiezelhoudende kalk- kleibo
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured at barn door hostel, rumney. Delightful. Dense blackberry and dried cranberry, and not funky. So young. Needs time. Still - expressive with a bit of air. Tastes like very young musar. After a couple hrs, a lovely and intensely perfumed note of VA and dried roses emerged!
The next day it was explosively aromatic. Prunes, dried blackberries, black cherry jam, cedar-dusted black raspberry preserves. Riper and plusher on the palate but still with good acidity. Super delicious. Not much impression of earth, brett, oxidation, VA, or tamari, but it’s still young yet. Revisit in 10 years?
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Old vine blend of Cinsault, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purple-red colour with the nose showing some volatile notes of paint, resin and adhesive. As that blows off, there is iris, earth, charcuterie, smoky, olive tapenade and tree bark. Underneath, I detected dark berries, oak spices, cedar, cerise, damson and rancid yellow fat biltong note! Full-bodied, the acid is a little prickly, confirming its volatile edge, whilst the tannins are firm and chalky and coated with some sweet fruit of soy, balsamic, and blackcurrants. Given the history of this wine, it is true to form but personally, I find the VA edge detracts too much. A long, winding finish with decent concentration.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 1.5 hours. The nose is very fruity, showing fine red fruit, cherry, lilac, very delicious. The palate shows lots of red fruit as well, with strong tannins and good acidity, savoury and delicious here as well. This is obviously very young and feels like it could age very well (unlike the 2012).
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I think this will be one of the very long lived vintages of Musar. It's definitely too young to fully enjoy now, but it has loads of everything that is needed for a great wine in another decade. It's fully loaded with layers of pungent and concentrated fruit on the palate, and the nose is equally intense - still mostly primary, but with some lovely tobacco present now too. Acidity is very nicely balanced, tannins are very fine (but massive on the finish) and need years to integrate. The finish is very long - a bit drying at this point due to the tannins, but I think there is enough fruit here to outlast the tannins, which should turn this into a real knockout in 10-15 years. 13.5% alcohol is perfectly balanced. Truly a world class wine, just so young at this point. Drink 2030-2040+
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another fantastic vintage that can be summed up in one word: Elegance. This wine opens with roses, sage, mint, and sweet tobacco. Then comes an incredibly well-balanced mixture of mainly plums and blueberries. The tannins are almost perfectly integrated and the delightfully fruity and long finish comes with a pinch of coffee and cinnamon.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black and red fruit bonanza. Strong tobacco. Saving half. BRB.
Edit: Day 2 and it´s just beautiful with my meat. Just a much better match than yesterday and everything just fell in place during the night. Around 90 yesterday. Today much, much better. Suggesting a long decant or holding would do the trick.
Haven't had a wine from Lebanon before that I can remember. This was light to medium bodied, with a light character, reminds me somewhat of a Pinot Noir or even a Beaujolais with it's friendly lightness on the palate. Quite attractive, but didn't realize I'd paid about $50, which seems high.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Never before have I opened a Musar that young, and for good reason it seems… Decanted for two hours. Red and dark fruit, intense tobacco, game, and spices, with lively acidity and superb length. Good intensity and concentration. The acidity reminds me of the 1997. The substantial tannin integrated and softened a little with aeration, but became dryer again by day two. This 2013 Musar shows great potential, but at this point it is too young and demanding to provide pleasure. Hold for eight to ten years, and start drinking from 2030. 91(+)(?)
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I rarely try Musar at this young an age. Certainly to look at and taste it is very youthful and unfortunately this example has an initial spritz which did not help the flavour. However with time it did soften and balance more and with that depth and hopefully the normal rusticity of fruit it should be excellent from another 5+ years and lasting another 20 years beyond that.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark black cherry colour with no age development apparent. Very young and fruity nose with cherry, black licorice, light cedar, rabbit fur and licorice. Medium bodied, dark fruit, a bit of VA, perfectly integrated tannins and a long, off dry finish. So fresh and fruity for a Musar - I don't think I've ever had one this young. Cedary, sweet red berries, new leather, spice, dried herbs and almost a brown sugar note on very back end. The finish is long, sweet red fruity finish. Excellent!!
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Audozed with cork in for about 30 minutes at 55F then proper decant about 30 min before serving. Reminds me of a youthful left bank Bordeaux- cassis and blackberries with nice acidity and woodsy tannins that add earthy black tea notes, graphite, and a peppery finish. Still primary and tannic; opens up with richer flavors with more time in the decanter which bodes well for aging. Got another bottle sitting in the cellar, going to give it some time for the tannins to integrate better but was drinking pretty well now. Overall A- (92).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Musar always deliver , Open up really nice after been aired 4 hours. Tobacco, dark fruit, some barnyard/stable.High accidity that almost feels ”bubbly” at first zip. Goes great with food and can be aged for many years ahead. Really nice wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vertical Musar online tasting from 50ml bottle. Deep colour with garnet rim. Bramble, blackcurrant, blueberry & cranberry, cedar, spice, vanilla on the nose. A lovely freshness to the acidity with savoury notes / toasty oak. A fresher style, very good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chateau Musar Virtual Vertical with Nickolls and Perks (Zoom): Quite a spicy nose with cinammon, nutmeg and vanilla, along with some floral rose notes. Lovely soft palate, feeling very Burgundian. Then with time in the glass and more aeration, it starts to feel like it's almost verging on nebbiolo-like, with some very obvious tannins, especially after.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lett cloudy rød med oransje kant. Klassisk Musar på aroma med elementer som fjøs, eksotisk krydder, tea, rosin og svisker. I munn er den medium fyldig med balanserte og tydelige tanniner. Smaken følger aroma. God lengde. Liker at den er herlig umoderne og tro til stilen sin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This 2013 stands in contrast to the 2011 and 2012, which I found overripe, porty and lacking in structure. The nose here is somewhat green and stalky, with layers of plum and damson fruit and a floral-cedarwood perfume. The classic Musar barnyard note is also present, especially in the residues left behind in the empty glass. On the palate, ripe plums veer into lightly oxidative impressions of figs and prunes. There is a significant level of extract here, with foresquare, angular tannins. Plenty of scope for this to soften and develop in the medium term, as long as it doesn't prematurely oxidise.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby red color. Aromas of blackberries and plums, cinnamon and Oriental spices. Ripe, high acid fruit in the mouth with excellent depth and length. Nicely persistent and complex on the palate. This delicious wine that is built for long aging improved every minute after opening. Try again in 6 to 12 months.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From half. Berry driven nose with a very faint whiff of the midden. Sweet dark fruit, not stewed but very ripe. Backed up by spiciness and caramelised jam (a bit tarry?). A good lick of acidity keeping it fresh and a rounded plush mouthfeel. Really this is absolutely ideal for early fruit led drinking now. Will it make old bones? Not in this house.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Finally got around to try a newer vintage of Musar. Deep ruby in the glass with some garnet hues. Explosive nose of dark berry fruit, plum chocolate and some oriental spices. Still very youthful. Really rich in the mouth, but not ripe. Structurally, this is a beast. Grippy tannins, high acidity and alcohol. Not yet ready to be enjoyed fully, but has splendid potential ahead. This has 90s quality, the Musars that lived for decades.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted from half bottle. Lots of VA on the nose with some cherry and funk. On the palette this wine is dominated by acidity, initially frankly tart. Fruit largely cherry and cranberry. Over 90min The acidity settled but still high. Good tannin structure and length. I prefer other Musar vintages for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Jeg er meget begejstret. Fantastisk lækker, kompleks og tilgængelig libanesisk vin. Fortsat lidt lukket næse, men vinen giver alligevel gavmildt fra sig. Letkogte kirsebær, boysenbær, mynte, roser, kanel, kalk og vanilje. Varm og sød, men stadigvæk frisk næse. Munden er til gengæld pivåben og herlig. Cremet og fyldig med en lækker let sødlig smag. Røde og friske bær samt en fin lang eftersmag. Nydt af Zalto Bordeauxglas. Smagt op mod en 2012 Tallifer Pomerol. Samme prisniveau og jeg er ikke i tvivl om mit valg.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color: medium ruby Nose: red fruit: cherry, raspberry. Some plum as well. Old wood. Something rustic, barnyard. Bit of VA, nail polish remover, paint. Did not waft away with decanting until after 4 hours. Then some animal smells appeared. A dying fire smell. It kept evolving, there is a lot of depth Palate: high acidity, medium-high tannins quite biting, medium body. Tart. Red and black fruit, some wet wood funk. Raspberry jumps at me. Very tense sip, very dramatic wine. Perhaps some chestnut too, and red ribes and some very ripe apple appear Finish: medium
Ok this is young. Very assertive and great with lebanese food, it isn't exactly elegant but it makes for a fantastic food wine. Interesting that the nail polish remover was almost...pleasant?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tobacco, ripe plum and cherry, oak and leather on the nose. Dry, with an expressive fruit. Nice acidety. Firm and well balanced tannins, with a long exit. A very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This one is young. Sour cherries right after opening the bottle. It was fiercely tart. Decanted for a couple hours, and the nose opened to more fruit and earth. Straight cherries, the tartness gone, with currant, tar, anise, earth, raspberries, jam, and minerals. Still evolving in the glass. This is a style in itself. Great wine!
dark blackish inky red, little clarity, ruby hue Nose: blackberry, blueberry, licorice, tobacco, cigar, silver, earth, chocolate, minerals, oak Pal: blackberry, raspberry, licorice, tobacco, cigar, silver, earth, minerals, bitter chocolate, oak Feel: medium Finish: medium T8 (could be a 9 for Lebanese match)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Young for a Musar. Tried the Audouze method of uncorking in the morning and pouring an hour before dinner. Not enough air. The nose in incisive, sharp, almost acidic. Perhaps sour cherries? I would say lemony, but there was also some red fruit in the nose, but not quite French groseilles... The palate is taught, does not give much away and the finish is sharp, long. But where is the Musar character? Does that come with age? I ask all Musar aficionados out there! The nose did develop to a great extent over the course of the evening, more fruit. Still no Musar funkiness... Should I buy a half case and try it in five? I would say this has the stuffing to last quite a while. Can't rate it at this stage, but still a high quality wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium plus nose gives different funk, black plum, earth and rock, crushed violets, herbal tones, leather. Palate is very expressive, shows some age in the finish, mushroom, but freshness as well, red and black fruits, spice tones, medium plus tannins and acidity, overall a vibrant wine and experience, long finish. Killer stuff.
Dark in colour, lots of fruit, notes of sweet spices, tobacco, orange peel, leather on the nose. On the palate fresh and vibrant, sweet fruit, rather mellow tannins. Spicy finish, good length. Drink or keep. 90-92
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very different style for me - strong fruit and well-integrated acid, clear and vibrant pencil shavings, cedar, anise. Was big and bold even with balsamic marinated steak - impressive, but given the lack of familiarity here, I’m not sure if this is ‘ready’ yet or not. I have a second and will hold that at least another year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Luftad i drygt 3h. Kompakt struktur med klassiska Musar-noter. Medium + kropp. Till skillnad från vissa årgångar så gifter sig syran och sötman i ett slags florsocker toppad sötsur bärkompott, istället för att bryta av mot varandra. Avsaknaden, i jämförelse med andra årgångar, av tanniner stör mig inte nämnvärt men kan komma att påverka lagringspotentialen. Jag tror dock att det här vinet kan utvecklas mycket under ett längre tidspann.
Ett fruktansvärt prisvärt vin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsaut, one third of each. The vintage 2013 in Beqaa began quite wet and snowy, followed by a cool April, resulting in an exceptionally verdant May. The summer was quite normal until a spell of exceptional heat in August, boosting the sugars of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan - but not Cinsaut, for some reason, which was ultimately harvested later than the other two varieties. Fermented spontaneously - and at an atypically slow pace - in concrete, aged in oak barrels for a year. Blended together in the spring of 2016, left to marry for a few months and bottled in summer 2016. 14% alcohol. Decanted for a few hours before tasting the wine fully blind.
Quite dark and almost fully opaque blackish-red color with a youthful, subtly crimson hue. Sweetish, nuanced and quite seductive nose with aromas of blueberries, some Sun Maid raisins, a little bit of wizened figs, light liqueur-ish hints of VA, a hint of wild strawberry and a touch of sun-baked earth. Apart from the subtly lifted streak of VA, the nose feels quite clean for a Musar. Contrasting the lush, sweet-toned nose, the wine is surprisingly firm and focused on the palate with a medium body. Ripe, bright and slightly sweet-toned flavors of boysenberries and sweet black cherries, some plummy tones, a little bit of sun-baked earth, light stony mineral tones, a lifted hint of kirsch-y liqueur-ish VA and a touch of fragrant, exotic spices. The overall feel is enjoyably structured, thanks to the high acidity and rather grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is long, juicy and quite grippy with clean flavors of boysenberries, some strawberries, a little bit of ripe black cherry, light earthy notes of sandy soil, spicy hints of exotic spices and phenolic peppery character and a crunchy touch of tart cranberries.
My first guess was a young vintage of Musar, to the astonishment of the person who brought the wine. I must say I was initially confused about this wine, since it certainly did have the air of a young Musar to it, yet it didn't fit the profile of any of the recent vintages of Musar I had had - but I had not heard that the 2013 vintage was released already! So, in effect, this is archetypal Musar, but also distinctive enough not to be confused with any of the recent vintages. The overall feel here is youthful and fruity, but at the same time very promising with the firm structure - especially the tannins are still quite much to the fore, which doesn't really bother me one bit. The overall feel is a bit lighter compared to the noticeably weightier (and somewhat softer) 2011 and 2012 vintages, coming across more similar to the more tightly-knit (but also more volatile) 2010 vintage. All in all, a very promising vintage that is easily going to improve for another decade or two. Unlike the past two vintages, this seems like a vintage I need to start stocking up. Solid value at 39,99€.
Primera impresión con un Chateau Musar y la verdad es que esperaba algo diferente/mejor. Tal vez sea joven y un infanticidio habérselo bebido tan joven pero boh... Mucha sensación de madera y ahumados. Fruta en nariz también pero el ahumado ha estado presente todo el rato. Taninos pulidos. Le daremos otra oportunidad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was disappointing compared to my previous Musar, a 2011 I had last year. That was rich and unctuous; this is comparatively thin, both sweet and sour, with a pronounced cow manure odour wafting out of the glass (I'm swirling the decanter hoping to get rid of it). Tannins are relatively short. There's a savoury seam running through it, though, which adds interest. The cork on my bottle was quite dry at the top end, which makes me wonder about the storage conditions - bought from Wine Society.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is far more open than other young Musars I’ve had. Still a bit coiled and definitely needs some time in the cellar to really express itself but worth opening a bottle if you have some. Has all the signs of being a great vintage for this producer and wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/8/2024 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Under natural cork. Decanted for 2 hours to start. Deep, full ruby colour with some bricking at the rim. Super funky nose with lots of apparent brett! Sweaty saddle, sweet, ripe red fruits, green tobacco, VA, cherry syrup and even more earthy funk beneath all that. Not for the faint of heart! Full bodied, sweet funky fruit extract, high fine tannins, highish alcohol, mix of acids (regulat and VA) and a long finish. Less funky and more fruity on the palate than would be expected from the nose. Lots of sweet res fruits, highly extracted and wirh lots of skin contact, sweaty saddle leather, strong black tea and cedar bark. Finishes long and feeling dry, but I think it is the high tannins overloading the sweet fruit. Surely won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I've always loved Musar and don't mind the brett and VA, but admit this one is a bit over the top in that department. Tough call, but I'm only going 90 on this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2024 - AndrewSGHall wrote: flawed
I suspect that my Musar suplly.chain is compromised. I gave the bottle a bit ago a pass but this was so clearly oxidized and stewed that I now think the prior bottle was affected as well
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2024 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
It's not you, it's me.
Seema like Musar on point but I suspect I just don't like the volatile elements and what comes off to me as aged before it hit the bottle elements anymore.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2023 - stopher Likes this wine: 93 Points
with lamb shank and mushroom risotto
Dusty and tanic on after an hour decant. I can see how this could go for another 10 years. Very nice
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2023 - R Z Likes this wine: 93 Points
Captivating, engaging, elegant Lebanese wine, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cinsault and carignan by the late great Serge Hochar (whom I was fortunate to meet guiding us through a tasting of his wines in NYC more than twenty years ago). Lighter body, gorgeous magenta/blue violet color. Enjoyed throughout the meal with eggplant appetizers, falafel and lamb shank at Tanoreen restaurant in Bay Ridge.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2023 - cincybt Likes this wine: 92 Points
A unique wine with tons of spice nuance and complexity, but it’s drinking well. You get a different sense of terroir here, at least for this American hack. I hear these wines can lay down long, but it’s really fun at the ten-year mark. I’d love to visit this Lebanese winery!
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2023 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Very approachable and open - sweet spices, mix of dark and red fruit, tobacco on the nose. On the palate quite acidic, nice tannic grip, good fruit. Good depth and length. Drink or keep. 91-93
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2023 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent as usual for Musar, not fruity, more barnyard with alot of depth
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2023 - Vera Wind Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stored in my cellar since 2021.
On the nose warm and rich, cellarnotes, decomposing leaves, red fruit and alcohol.
On the palate very rich in leather, cellar, earth and some barnyard. Balanced acidity and tannins. Red and dark fruits; lingon, red currants and black berries.
Long finish.
An absolutely stunning wine. Ready to drink.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2023 - Jonahpla Likes this wine: 93 Points
Was very musty, earthy upon opening. 24 hours later it’s much smoother. Round, deep. Very good.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2023 - WineKnurd Likes this wine: 95 Points
Almost spot on to my previous 2021 note, this time was noteworthy for the exotic bouquet of of aged cedar and aromatic frankincense on the nose & retro-nasally after each sip. Divine and ethereal, definitely hitting its stride. Not much sediment in the bottle, otherwise tannins provide a slight amount of friction across the palate before the acidity kicks back in with all the smooth, black fruit notes. Cleaned out the supplier of his last 2 bottles @ $51 / pop (around 2 years ago) and on WS now looking to see who has more. A (95) evaluation.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2023 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsaut, one third of each. The vintage 2013 in Beqaa began quite wet and snowy, followed by a cool April, resulting in an exceptionally verdant May. The summer was quite normal until a spell of exceptional heat in August, boosting the sugars of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan - but not Cinsaut, for some reason, which was ultimately harvested later than the other two varieties, ie. on normal schedule in late September. Fermented spontaneously - and at an atypically slow pace - in concrete, aged in French oak barrels for a year. Blended together in the spring of 2016, left to marry for a few months and bottled in summer 2016. 14% alcohol. Aerated in a decanter for four hours before tasting the wine.
Very deep, dark and almost fully opaque black cherry color - appears slightly darker than other Musars at this age. The nose feels pretty distinctive with a somewhat sweet-toned yet at the same time rather meaty nose with aromas of wizened cherries, some bitter almond oil, a little bit of blackcurrant compote, light lifted nuances of nail polish, a hint of cloves and other exotic spices and a rustic touch of animale funk. The wine feels juicy, firm and very harmonious on the palate with a full body and quite intense flavors of dark plums and ripe black cherries - even cherry liqueur and cherry pits, some wizened blackcurrants, a little bit of cloves and other aromatic spices, light savory notes of raw meat, a hint of ripe fig and a funky touch of new leather. The wine feels balanced and enjoyably structured yet not particularly tough or angular with its high acidity and ripe yet firm medium tannins. The finish is juicy, slightly rustic and somewhat grippy with a long, layered aftertaste of ripe boysenberries, black cherries and leathery funk, some wizened figs, a little bit of jammy blackcurrant, light lifted notes of nail polish, fragrant hints of cloves and other sweet spices and a touch of phenolic spice.
A very harmonious, balanced and immensely enjoyable - although at the same time a bit distinctive - vintage of Musar. Typical of the label, the wine does show not only slightly elevated levels of VA, but also a tiny bit of bretty funk - something that seems to be quite rare in the Musars of 2010's. However, what set this wine apart from the other vintages was its subtle yet perceptible streak of bitter almond oil and cherry pits, accentuating the other sweet-toned elements. This isn't an element that's for the better or worse, just setting this vintage apart from the others. Although the wine does show some solar qualities with its at times even slightly jammy fruit flavors, the wine still manages to be nicely on the fresh side, showing good sense of acidity and keeping the fruit department from veering into the raisiny dried-fruit territory. All in all, this was a lovely vintage with still tons of upside. Can't say there has been much evolution since my previous taste 1½ years ago - maybe the tannins have resolved and softened up a little since - but I still want to say I feel the wine is developing in the right direction. Solid value at 39,99€.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2023 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mid to deep garnet, the nose offers a multitude of pencil shavings, mothballs, bay leaf, kirsch eau di vie, raspberry jelly powder, fly spray, leather, stables (straw/hay), damson plum, and a meaty/stock cube element.
The palate continues with old books/library and church pews. There is also a barnyard note giving a sauvage note that shows wet hay to cedar. The texture is chalky to tarry and quarry dust with well-integrated fine dry tannins, but there is enough sweet fruit to contrast with the tannins. The mid-palate to back is more balsamic reduction, dried oranges, and a dirty layer of muck. There is also a constant edge of acetic burn or VA lurking, yet overall, the wine has enough nuance and complexity to score well. Long finish.
Blend of Cinsault, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon split equally. Old vines at 1000m asl.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2022 - Stoic Warrior Likes this wine: 94 Points
First bottle from case. I heeded other reviews and gave this a six hour decant. Rose petals, ripe, sweet and dried fruits, especially plums and dates. Exotic spices in back. Very full and robust in the mouth. Wife says there aren't enough oo's in Smooth to do this justice (high praise from her!). Medium+ finish. Good acidity for food but delicious on its own.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2022 - nsellen wrote:
From half. This one seemed too young and not Musar enough. It’s never linear, is it?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/21/2022 - StefanVB wrote:
Gekruide, zuidelijke gerechten, rundvlees en lamsvlees van de grill. Chateau Musar geldt als één van de meest bijzondere wijndomeinen in de wereld. Enerzijds is dat de locatie, de Libanese Bekaa Valley, anderzijds hanteert men er nog een volstrekt traditionele werkwijze. De wijngaarden liggen op kiezelhoudende kalk- kleibo
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2022 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured at barn door hostel, rumney. Delightful. Dense blackberry and dried cranberry, and not funky. So young. Needs time. Still - expressive with a bit of air. Tastes like very young musar. After a couple hrs, a lovely and intensely perfumed note of VA and dried roses emerged!
The next day it was explosively aromatic. Prunes, dried blackberries, black cherry jam, cedar-dusted black raspberry preserves. Riper and plusher on the palate but still with good acidity. Super delicious. Not much impression of earth, brett, oxidation, VA, or tamari, but it’s still young yet. Revisit in 10 years?
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2022 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 89 Points
Old vine blend of Cinsault, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purple-red colour with the nose showing some volatile notes of paint, resin and adhesive. As that blows off, there is iris, earth, charcuterie, smoky, olive tapenade and tree bark. Underneath, I detected dark berries, oak spices, cedar, cerise, damson and rancid yellow fat biltong note!
Full-bodied, the acid is a little prickly, confirming its volatile edge, whilst the tannins are firm and chalky and coated with some sweet fruit of soy, balsamic, and blackcurrants. Given the history of this wine, it is true to form but personally, I find the VA edge detracts too much. A long, winding finish with decent concentration.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2022 - NiklasW Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours. The nose is very fruity, showing fine red fruit, cherry, lilac, very delicious. The palate shows lots of red fruit as well, with strong tannins and good acidity, savoury and delicious here as well. This is obviously very young and feels like it could age very well (unlike the 2012).
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2022 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 90 Points
90+ with a bit more time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2022 - trumpet60201 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I think this will be one of the very long lived vintages of Musar. It's definitely too young to fully enjoy now, but it has loads of everything that is needed for a great wine in another decade. It's fully loaded with layers of pungent and concentrated fruit on the palate, and the nose is equally intense - still mostly primary, but with some lovely tobacco present now too. Acidity is very nicely balanced, tannins are very fine (but massive on the finish) and need years to integrate. The finish is very long - a bit drying at this point due to the tannins, but I think there is enough fruit here to outlast the tannins, which should turn this into a real knockout in 10-15 years. 13.5% alcohol is perfectly balanced. Truly a world class wine, just so young at this point. Drink 2030-2040+
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2022 - Dwongl Likes this wine: 93 Points
Funky on opening but blew away after decanting. Purple fruits and fine tannins. Medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2022 - Johnnywazagoodboi Likes this wine: 94 Points
Overview: dark, tobacco, fruit. Sweet and pleasant.
Vegetarian: paired with hummus, grilled eggplant, and tomato kibbeh.
Look forward to revisiting a well-aged bottle and another year with ideal fermentation at winery.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2022 - Miccog Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another fantastic vintage that can be summed up in one word: Elegance. This wine opens with roses, sage, mint, and sweet tobacco. Then comes an incredibly well-balanced mixture of mainly plums and blueberries. The tannins are almost perfectly integrated and the delightfully fruity and long finish comes with a pinch of coffee and cinnamon.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2022 - adamanko wrote: 93 Points
Black and red fruit bonanza. Strong tobacco. Saving half. BRB.
Edit: Day 2 and it´s just beautiful with my meat. Just a much better match than yesterday and everything just fell in place during the night. Around 90 yesterday. Today much, much better. Suggesting a long decant or holding would do the trick.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/9/2022 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Haven't had a wine from Lebanon before that I can remember. This was light to medium bodied, with a light character, reminds me somewhat of a Pinot Noir or even a Beaujolais with it's friendly lightness on the palate. Quite attractive, but didn't realize I'd paid about $50, which seems high.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2021 - PSPatrick wrote: 91 Points
Never before have I opened a Musar that young, and for good reason it seems… Decanted for two hours. Red and dark fruit, intense tobacco, game, and spices, with lively acidity and superb length. Good intensity and concentration. The acidity reminds me of the 1997. The substantial tannin integrated and softened a little with aeration, but became dryer again by day two. This 2013 Musar shows great potential, but at this point it is too young and demanding to provide pleasure. Hold for eight to ten years, and start drinking from 2030. 91(+)(?)
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2021 - Loathesome Likes this wine: 90 Points
I rarely try Musar at this young an age. Certainly to look at and taste it is very youthful and unfortunately this example has an initial spritz which did not help the flavour. However with time it did soften and balance more and with that depth and hopefully the normal rusticity of fruit it should be excellent from another 5+ years and lasting another 20 years beyond that.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2021 - trumpet60201 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding wine - youthful presentation at this time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2021 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very dark black cherry colour with no age development apparent. Very young and fruity nose with cherry, black licorice, light cedar, rabbit fur and licorice. Medium bodied, dark fruit, a bit of VA, perfectly integrated tannins and a long, off dry finish. So fresh and fruity for a Musar - I don't think I've ever had one this young. Cedary, sweet red berries, new leather, spice, dried herbs and almost a brown sugar note on very back end. The finish is long, sweet red fruity finish. Excellent!!
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2021 - WineKnurd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Audozed with cork in for about 30 minutes at 55F then proper decant about 30 min before serving. Reminds me of a youthful left bank Bordeaux- cassis and blackberries with nice acidity and woodsy tannins that add earthy black tea notes, graphite, and a peppery finish. Still primary and tannic; opens up with richer flavors with more time in the decanter which bodes well for aging. Got another bottle sitting in the cellar, going to give it some time for the tannins to integrate better but was drinking pretty well now. Overall A- (92).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2021 - thuglasyee Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still feels a little young, though certainly not too young to drink. Powerful tannins, cherry, tobacco, and a little bit of barnyard.
A few more years will likely make a stunner out of this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2021 - PierreNilsson76 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Musar always deliver , Open up really nice after been aired 4 hours. Tobacco, dark fruit, some barnyard/stable.High accidity that almost feels ”bubbly” at first zip. Goes great with food and can be aged for many years ahead. Really nice wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2021 - winers4 Likes this wine:
Vertical Musar online tasting from 50ml bottle. Deep colour with garnet rim. Bramble, blackcurrant, blueberry & cranberry, cedar, spice, vanilla on the nose. A lovely freshness to the acidity with savoury notes / toasty oak. A fresher style, very good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2021 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 92 Points
Chateau Musar Virtual Vertical with Nickolls and Perks (Zoom): Quite a spicy nose with cinammon, nutmeg and vanilla, along with some floral rose notes.
Lovely soft palate, feeling very Burgundian. Then with time in the glass and more aeration, it starts to feel like it's almost verging on nebbiolo-like, with some very obvious tannins, especially after.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2021 - Bernt Olav wrote: 92 Points
Lett cloudy rød med oransje kant. Klassisk Musar på aroma med elementer som fjøs, eksotisk krydder, tea, rosin og svisker. I munn er den medium fyldig med balanserte og tydelige tanniner. Smaken følger aroma. God lengde. Liker at den er herlig umoderne og tro til stilen sin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2021 - Poussin Likes this wine: 92 Points
This 2013 stands in contrast to the 2011 and 2012, which I found overripe, porty and lacking in structure. The nose here is somewhat green and stalky, with layers of plum and damson fruit and a floral-cedarwood perfume. The classic Musar barnyard note is also present, especially in the residues left behind in the empty glass. On the palate, ripe plums veer into lightly oxidative impressions of figs and prunes. There is a significant level of extract here, with foresquare, angular tannins. Plenty of scope for this to soften and develop in the medium term, as long as it doesn't prematurely oxidise.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2021 - joraesque wrote: 90 Points
A bit vinegary, but that's the old-school style; should age well. 13.5% ABV.
89-90
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2021 - hsacks Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ruby red color. Aromas of blackberries and plums, cinnamon and Oriental spices. Ripe, high acid fruit in the mouth with excellent depth and length. Nicely persistent and complex on the palate. This delicious wine that is built for long aging improved every minute after opening. Try again in 6 to 12 months.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2021 - nsellen wrote: 90 Points
From half. Berry driven nose with a very faint whiff of the midden. Sweet dark fruit, not stewed but very ripe. Backed up by spiciness and caramelised jam (a bit tarry?). A good lick of acidity keeping it fresh and a rounded plush mouthfeel. Really this is absolutely ideal for early fruit led drinking now. Will it make old bones? Not in this house.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2021 - Rickets Likes this wine: 92 Points
very primary and a little disjointed. but all the typical musar elements are there. it just needs more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/5/2021 - Luikuri wrote: 92 Points
Luumua, rusinaisuutta,viikunaa. maanläheisyyttä. Tanniininen ja erittäin täyteläinen
3h auki ja on herkullinen
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2021 - grapenomad wrote: 92 Points
Finally got around to try a newer vintage of Musar. Deep ruby in the glass with some garnet hues. Explosive nose of dark berry fruit, plum chocolate and some oriental spices. Still very youthful. Really rich in the mouth, but not ripe. Structurally, this is a beast. Grippy tannins, high acidity and alcohol. Not yet ready to be enjoyed fully, but has splendid potential ahead. This has 90s quality, the Musars that lived for decades.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2021 - sem106 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted from half bottle.
Lots of VA on the nose with some cherry and funk.
On the palette this wine is dominated by acidity, initially frankly tart. Fruit largely cherry and cranberry. Over 90min The acidity settled but still high.
Good tannin structure and length.
I prefer other Musar vintages for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2021 - Dinamarca Likes this wine: 92 Points
Jeg er meget begejstret. Fantastisk lækker, kompleks og tilgængelig libanesisk vin. Fortsat lidt lukket næse, men vinen giver alligevel gavmildt fra sig. Letkogte kirsebær, boysenbær, mynte, roser, kanel, kalk og vanilje. Varm og sød, men stadigvæk frisk næse. Munden er til gengæld pivåben og herlig. Cremet og fyldig med en lækker let sødlig smag. Røde og friske bær samt en fin lang eftersmag. Nydt af Zalto Bordeauxglas. Smagt op mod en 2012 Tallifer Pomerol. Samme prisniveau og jeg er ikke i tvivl om mit valg.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2021 - stet Likes this wine: 91 Points
Color: medium ruby
Nose: red fruit: cherry, raspberry. Some plum as well. Old wood. Something rustic, barnyard. Bit of VA, nail polish remover, paint. Did not waft away with decanting until after 4 hours. Then some animal smells appeared. A dying fire smell. It kept evolving, there is a lot of depth
Palate: high acidity, medium-high tannins quite biting, medium body. Tart. Red and black fruit, some wet wood funk. Raspberry jumps at me. Very tense sip, very dramatic wine. Perhaps some chestnut too, and red ribes and some very ripe apple appear
Finish: medium
Ok this is young. Very assertive and great with lebanese food, it isn't exactly elegant but it makes for a fantastic food wine. Interesting that the nail polish remover was almost...pleasant?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2021 - GlennO86 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tobacco, ripe plum and cherry, oak and leather on the nose. Dry, with an expressive fruit. Nice acidety. Firm and well balanced tannins, with a long exit. A very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2021 - Redsquare82 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This one is young. Sour cherries right after opening the bottle. It was fiercely tart. Decanted for a couple hours, and the nose opened to more fruit and earth. Straight cherries, the tartness gone, with currant, tar, anise, earth, raspberries, jam, and minerals. Still evolving in the glass. This is a style in itself. Great wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/6/2021 - Frijole wrote:
dark blackish inky red, little clarity, ruby hue
Nose: blackberry, blueberry, licorice, tobacco, cigar, silver, earth, chocolate, minerals, oak
Pal: blackberry, raspberry, licorice, tobacco, cigar, silver, earth, minerals, bitter chocolate, oak
Feel: medium
Finish: medium
T8 (could be a 9 for Lebanese match)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2021 - Lahontan Likes this wine:
Young for a Musar.
Tried the Audouze method of uncorking in the morning and pouring an hour before dinner. Not enough air.
The nose in incisive, sharp, almost acidic. Perhaps sour cherries? I would say lemony, but there was also some red fruit in the nose, but not quite French groseilles... The palate is taught, does not give much away and the finish is sharp, long. But where is the Musar character? Does that come with age? I ask all Musar aficionados out there!
The nose did develop to a great extent over the course of the evening, more fruit. Still no Musar funkiness...
Should I buy a half case and try it in five? I would say this has the stuffing to last quite a while.
Can't rate it at this stage, but still a high quality wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2021 - gryttenchristian@gmail.com wrote:
Aperitiff 90 poeng. Kan lagres i 10 år minst. Utviklingspotensiale
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2021 - gryttenchristian@gmail.com wrote:
90 poeng aperitiff
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2021 - GTFreek wrote:
Medium plus nose gives different funk, black plum, earth and rock, crushed violets, herbal tones, leather. Palate is very expressive, shows some age in the finish, mushroom, but freshness as well, red and black fruits, spice tones, medium plus tannins and acidity, overall a vibrant wine and experience, long finish. Killer stuff.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/15/2021 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
Dark in colour, lots of fruit, notes of sweet spices, tobacco, orange peel, leather on the nose. On the palate fresh and vibrant, sweet fruit, rather mellow tannins. Spicy finish, good length. Drink or keep. 90-92
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2021 - Vera Wind Likes this wine: 94 Points
Complex, deep and nuanced. Not like anything I've tasted before. Wonderful! (Too long since I drank it to add more precise notes)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2021 - WineTimeFineTime Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very different style for me - strong fruit and well-integrated acid, clear and vibrant pencil shavings, cedar, anise. Was big and bold even with balsamic marinated steak - impressive, but given the lack of familiarity here, I’m not sure if this is ‘ready’ yet or not. I have a second and will hold that at least another year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2020 - Gerbos Likes this wine: 90 Points
Luftad i drygt 3h. Kompakt struktur med klassiska Musar-noter. Medium + kropp. Till skillnad från vissa årgångar så gifter sig syran och sötman i ett slags florsocker toppad sötsur bärkompott, istället för att bryta av mot varandra. Avsaknaden, i jämförelse med andra årgångar, av tanniner stör mig inte nämnvärt men kan komma att påverka lagringspotentialen. Jag tror dock att det här vinet kan utvecklas mycket under ett längre tidspann.
Ett fruktansvärt prisvärt vin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2020 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
High acidity. Lots of depth. Similar to Amarone?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2020 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsaut, one third of each. The vintage 2013 in Beqaa began quite wet and snowy, followed by a cool April, resulting in an exceptionally verdant May. The summer was quite normal until a spell of exceptional heat in August, boosting the sugars of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan - but not Cinsaut, for some reason, which was ultimately harvested later than the other two varieties. Fermented spontaneously - and at an atypically slow pace - in concrete, aged in oak barrels for a year. Blended together in the spring of 2016, left to marry for a few months and bottled in summer 2016. 14% alcohol. Decanted for a few hours before tasting the wine fully blind.
Quite dark and almost fully opaque blackish-red color with a youthful, subtly crimson hue. Sweetish, nuanced and quite seductive nose with aromas of blueberries, some Sun Maid raisins, a little bit of wizened figs, light liqueur-ish hints of VA, a hint of wild strawberry and a touch of sun-baked earth. Apart from the subtly lifted streak of VA, the nose feels quite clean for a Musar. Contrasting the lush, sweet-toned nose, the wine is surprisingly firm and focused on the palate with a medium body. Ripe, bright and slightly sweet-toned flavors of boysenberries and sweet black cherries, some plummy tones, a little bit of sun-baked earth, light stony mineral tones, a lifted hint of kirsch-y liqueur-ish VA and a touch of fragrant, exotic spices. The overall feel is enjoyably structured, thanks to the high acidity and rather grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is long, juicy and quite grippy with clean flavors of boysenberries, some strawberries, a little bit of ripe black cherry, light earthy notes of sandy soil, spicy hints of exotic spices and phenolic peppery character and a crunchy touch of tart cranberries.
My first guess was a young vintage of Musar, to the astonishment of the person who brought the wine. I must say I was initially confused about this wine, since it certainly did have the air of a young Musar to it, yet it didn't fit the profile of any of the recent vintages of Musar I had had - but I had not heard that the 2013 vintage was released already! So, in effect, this is archetypal Musar, but also distinctive enough not to be confused with any of the recent vintages. The overall feel here is youthful and fruity, but at the same time very promising with the firm structure - especially the tannins are still quite much to the fore, which doesn't really bother me one bit. The overall feel is a bit lighter compared to the noticeably weightier (and somewhat softer) 2011 and 2012 vintages, coming across more similar to the more tightly-knit (but also more volatile) 2010 vintage. All in all, a very promising vintage that is easily going to improve for another decade or two. Unlike the past two vintages, this seems like a vintage I need to start stocking up. Solid value at 39,99€.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/18/2020 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Youthful but approachable. Generous fruit, sweet, exotic spices, cedar, sweet tobacco. Very nice. 91-92+ Keep.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2020 - MalcolmV Likes this wine:
Chateau Musar Tasting with Jane Sowter and the Dulwich Wine Society: Meaty nose with a hint of smoke. TCP or Laphroag.
Maple cured bacon, smoke and orange peel on the palate. Long, savoury, round.
Q: 3/4
P:2/3
X: 3/3
Total: 8/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2020 - GonzaloManzaneda wrote: 89 Points
Primera impresión con un Chateau Musar y la verdad es que esperaba algo diferente/mejor. Tal vez sea joven y un infanticidio habérselo bebido tan joven pero boh... Mucha sensación de madera y ahumados. Fruta en nariz también pero el ahumado ha estado presente todo el rato. Taninos pulidos. Le daremos otra oportunidad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2020 - barrkel wrote: 89 Points
This was disappointing compared to my previous Musar, a 2011 I had last year. That was rich and unctuous; this is comparatively thin, both sweet and sour, with a pronounced cow manure odour wafting out of the glass (I'm swirling the decanter hoping to get rid of it). Tannins are relatively short. There's a savoury seam running through it, though, which adds interest. The cork on my bottle was quite dry at the top end, which makes me wonder about the storage conditions - bought from Wine Society.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2020 - wlayne Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is far more open than other young Musars I’ve had. Still a bit coiled and definitely needs some time in the cellar to really express itself but worth opening a bottle if you have some. Has all the signs of being a great vintage for this producer and wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment