June 28, 2019 - This wasn't all that interesting initially. After close to an hour in the decanter there's this interesting note of dehydrated apple slices, grape 'Big League Chew', and camomile tea notes on the nose. The palate leads with cantaloupe, tangerine, and golden yellow apple. This is a wine of contemplation...it's not delicious, it's a wine that demands attention instead of blindly gulping and lifting the glass. Such an awesome wine...and so glad to have more for the future. Outstanding!!
December 15, 2017 - From a coravinned bottle in a restaurant, so not clear how long it might have been 'open.'
A mid salmon pink colour.
Very attractive nose. Nicely perfumed. Actual perfume perfume. Rose, musk, lavender, peach, sweet raspberry/strawberry cross, and Pond's face cream. More your granny's perfume than Chanel.
As intriguing on the palate as you'd expect from Musar. Bone dry initially, then there's creamier, richer soft red fruit with a bit of nectarine lift. Very wide and full in the mouth with creamy, rose-y red fruits. Almost a sour cherry savoury feel, with an umami richness on the finish. Remarkable length for a rosé.
September 24, 2016 - Ch. Musar Dinner with Marc Hochar (Crown Wine Cellars, 18 Deep Water Bay Drive, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): Very light rose-water colour. Nose is quite lifted but indistinct in terms of specific aromas. Palate is light peach but with an over-balance of alcohol. OK for sipping but not one for me.
June 26, 2016 - Color: Pale salmon
Smell: Melon, pear, camomile tea, and a faint hint of strawberry.
Taste: Melon, hints of red fruits, and something I still can't quite put to words.
Overall: This is a wine that deserves some thought...but we were plowing through a vertical going back to '95 so this was probably rushed...This continues to be very reminiscent of Musar Blanc for me. Given how the 2001 & 1995 showed...I think there's no need to rush them.
January 28, 2016 - Medium deep, reddish yellow peach color. Interesting, complex and curious nose with aroms of beeswax, cream, fresh tart peach, some banana pudding, a little herbal greenness and a touch of dusty earth. Dry, crisp and very intense medium-bodied palate with racy acidity. Pwoerful flavors of stony minerality, unripe gooseberry, unripe strawberry, some star fruit, a little green apple and a hint of tangy salinity. Good structure, further emphasized by the slightest hint of tannins. Long, bitter and savory finish with crisp acidity and an intense aftertaste of wet stone minerality, cranberry, red currant, some gooseberry and a hint of salinity.
A surprisingly intense, crisp and mineral rosé wine with remarkable structure and very austere character. Impressive stuff, but feels too painfully young right now. Needs several years to resolve. Recommended, but only after several years in the cellar. Expensive for a rosé at ~30€, but well worth it.
January 26, 2016 - Still very young, sweet pudding and banana, hints of pepper, does not quite yet reveal its potential, needs more years in the cellar.
November 18, 2015 - Color: Pale salmon
Smell: Melon, pear, lanolin, with a hint of red fruits
Taste: melon, hints of red fruits, and something I can't quite put to words.
Overall: This is a wine that deserves some thought...it's not meant to be rushed. In the 2 hours it was opened, it constantly changed and was ever evolving...I would also love to call this elegant. It's absolutely elegant. Light-medium body, med+ acidity, with a faint but obvious fruit presence on both the palate & nose. This is very reminiscent of Musar Blanc as missatiejacket noted below. I'm really happy with this wine...I can't wait to taste them as they age to see how they change. Outstanding. If you love Musar...this is a MUST try.
May 18, 2015 - creamy, strawberry, red fruits. ok, simple. past it's prime?
LWF, London
March 14, 2015 - This is my first Chateau Musar Rosé. Unsurprisingly, it smells a lot like Musar Blanc plus some tart red fruit. To elaborate, I get a combination of dried, fresh, and slightly bruised apple and pear fruit, a strong waxy, lanolin aroma, green tea, fresh and dried herbs, a medicinal eucalyptus note, a subtle nutty, oxidative character, and that tart red fruit. The nose is very complex, rustic, and a bit funky with the oxidative feel. The palate is fairly light, with moderate, well-integrated, alcohol, light enough for the wine to feel quite refreshing despite only medium acidity. The nutty, waxy character takes on a bit of dusty earth here, reminiscent of some Savennieres in a way. That tart red fruit is quite fresh, really lifting the otherwise oxidative orchard fruits. This is a thinker, as expected, but there's also a surprisingly refreshing delicious factor (not a helpful descriptor, I know) reminiscent of more simple, quaffable French rosés. This is in no way simple, though, with impressive complexity, deft balance thanks to that moderate, basically unnoticeable alcohol, and just enough acidity. As expected from Musar, this is a thought-provoking wine, which I have VERY rarely said about any pink wine that isn't also a sparkling wine. I am told this can age, but I think I'll prefer to drink mine while that red fruited rosé character is still nice and fresh. Outstanding.
November 7, 2014 - Beverage pairing at Minibar in DC.