Musar @ Mohsen

An interesting evening to say the least. All the stars seemed to align to enhance every known Musar fault and then distribute them from bottle to bottle. Musar at it's worst and not one to convert a sceptic. It had to be a 'root day', but no, Alex checked and, yes, a fruit day. Bother. As a Musar-lover it had me worrying a bit. The 70s and 80s were good (88 a bit below par though), almost every wine from the 90s was riddled with VA and showed extremely poorly compared to previous bottles that I've enjoyed at home. Maybe Musar just doesn't travel? I think the verdict was one of extreme bottle variation (and though this is the reputation it was the first time I'd seen it in action). Anyway another fun evening, lovely Iranian food and excellent vfm. Thanks to Julian for organising and to everyone for their interesting wines! I'll bury my bottles from the 90s for a decade and wait, fingers crossed.

• 1998 Chateau Musar Blanc

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Mid gold. Quite a full, oxidative nose but quite muted on the palate. Pretty neutral. A bit lacking. **(*)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Chateau Musar Blanc

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Mid to deep hold. Full on the palate, rich and waxy. Long. Still not quite resolved on the finish, almost there. ***(*)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1990 Chateau Musar Blanc

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Deep gold. Nose quite muted. Quite smooth and minerally on the palate. Very complete. lovely. ****

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1995 Chateau Musar Rosé

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Slightly floral, minerally nose, quite inviting. Hmm, not so sure on palate, a bit disjointed and a little rough. **

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1970 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Cloudy mid garnet. Musar more, sweet-fruited, a hint of cleanish barnyard and garrigue. Acidity comes through on the finish but the more is nicely nature claret-like. Improves through the evening.****

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1977 Chateau Musar Flawed

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Tighter, slightly caramel and lifted VA nose. Corked on palate. Shame. **** potential.

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 1988 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Meaty, dark fruit, well-aged beef, herbs and a slightly minty element. Still quite tight. Not the best bottle of 88 but ****

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1980 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Sweet fruit, slightly spicey, bbq marinade more. A touch of soy and hoisin. Dry, quite full, a hint of sweetness on the finish. Some VA. There is a hint of corkiness but opinion divided. ***

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1989 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Lovely sweet-fruited nose. Smooth, mellow, complex, quite long. Lovely. ****1/2

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1990 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Similar nose to the 89. Sweet fruit, a little more linear. Good. Quite volatile though. ***1/2

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1991 Chateau Musar Flawed

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Atypical more for the 91. Spoofy southern Rhone nose but spoofy and VA palate. Cheap cherry brandy nose developing. Huge bottle variation here.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1993 Chateau Musar Flawed

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Strongest toffee banana more of the night. Turns out to be quite a feat. Confected rubbish. Surely faulty. Please.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1994 Chateau Musar Flawed

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Another spoofy banana VA nose. Toned down from the previous two though. Oh dear. Musar at its reputation's worst.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1995 Chateau Musar Flawed

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Better, but still a fair amount of volatility. Gaining the banana nonsense with time. Another dud bottle.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 1996 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  More of a rhoney nose. Lovely. Quite light and acidic on the palate though. *

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1997 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  VA again in the banana spectrum. Still, something beneath it at least. Quite firm still. *(*) On the might, a blend of the 96 and this was better than the individual parts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1998 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  A lovely, fresh wild strawberry nose. Quite light-flavoured, pretty acidic and simple. **

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1999 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Caramel, mildly banana nose. A bit better on the palate. Might pull together. **(*)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2000 Chateau Musar

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Mature cheddar with a touch of parmesan on the nose. Some VA coming through. Still a bit disjointed on the palate and a touch hot, but this is ok. **(*)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2003 Chateau Musar Hochar Père & Fils

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Unfortunately this one was totally overshadowed bu the aromas emminating from th ebread oven which had just been opened. Killed the nose. Stylistically a Musar but a little lighter, a bit more 'rough and ready' if you will. Decent enough. **

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2008 Chateau Musar Musar Jeune Red

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Initially rather overwhelmed by the scent being worn by a woman walking past just as this was poured, but it soon bounced back. Young good-quality beaujolais. Ripe exhuberant fruit. A different wine. Fun, friendly and no VA. Result! ***

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No