July 15, 2023 - A Trottertastic Saturday (Les 2 Garçons): Magnum. We rolled the Musar dice, and ended up with double sixes: this was wonderful, especially with the food. A sublime, spicy melange on the nose, with some tobacco. More spice and some violets on the palate, and an incredible amount of fruit: deep frutti di bosco, plums and strawberry boiled sweets, all rolled into a supremely smooth, flavourful package. Yes, the finish was long and delicious too! My wine of the lunch.
December 30, 2019 - Incredibly complex mix of mature red fruit, refined aak and gentle tannins followed by dry elegant and well balanced finish. Absolutely stunning wine with another 5 years life at least.
November 21, 2019 - Tasted next to the 1981 and 1982. Darker in colour, still quite glossy in the core with some evolution around the rim. Lots of sweet dark fruit on the nose, notes of cedar, hints of bell pepper, old leather, spices, earth and leather. On the palate grip, balance, depth, acidity. Very fine tannins, wonderful fruit, very intense and vibrant. Long. A fantastic bottle! No rush drinking up. 93-95
February 22, 2019 - I have to admit that I was concerned this was past its prime. However, 20 minutes after pouring this was a dream (needed to blow off a bit of funk). So impressed with how this has stood the test of time!
November 19, 2017 - Terrible aroma. Spoiled.
November 10, 2016 - Showing her age all though still structured and holding together. Primary fruit has faded away leaving earth, mushrooms, dried fruit and spices. Dried stewed fruit finish with dates, dried cherry and figs. The grapes were very ripe in 83 and picked late due to war, according to Musar and as a result it shows a little in the wines profile. Baring that this Musar is still in a good place although not even close to the 85 i had earlier this year. Drink now.
February 24, 2016 - Nicely aged Musar, a good bottle, gooseberries, dark berries, thick meaty mouthfeel, attractively complex, drinking well now but will last and be enjoyable for years.
February 24, 2016 - From a magnum bottle.
Surprisingly deep and dark, moderate opaque color that tends more towards mahogany than garnet. A bit restrained, elegant and obviously mature nose with some oxidated nuances, yet still with bright, lively complexity. Quite dry aromas of dried dates, some roasted spices, a little sweeter pruney fruit, hints of smoke and a whiff of orange peel. Alcohol (14%) shows a little. Full-bodied and slightly concentrated palate with moderately high acidity. Complex, layered flavors of dark, plummy fruit, some oxidative dried figs, a little nutty tawny notes and a hint of plum jam. Rather modest and friendly, powdery tannins. The tannins become more pronounced and a bit grippy in the long and slightly warm finish that shows flavors of sweet dark cherry, bitter sour cherry, some roasted spices, a hint of sweet raisiny fruit and a touch of balsamico volatility in the aftertaste.
A really attractive, nicely matured and exceedingly complex Musar with some obviously matured character, yet the wine is still in wonderful condition - although getting quite close to being past its peak or some inches already past it. In its current condition the wine is simply lovely with remarkable, aged complexity and an endless ray of interesting, intermingling nuances. Wonderful stuff. Judging by this wine, drink rather sooner than later.
January 15, 2016 - Davyd's Birthday Excuse for a celebration 2016 (Kallang Way Extra Space): Tasted blind. Pop and poured. Drank over 3 hours.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose is clean (no brett here), medium intensity, with aromas of earth, sweet spices, red cherries, slight soy sauce with more air. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), fully integrated medium- tannins, medium body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of cola, sweet spices, sweet red cherries, slight earth. Medium- finish.
Very good quality. This tasted more like an aged New World Pinot Noir than a Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan blend!
Drink up now. This is already on a decline with intensity dropping.
November 5, 2015 - WCC Blind Tasting of Chateau Musar and Chateau Montrose (Salty's Pub & Bistro, Clifton Park, NY): [Double decanted for one hour the previous evening.] Off. Corked. Or maybe it was my glass since others like it a lot.