Had for NYE. N Cherry, leather, balsamic, funk, spice P Cherry, leather, funk, earth, iron, hints of balsamic F above average in length, decent structure. Showed well after extended airing, nose was really nice, was nervous about the cork which crumbled.
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Tasted a few Musar side by side against some Pauillacs. WE loved the Musars for their aromatic complexity, many of them did not have too much funk (aka Brett) as I observed in bottles before but a nice nose of musk, underbrush, sweet spices and more red than dark berries. There is a good portion of Carrignan and Cinsault next to CabSav in these wines. This makes the wine a bit lighter than a Bordeaux and also higher pitched in the aromatics. So after having tasted the 1989 (93, the lightest of all of them), 1999/2004 (94, aromatic, good mid mouth presence), 2001 (NR, light cork) we concluded that these wines are better to be compared against a South of France Blend than a Bordeaux blend.
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Brownish ruby. Nose: Animal, meaty, iron (these typical Musar notes seem milder, more balanced here compared to younger vintages) mixed with sweet black fruit and light herbal notes. Similar notes on the palate, round, tart, good structure. Clearer mushroom notes with time to breathe but not much further development. 92-94.
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Colour shows full maturity. Very much a Musar nose with funky wild nose of leather, red fruit and strong barnyard note. The palate shows a lots of complexity with roasted meat and red fruit dominating. Slightly disjointed moderate finish. This bottle was likely past its prime.
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This bottle was a huge disappointment, imported by Negotiants USA Inc in Sonoma, CA. It's missing the magic of any of the bottles that I've had in the past that Broadbent imported, it honestly reminded me of a bad blend of California Cabernet, Carignan, and Cinsault. Over-oaked, and stewed red fruits...I'm never buying another bottle of Musar imported by this company again. I would recommend anyone that likes Musar AVOID wines imported by this company.
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From a half bottle. Excellent pale colour. Long cork. Fresh nose of dark fruit and spices, typical of Musar, Bordeaux like but with something extra and typical. Long, smooth, harmonious to drink. Clearly old but perfectly presented. Dark fruit, complexity and a hint of olives. Reminds me that I have often quoted Musar as my favorite wine. Excellent.
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Double decanted for sediment and drunk over two nights
There is wildness to the nose. Meat and blood, leather, dark berry fruits, rusty nails, iodine, and asphalt. Savory and herbal as much as fruit driven. Full bodied, rich and layered. Wild, dark, more rusty nails, asphalt, roasted rare meat, with some white pepper that adds to the fruit and earthy main themes. A complicated, very long, world class wine. It gained in fruit and depth overnight. Early peak. 93
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Light almost Burgundy color. Mature floral nose. Red fruit with shuttle forest floor nose. With an hour of air the taste is crisp crushed red fruit and seared meat. Excellent wine and time to drink. I would not recommend another 10 years in the cellar but this bottle was from Acker Auction.
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From magnum. A dividing wine. Some loved it, but I found a troubling amount of VA in it - it had some tart and edgy notes due to this. Otherwise it was nice and typical.
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Musar Dinner (Tim's, SF): Purchased at Hedonism-London last week. Double-decanted at 10:45 am Base neck fill, cork is soaked through with some crud on the exposed end. Right out of the bottle, thin and volatile, bretty and watery with just a hint of intense tertiary black fruit. Might be slightly corked.
At dinner: Definitely corked
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A really good wine that perhaps suffered next to illustrious company. Complex and exotic aromas of incense, hard spices, and also leather and earthy smells that initially were clean and pure but after 15 minutes or so began to show a volatility that was distracting. Still, balanced and lovely wine. but next to 66 Haut Brion and 58 Cappellano, not easy.
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Aged mature tones have tamed volatility typical of younger vintages, this vintage is attractively light and refined, pinot-type of elegance, good structure, drinking very well now.
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Translucent, medium-deep cherry red color with a developed mahogany hue. Utterly ravishing, complex, even Burgundian nose; I really don't favor those sexist descriptors, but many people attending the tasting described the nose as "feminine". Delicate, layered aromas of violets, dark cherry, savory cedar wood, some sweet acetone VA, a little leather and a hint of truffles and sous-bois. As delicate and exquisite in the mouth as the nose suggests with complex, nuanced flavors of sweet dark cherry, sunny plummy fruit, dates, freshly picked figs, some complex Moroccan spice, notes of sour cherry, a little dusty earth, a hint of raisins and a touch of balsamic VA. Medium body, good bright acidity and some slight grip from resolved, powdery tannins. Very long, complex and layered finish with intermingling nuances of sweet plummy fruit, sour cherry, leather, peppery spice, some cedar and a hint of sticky, raisiny sweetness.
As perfect as a Musar can be, and as I consider red Musars as the epitome of red wines, the wine is rated accordingly. This is a wonderful example of a good vintage Musar at its peak: incredible depth, complexity and concentration of flavor without any heaviness, dullness and tiredness of an old wine. Despite its impressive habitus, the wine still manages to come across as surprisingly delicate and elegant. Truly a remarkable and unique wine of exceeding finesse. I can't see the wine evolving much anymore, but it is still in surprisingly good condition and will probably hold for many years, if not for decades.
Celebrating Doug's Birthday...; 11/8/2015-11/9/2015: Honestly...this tastes off. I'm not sure I can pin-point what's wrong...but this does not taste like my past experiences with this wine...muted nose, muted fruits, not bad...but not impressive.
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Was delighted to find this on the wine list yesterday evening. Cork was in excellent condition - rare for an older Musar. Clear vibrant healthy lightish red colour. It started off with waves of raspberry, orange peel and balsamic cherry, with plenty of acidity and real freshness, but definitely and unashamably Musar. Over the next two hours it grew in stature adding cloves and eastern spices and some reassuring farmyard funk. Fantastic wine, always unique, and (if a good bottle) always a showstopper. I hope my collection of 1999 tastes like this in 10 years time!
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $60+ (Bin 75): Aged, sediment, rusty rim with brick at the core, see through; aged, soy, fennel, caraway, leather, red fruit, mineral; spices, hard red fruit, nice richness, brick dust, fuller, sappy, mineral, nice structure; aged on the nose but palate still pretty fresh; thought this was an aged Burgundian styled CdP as it seemed more Burgundian but looking back the strong autumnal notes that I failed to take note of and the super sappy mid palate should have led me to Musar.
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19 Vintages of Musar Rouge; 1/25/2015-1/26/2015 (Clark Point House in Southwest Harbor, Maine): Color: Deep ruby core minimal bricking and eventually a clear meniscus. Smell: Gorgonzola cheese it the initial & dominant scent followed by cement floor, leather, smoked/charred meats, white tea, and tobacco. Taste: blackberries, blueberries, mushrooms, black cherry, and clove. Overall: In the mouth this is all power, med+ body, med+ acidity, med+ tannin. There is an immense density that calls to mind the vision of the iron fist in a velvet glove. This is an outstanding Musar...yet it suffers when side by side with the '88. In honor of Bart Broadbent who made tasting the '84 Rouge possible I'll use the five * system. (***/*)
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Wine Education Service - Château Musar (LSE): Brown with a bricky rim, translucent. A mature nose, gamey with sweet ripe fruit (figs). Fruity with fantastic acidity, nicely integrated, a delicious old wine.
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2015 New Year's Day Tasting- Double Blind $80+ (Marietta, GA): Dull crimson, aged, no sediment (in my glass at least); caraway, celery seed, leather, sour red fruit, black tea, nutty, brown baking spice, thinner due to age, still good life; intense fruit, medicinal cherry, slight orange peel, nutty, autumnal, great mouthfeel, Rhone-ish with a hint of Bordeaux character; very correct, should have gone to Musar right away; similar aging pattern as Quintarelli too- a long plateau where the wine just doesn't decline, great stuff!
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Musarathon (Riga): 2h decant. Garnet-brick colour. Intense, deep nose of Creme de Cassis, sweet and smoky aromas, some leather, dark chocolate, pepper, slight barnyard in the beginning but it quickly dissipates. Medium body, high accidity, very long finish. Smoky cranberries on the palate and finish. An intelectual, interesting wine. (B+)
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I think this has seen its prime but is gracefully declining, bricked almost throughout, it's fully mature, almost delicate, very tasty but no better than that
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"Best bottle for about 100 Euro" (Daniels Home): Colour: Cloudy red, looks like a unfiltrated natural wine. Nose: Super funky nose. First impression was cowshed & cat pan (yeah really!) but with some air the nose gets better, showing cherries, wild strawberry underlaid with a sweetness, eucalyptus and a hint of turpentine. Palate: The wine shows a lively acidity, good lenght and enough tension. Appeals slender. Tannins are still there.
My first Musar from my birth vintage was a very polarising juice nevertheless I liked it. Drink up now.
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Very unappealing, unpleaseant nose but very interesting on the palate: Spices, hints of mint and eucalyptus, strong but well integrated tanins and acidity, medium+ finish. Quite interesting wine.
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Decanted for one hour. Light colour, lovely nose and great length. Still some acidity which keeps it fresh. A great wine and my last bottle. Suspect no hurry to drink up.
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WES - Château Musar Vertical (LSE Holborn): Low intensity. Clear and bright. Very perfumed nose with some intensity. Vegetal, sweet fruit lying underneath. Rich, textured, complex, layered. Still some fruit but more secondary notes of spice and coffee and chocolate.
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Wine Education Service - Château Musar (LSE): Translucent, mahogany. Very attractive development on the nose, fruity perfume. Very complex, a wine for contemplation, sweet fruit, great balancing acidity, great length.
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Blind Tasting on a Saturday Night (Woodley Park - Washington, DC): Tasted blind from a decanter, this wine evolved and changed like waves in an approaching storm. I was guessing 20-year-old Bordeaux, 15-year-old Chateauneuf, but I knew it was unlike anything I'd tasted before. Was thrilled to see it was a Musar, as I have very limited experience with these wines, and no experience with Musar this old. A rusty-ruby color in the glass. Shifting and evolving aromas of bright cherries, wild strawberry, pepper and leather. The palate is really tangy with brisk acid. Crisp red apple and cherry flavors mix with seriously herbal aspects of bay leaf, brine, soy and wet leaves. The acid lingers long onto the finish, which is seamless and balanced. A beauty. Thanks, Brett!
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Some sweet, aged leatheriness, plum, rocky mountain, excellent acidity, mild barnyard. Outstanding! Tasted blind, I had no idea what it was but went with aged CdP. Thanks Brett and Alyssa!
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Tasted blind. Nose of funk, leather, cherry, olive. Palate of cherry, high quality leather, iron. Finish was long in length, good structure. brought this wine, so knew what it was. Really nice, happy I have another bottle, even though I was worried with the crumbling cork.
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Wow. This was ready to rock with only cursory decanting. Mature crimson color, starting to show brickish auburn tones. Nose was astoundingly layered and dense straightaway. Starting with light sweet notes of marzipan and almond, this transitioned seamlessly into dark chocolate and brandied cherry, into a full bouquet of anise, thyme, herbs, and finally a great rocky "terra rossa" base. Diverse without ever losing concentration. If you forced me to guess blind, I would have said this was a top tier Pomerol or Barolo- never Lebanon. The palate was mature, with an echo of the nose's chocolate and brandied cherry flavors, coated with a dusty veneer. Slight tannic bite, but overall I'd say this is drinking perfectly right this moment. Magnificent, and a magnificent surprise.
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Wow. If you like old world style, this is the wine for you. I would personally recommend a decanting as there will be a good amount of sediment and the wine can use about 30-40 minutes of generous air before pouring. Though the cork on the bottle I tasted was quite spongy and saturated, the wine was excellent. Bursting with aromas of dried herbs and bright red fruits, this light bodied red delivers on the palate with tart cherry and soft tannin. The finish is medium and refreshing.
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Five Decades of Chateau Musar....with Serge Hochar (Shanghai Room, Langham Place Hotel, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong): Tasted blind as one of 12 vintages over 5 decades. Small serving. Looks by far the oldest wine judging from its light transparent amber colour. Nose is very mature and powdered but past its prime, like a film star in her 70s who would still have been a show-stopper in her 50s. Palate is very sharp, cherry-flavoured boiled sweets that used to take the roof off your mouth as a schoolkid. Finish is all an elegant 70-year old lady's talcum-powdered elegance. A faded beauty. My #6, group's #6......but, aha, revealed afterwards to have been the only wine served from 375ml bottles, hence more aged.
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Dinner with Sierra Doc (Copperopolis, CA): Color: Ruby with light bricking meniscus Smell: Earth, cement floor, sweet notes of tobacco, clove, dried fruits, and floral notes that almost seemed slightly reductive initially with a hint of sage and other herbs, and cigar box. Taste: dried black and red fruit, spice box, gingerbread, and orange rind all blend in together making other earthy, and rustic flavors difficult to identify. Overall: This really needed about 2+ hours in the decanter to open up and start to show what it has to offer. Still youthful, and years ahead of it...I'm certain. light-medium body, medium acid, medium+ fruit, and a medium-long finish. Outstanding
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Mature, bricking at the edge color. Wonderful nose of well integrated fruit, chocolate, saddle leather. Awesome tast that was as good as the nose. The level of cherry/rasberry fruit showing was impressive along with a solid backbone of tobacco and saddle leather.
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Wine Education Service - Château Musar (LSE): Mahogany. Meaty nose with germolene, no fruit. Sweet, balanced, smooth mid palate, elegant, very long. The taste certainly makes up for the nose.
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Pale rose salmon colour, slight cloudiness. Bouquet there is a mustiness, almost corked like up front that fades to rich red fruit, leather. Palate; soft red fruit, well integrated, soft wood leather, but still red fruit dominated. Lacked complexity and starting to fade. Need to drink up. Good; 84 pts. (924 views)
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Wine Education Service - Château Musar - 80th Anniversary Tasting (Imperial College): Initially this was musty, you'd think it was flawed, but five minutes in the glass was rewarded by a gradual replacement of the mustiness by fruitiness growing to an abundance of dried fruits. In the taste the sweet fruit attack gives way to a very dry mid palate. Initially the mustiness is there in the taste, then it disappears and allows you to really enjoy this wonderful wine.
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Musar & Pinot (L'Abat Jour, London): Quite polished, a little more so than last week's bottle.Quite fat and leggy. A touch of volatility creeping in here but nothing cf the 95. Very pleasant indeed. ***1/2
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Another gathering on the island (66 Mouton, Lascombes, Musar, and photos...) (Scott Worcester's in Southwest Harbor, ME): I think it was my friend who said if the 91 Musar is Paris Hilton, the 89 is Sophia Loren. What a showcase of elegance and beauty. Pale red in the glass with an exotic nose full of floral tones, red fruits, earth, funk, and just a hint of cement dust. In the mouth this was very light initially and picked up weight with air time. Flavors of red fruits, earth, baking spices, cinnamon, and clove were followed by a lingering note of wild strawberries and raspberries on the finish.
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Wine Education Service - Château Musar Vertical (Imperial College): Translucent mahogany. A slightly difficult, very complex nose, meaty, sherry, with caramelised vegetables. Sweet attack, very meaty, good balance, a fascinating richness, a very tasty Musar of great length.
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WES - Château Musar Vertical (Imperial College London): Light intensity - almost like a Pinot! Brownish. Old wine smell, very acidic - cured meats. Light on the palate, subtle with a touch of marmite and the cured meats following through.
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very pale light crimson colour with brownish tinge, deep gentle bouquet very sweet red cherry, leather, spicy, farmyard, herbs, aromatic wood. Taste; big red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, cigar box, tobacco, mint herbs, long on flavour. Lots of complexity, still not as good as the 91 or 93 but nevertheless very enjoyable
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I've tasted many vintages of Musar, but I think this was my first '89. First impression was a very light colour with expected browning. However, in the glass, the vibrant colour gradually appeared. Very dry and smoky. Lasted well in the glass. Drinking well, but possibly past its peak.
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Pale rose salmon colour, slight cloudiness. Bouquet rich red fruit, jammy, raisins, leather. Palate; soft red fruit, well integrated, soft wood leather, hint of spice but fruit dominated. Lacked complexity of the 91 and 93. Time to drink up. Good; 84 pts.
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very pale watery light crimson colour with brownish tinge, deep gentle bouquet very sweet red cherry, leather, spicy, farmyard, herbs, aromatic wood. very light bodied,. Taste; quite acidic, big red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, cigar box, tobacco, mint herbs, long on flavour. Excellent but I dont know how long this can keep further ?
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Some Tuscans (Kungsholmen, Stockholm): Beautiful aged color. After a dusty, wet-wooly smell cleared off, some fruit and a farmyard smell, a bit burnt, revealed itself. Not the most pleasant of smells, but the taste is much better: caramel, fruits, plums, warm fiery acids, balanced, elegant and completely mature, maybe a bit over the top. A survivor.
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i know we are supposed to stick to describing the wine here but forgive me dear readers. can't help but notice an enormous number of viewers of previous reviews in the context of such small bottle ownership. is there a secret society of musar lovers out there somewhere? also, would love to know which member thinks the wine will live 10 more years. anyway, my bottle was exquisite. the wine maker is a true bordeaux disciple. the cork was pristine with just the slightest penetration of liquid along the shank. some crystal deposits. on initial pour color seemed a little brown but was bright crimson in the glass with just a hint of fading at the rim. fruit has started to turn a little with hints of plum turning to prune. still quite delectable however. i believe it has enough backbone to go another year but would be hesitant to keep much longer than that.
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Tasting of six vintages, third place. Closed nose, opened slowly but very fragrant with red cherry fruit, more of the same on the palate, lovely fruit, medium body and medium finish with hints of very soft tannins.
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Tip-top Musar. A touch of farmyard (only a touch), loads of V/A, piercing acidity, but there's so much fragrant fruit to support it and the finish goes on and on and on. Lovely wine.
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Off-putting murky colour, dirty red and not clear. Little funk on the nose, brightly acidic as well. Upfront and lively tart cherry acid. Some dusty notes and a nice finish with cedar and slightly soured fruit. Very enjoyable with lamb kabobs. Probably a touch over the hill, but still a winner considering the lottery of older Musars.
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5/21/2023 - Tony Molester wrote: flawed
From auction. Ullage was low shoulder. Cork was barely in place. Lots of signs of seepage. Tasted twice over 3h. The wine was spoiled.
14%abv
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12/31/2020 - manonthemoon wrote: 92 Points
Had for NYE.
N Cherry, leather, balsamic, funk, spice
P Cherry, leather, funk, earth, iron, hints of balsamic
F above average in length, decent structure.
Showed well after extended airing, nose was really nice, was nervous about the cork which crumbled.
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10/24/2020 - Boone's Farm Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful aromatics. Completely integrated. Lite on the palate. Elegant red fruit and mineral flavors with hints of asian spices. Very nice wine.
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7/1/2020 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Tasted a few Musar side by side against some Pauillacs. WE loved the Musars for their aromatic complexity, many of them did not have too much funk (aka Brett) as I observed in bottles before but a nice nose of musk, underbrush, sweet spices and more red than dark berries. There is a good portion of Carrignan and Cinsault next to CabSav in these wines. This makes the wine a bit lighter than a Bordeaux and also higher pitched in the aromatics. So after having tasted the 1989 (93, the lightest of all of them), 1999/2004 (94, aromatic, good mid mouth presence), 2001 (NR, light cork) we concluded that these wines are better to be compared against a South of France Blend than a Bordeaux blend.
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11/22/2019 - sharonandroland wrote: flawed
Maderised and oxidised - cork fell in
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11/5/2019 - ZMAng Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brownish ruby. Nose: Animal, meaty, iron (these typical Musar notes seem milder, more balanced here compared to younger vintages) mixed with sweet black fruit and light herbal notes. Similar notes on the palate, round, tart, good structure. Clearer mushroom notes with time to breathe but not much further development. 92-94.
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7/13/2019 - Herb K wrote:
Spectacular! Fresh fruit and smooth tannins. Blueberries.
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6/29/2019 - Milos wrote: 90 Points
Colour shows full maturity. Very much a Musar nose with funky wild nose of leather, red fruit and strong barnyard note. The palate shows a lots of complexity with roasted meat and red fruit dominating. Slightly disjointed moderate finish. This bottle was likely past its prime.
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9/29/2018 - Kirk Grant wrote:
This bottle was a huge disappointment, imported by Negotiants USA Inc in Sonoma, CA. It's missing the magic of any of the bottles that I've had in the past that Broadbent imported, it honestly reminded me of a bad blend of California Cabernet, Carignan, and Cinsault. Over-oaked, and stewed red fruits...I'm never buying another bottle of Musar imported by this company again. I would recommend anyone that likes Musar AVOID wines imported by this company.
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6/17/2018 - AsiaTraveller88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
From a half bottle. Excellent pale colour. Long cork. Fresh nose of dark fruit and spices, typical of Musar, Bordeaux like but with something extra and typical. Long, smooth, harmonious to drink. Clearly old but perfectly presented. Dark fruit, complexity and a hint of olives. Reminds me that I have often quoted Musar as my favorite wine. Excellent.
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2/8/2018 - cct wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted for sediment and drunk over two nights
There is wildness to the nose. Meat and blood, leather, dark berry fruits, rusty nails, iodine, and asphalt. Savory and herbal as much as fruit driven. Full bodied, rich and layered. Wild, dark, more rusty nails, asphalt, roasted rare meat, with some white pepper that adds to the fruit and earthy main themes. A complicated, very long, world class wine. It gained in fruit and depth overnight. Early peak. 93
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11/22/2017 - Bordeauxman wrote: 91 Points
Light almost Burgundy color. Mature floral nose. Red fruit with shuttle forest floor nose. With an hour of air the taste is crisp crushed red fruit and seared meat. Excellent wine and time to drink. I would not recommend another 10 years in the cellar but this bottle was from Acker Auction.
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1/20/2017 - AV2012 wrote: 87 Points
From magnum. A dividing wine. Some loved it, but I found a troubling amount of VA in it - it had some tart and edgy notes due to this. Otherwise it was nice and typical.
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12/15/2016 - RajivAyyangar wrote: flawed
Musar Dinner (Tim's, SF): Purchased at Hedonism-London last week. Double-decanted at 10:45 am
Base neck fill, cork is soaked through with some crud on the exposed end.
Right out of the bottle, thin and volatile, bretty and watery with just a hint of intense tertiary black fruit.
Might be slightly corked.
At dinner: Definitely corked
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5/20/2016 - brooklynguy wrote:
A really good wine that perhaps suffered next to illustrious company. Complex and exotic aromas of incense, hard spices, and also leather and earthy smells that initially were clean and pure but after 15 minutes or so began to show a volatility that was distracting. Still, balanced and lovely wine. but next to 66 Haut Brion and 58 Cappellano, not easy.
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2/24/2016 - Lype Likes this wine: 91 Points
Aged mature tones have tamed volatility typical of younger vintages, this vintage is attractively light and refined, pinot-type of elegance, good structure, drinking very well now.
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2/24/2016 - forceberry wrote: 99 Points
Translucent, medium-deep cherry red color with a developed mahogany hue. Utterly ravishing, complex, even Burgundian nose; I really don't favor those sexist descriptors, but many people attending the tasting described the nose as "feminine". Delicate, layered aromas of violets, dark cherry, savory cedar wood, some sweet acetone VA, a little leather and a hint of truffles and sous-bois. As delicate and exquisite in the mouth as the nose suggests with complex, nuanced flavors of sweet dark cherry, sunny plummy fruit, dates, freshly picked figs, some complex Moroccan spice, notes of sour cherry, a little dusty earth, a hint of raisins and a touch of balsamic VA. Medium body, good bright acidity and some slight grip from resolved, powdery tannins. Very long, complex and layered finish with intermingling nuances of sweet plummy fruit, sour cherry, leather, peppery spice, some cedar and a hint of sticky, raisiny sweetness.
As perfect as a Musar can be, and as I consider red Musars as the epitome of red wines, the wine is rated accordingly. This is a wonderful example of a good vintage Musar at its peak: incredible depth, complexity and concentration of flavor without any heaviness, dullness and tiredness of an old wine. Despite its impressive habitus, the wine still manages to come across as surprisingly delicate and elegant. Truly a remarkable and unique wine of exceeding finesse. I can't see the wine evolving much anymore, but it is still in surprisingly good condition and will probably hold for many years, if not for decades.
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11/8/2015 - Kirk Grant wrote:
Celebrating Doug's Birthday...; 11/8/2015-11/9/2015: Honestly...this tastes off. I'm not sure I can pin-point what's wrong...but this does not taste like my past experiences with this wine...muted nose, muted fruits, not bad...but not impressive.
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11/5/2015 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
WCC Blind Tasting of Chateau Musar and Chateau Montrose (Salty's Pub & Bistro, Clifton Park, NY): [Double decanted for two hours the previous evening.] Mulch and red fruit nose. Complex, long, sweet, interesting.
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8/20/2015 - TheMajor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Was delighted to find this on the wine list yesterday evening. Cork was in excellent condition - rare for an older Musar. Clear vibrant healthy lightish red colour. It started off with waves of raspberry, orange peel and balsamic cherry, with plenty of acidity and real freshness, but definitely and unashamably Musar. Over the next two hours it grew in stature adding cloves and eastern spices and some reassuring farmyard funk. Fantastic wine, always unique, and (if a good bottle) always a showstopper. I hope my collection of 1999 tastes like this in 10 years time!
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8/18/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tuesday Night Double Blind $60+ (Bin 75): Aged, sediment, rusty rim with brick at the core, see through; aged, soy, fennel, caraway, leather, red fruit, mineral; spices, hard red fruit, nice richness, brick dust, fuller, sappy, mineral, nice structure; aged on the nose but palate still pretty fresh; thought this was an aged Burgundian styled CdP as it seemed more Burgundian but looking back the strong autumnal notes that I failed to take note of and the super sappy mid palate should have led me to Musar.
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1/25/2015 - Kirk Grant wrote:
19 Vintages of Musar Rouge; 1/25/2015-1/26/2015 (Clark Point House in Southwest Harbor, Maine): Color: Deep ruby core minimal bricking and eventually a clear meniscus.
Smell: Gorgonzola cheese it the initial & dominant scent followed by cement floor, leather, smoked/charred meats, white tea, and tobacco.
Taste: blackberries, blueberries, mushrooms, black cherry, and clove.
Overall: In the mouth this is all power, med+ body, med+ acidity, med+ tannin. There is an immense density that calls to mind the vision of the iron fist in a velvet glove. This is an outstanding Musar...yet it suffers when side by side with the '88. In honor of Bart Broadbent who made tasting the '84 Rouge possible I'll use the five * system. (***/*)
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1/22/2015 - tendring Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wine Education Service - Château Musar (LSE): Brown with a bricky rim, translucent.
A mature nose, gamey with sweet ripe fruit (figs).
Fruity with fantastic acidity, nicely integrated, a delicious old wine.
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1/1/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 93 Points
2015 New Year's Day Tasting- Double Blind $80+ (Marietta, GA): Dull crimson, aged, no sediment (in my glass at least); caraway, celery seed, leather, sour red fruit, black tea, nutty, brown baking spice, thinner due to age, still good life; intense fruit, medicinal cherry, slight orange peel, nutty, autumnal, great mouthfeel, Rhone-ish with a hint of Bordeaux character; very correct, should have gone to Musar right away; similar aging pattern as Quintarelli too- a long plateau where the wine just doesn't decline, great stuff!
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7/31/2014 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 95 Points
Kjellerfunn! Fantastisk vin, østlige aromaer, mandler, mørk sjokolade, søte tanniner, pen syre. Delikat, faktisk.
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5/19/2014 - AV2012 wrote: 89 Points
Musarathon (Riga): 2h decant.
Garnet-brick colour. Intense, deep nose of Creme de Cassis, sweet and smoky aromas, some leather, dark chocolate, pepper, slight barnyard in the beginning but it quickly dissipates. Medium body, high accidity, very long finish. Smoky cranberries on the palate and finish. An intelectual, interesting wine. (B+)
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4/7/2014 - kingkanu wrote: 90 Points
I think this has seen its prime but is gracefully declining, bricked almost throughout, it's fully mature, almost delicate, very tasty but no better than that
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3/9/2014 - m_arcon wrote: 92 Points
"Best bottle for about 100 Euro" (Daniels Home): Colour: Cloudy red, looks like a unfiltrated natural wine.
Nose: Super funky nose. First impression was cowshed & cat pan (yeah really!) but with some air the nose gets better, showing cherries, wild strawberry underlaid with a sweetness, eucalyptus and a hint of turpentine.
Palate: The wine shows a lively acidity, good lenght and enough tension. Appeals slender. Tannins are still there.
My first Musar from my birth vintage was a very polarising juice nevertheless I liked it. Drink up now.
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3/9/2014 - NoTrollingerPlease wrote: 91 Points
Very unappealing, unpleaseant nose but very interesting on the palate: Spices, hints of mint and eucalyptus, strong but well integrated tanins and acidity, medium+ finish. Quite interesting wine.
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2/14/2014 - Bromie wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for one hour. Light colour, lovely nose and great length. Still some acidity which keeps it fresh. A great wine and my last bottle. Suspect no hurry to drink up.
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1/30/2014 - hadwin Likes this wine: 95 Points
WES - Château Musar Vertical (LSE Holborn): Low intensity. Clear and bright. Very perfumed nose with some intensity. Vegetal, sweet fruit lying underneath. Rich, textured, complex, layered. Still some fruit but more secondary notes of spice and coffee and chocolate.
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1/30/2014 - tendring Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine Education Service - Château Musar (LSE): Translucent, mahogany.
Very attractive development on the nose, fruity perfume.
Very complex, a wine for contemplation, sweet fruit, great balancing acidity, great length.
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12/18/2013 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 98 Points
Great wine as anticipated - pale colour, ethereal bouquet, exquisite balance and long finish. Just pipped by St Hallet OB '89
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4/7/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 Points
Blind Tasting on a Saturday Night (Woodley Park - Washington, DC): Tasted blind from a decanter, this wine evolved and changed like waves in an approaching storm. I was guessing 20-year-old Bordeaux, 15-year-old Chateauneuf, but I knew it was unlike anything I'd tasted before. Was thrilled to see it was a Musar, as I have very limited experience with these wines, and no experience with Musar this old. A rusty-ruby color in the glass. Shifting and evolving aromas of bright cherries, wild strawberry, pepper and leather. The palate is really tangy with brisk acid. Crisp red apple and cherry flavors mix with seriously herbal aspects of bay leaf, brine, soy and wet leaves. The acid lingers long onto the finish, which is seamless and balanced. A beauty. Thanks, Brett!
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4/6/2013 - Beerzebub Likes this wine:
Some sweet, aged leatheriness, plum, rocky mountain, excellent acidity, mild barnyard. Outstanding! Tasted blind, I had no idea what it was but went with aged CdP. Thanks Brett and Alyssa!
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4/6/2013 - manonthemoon wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind.
Nose of funk, leather, cherry, olive.
Palate of cherry, high quality leather, iron.
Finish was long in length, good structure.
brought this wine, so knew what it was. Really nice, happy I have another bottle, even though I was worried with the crumbling cork.
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2/24/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wow. This was ready to rock with only cursory decanting. Mature crimson color, starting to show brickish auburn tones. Nose was astoundingly layered and dense straightaway. Starting with light sweet notes of marzipan and almond, this transitioned seamlessly into dark chocolate and brandied cherry, into a full bouquet of anise, thyme, herbs, and finally a great rocky "terra rossa" base. Diverse without ever losing concentration. If you forced me to guess blind, I would have said this was a top tier Pomerol or Barolo- never Lebanon. The palate was mature, with an echo of the nose's chocolate and brandied cherry flavors, coated with a dusty veneer. Slight tannic bite, but overall I'd say this is drinking perfectly right this moment. Magnificent, and a magnificent surprise.
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2/17/2013 - PJMS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow. If you like old world style, this is the wine for you. I would personally recommend a decanting as there will be a good amount of sediment and the wine can use about 30-40 minutes of generous air before pouring. Though the cork on the bottle I tasted was quite spongy and saturated, the wine was excellent. Bursting with aromas of dried herbs and bright red fruits, this light bodied red delivers on the palate with tart cherry and soft tannin. The finish is medium and refreshing.
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6/1/2012 - Goldstone wrote: 90 Points
Five Decades of Chateau Musar....with Serge Hochar (Shanghai Room, Langham Place Hotel, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong): Tasted blind as one of 12 vintages over 5 decades. Small serving. Looks by far the oldest wine judging from its light transparent amber colour. Nose is very mature and powdered but past its prime, like a film star in her 70s who would still have been a show-stopper in her 50s. Palate is very sharp, cherry-flavoured boiled sweets that used to take the roof off your mouth as a schoolkid. Finish is all an elegant 70-year old lady's talcum-powdered elegance. A faded beauty. My #6, group's #6......but, aha, revealed afterwards to have been the only wine served from 375ml bottles, hence more aged.
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5/16/2012 - Kirk Grant wrote:
Dinner with Sierra Doc (Copperopolis, CA): Color: Ruby with light bricking meniscus
Smell: Earth, cement floor, sweet notes of tobacco, clove, dried fruits, and floral notes that almost seemed slightly reductive initially with a hint of sage and other herbs, and cigar box.
Taste: dried black and red fruit, spice box, gingerbread, and orange rind all blend in together making other earthy, and rustic flavors difficult to identify.
Overall: This really needed about 2+ hours in the decanter to open up and start to show what it has to offer. Still youthful, and years ahead of it...I'm certain. light-medium body, medium acid, medium+ fruit, and a medium-long finish. Outstanding
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3/24/2012 - Bordeauxman wrote: 93 Points
Mature, bricking at the edge color. Wonderful nose of well integrated fruit, chocolate, saddle leather. Awesome tast that was as good as the nose. The level of cherry/rasberry fruit showing was impressive along with a solid backbone of tobacco and saddle leather.
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3/6/2012 - Dubie wrote: 88 Points
Great first 15 minutes, complex nose, alive in the mouth, but quickly declined. Tonight was no match to the 1978.
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10/17/2011 - tendring wrote: 88 Points
Wine Education Service - Château Musar (LSE): Mahogany.
Meaty nose with germolene, no fruit.
Sweet, balanced, smooth mid palate, elegant, very long. The taste certainly makes up for the nose.
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8/26/2011 - MRichman wrote:
Dense with perfume, prune, tight juicy tannins. Acidic backbone. On the young side.
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6/5/2011 - Dubie wrote: 91 Points
The most enjoyable bottle of the 1989s I have had. I was anxious, but the first sip did it: earthy and fruity, full of sunshine, classic Musar!
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6/21/2010 - trufflehunter wrote: 82 Points
Pale rose salmon colour, slight cloudiness. Bouquet there is a mustiness, almost corked like up front that fades to rich red fruit, leather. Palate; soft red fruit, well integrated, soft wood leather, but still red fruit dominated. Lacked complexity and starting to fade. Need to drink up. Good; 84 pts. (924 views)
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5/20/2010 - tendring Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wine Education Service - Château Musar - 80th Anniversary Tasting (Imperial College): Initially this was musty, you'd think it was flawed, but five minutes in the glass was rewarded by a gradual replacement of the mustiness by fruitiness growing to an abundance of dried fruits.
In the taste the sweet fruit attack gives way to a very dry mid palate. Initially the mustiness is there in the taste, then it disappears and allows you to really enjoy this wonderful wine.
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4/8/2010 - Dubie wrote: 88 Points
Well balanced, medium bodied... but still asleep.
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2/18/2010 - SimonG wrote:
Musar & Pinot (L'Abat Jour, London): Quite polished, a little more so than last week's bottle.Quite fat and leggy. A touch of volatility creeping in here but nothing cf the 95. Very pleasant indeed. ***1/2
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2/10/2010 - Rupert wrote: 90 Points
Musar @ Mohsen (Mohsen, Warwick Road, London): Volatile, sharp and edgy, but very substantial, perhaps could do with some more charm
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2/10/2010 - SimonG wrote:
Musar @ Mohsen (Mohsen, Warwick Road, London): Lovely sweet-fruited nose. Smooth, mellow, complex, quite long. Lovely. ****1/2
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10/23/2009 - Kirk Grant wrote: 97 Points
Another gathering on the island (66 Mouton, Lascombes, Musar, and photos...) (Scott Worcester's in Southwest Harbor, ME): I think it was my friend who said if the 91 Musar is Paris Hilton, the 89 is Sophia Loren. What a showcase of elegance and beauty. Pale red in the glass with an exotic nose full of floral tones, red fruits, earth, funk, and just a hint of cement dust. In the mouth this was very light initially and picked up weight with air time. Flavors of red fruits, earth, baking spices, cinnamon, and clove were followed by a lingering note of wild strawberries and raspberries on the finish.
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10/15/2009 - tendring Likes this wine: 87 Points
Wine Education Service - Château Musar Vertical (Imperial College): Translucent mahogany.
A slightly difficult, very complex nose, meaty, sherry, with caramelised vegetables.
Sweet attack, very meaty, good balance, a fascinating richness, a very tasty Musar of great length.
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10/15/2009 - hadwin wrote: 80 Points
WES - Château Musar Vertical (Imperial College London): Light intensity - almost like a Pinot! Brownish. Old wine smell, very acidic - cured meats. Light on the palate, subtle with a touch of marmite and the cured meats following through.
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10/14/2009 - trufflehunter wrote: 89 Points
very pale light crimson colour with brownish tinge, deep gentle bouquet very sweet red cherry, leather, spicy, farmyard, herbs, aromatic wood. Taste; big red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, cigar box, tobacco, mint herbs, long on flavour. Lots of complexity, still not as good as the 91 or 93 but nevertheless very enjoyable
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10/14/2009 - trufflehunter wrote: flawed
Vinegar. Poured away
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5/26/2009 - Keith Cooper wrote: 88 Points
I've tasted many vintages of Musar, but I think this was my first '89. First impression was a very light colour with expected browning. However, in the glass, the vibrant colour gradually appeared. Very dry and smoky. Lasted well in the glass. Drinking well, but possibly past its peak.
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4/27/2009 - trufflehunter wrote: 84 Points
Pale rose salmon colour, slight cloudiness. Bouquet rich red fruit, jammy, raisins, leather. Palate; soft red fruit, well integrated, soft wood leather, hint of spice but fruit dominated. Lacked complexity of the 91 and 93. Time to drink up. Good; 84 pts.
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2/6/2009 - trufflehunter wrote: 89 Points
very pale watery light crimson colour with brownish tinge, deep gentle bouquet very sweet red cherry, leather, spicy, farmyard, herbs, aromatic wood. very light bodied,. Taste; quite acidic, big red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, cigar box, tobacco, mint herbs, long on flavour. Excellent but I dont know how long this can keep further ?
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4/21/2008 - tendring wrote: 89 Points
Dark mahogany.
Pungent nose, caramel with a little fruitiness
Porty, fruity, sweet but dry, bitter finish, medium length.
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11/14/2007 - french16 wrote: flawed
Maderized
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9/2/2006 - magnord wrote: 90 Points
Some Tuscans (Kungsholmen, Stockholm): Beautiful aged color. After a dusty, wet-wooly smell cleared off, some fruit and a farmyard smell, a bit burnt, revealed itself. Not the most pleasant of smells, but the taste is much better: caramel, fruits, plums, warm fiery acids, balanced, elegant and completely mature, maybe a bit over the top. A survivor.
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6/1/2006 - Sommelier81 wrote: flawed
Sharp acidity and a nose of old socks! Definately cooked!
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5/9/2006 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
i know we are supposed to stick to describing the wine here but forgive me dear readers. can't help but notice an enormous number of viewers of previous reviews in the context of such small bottle ownership. is there a secret society of musar lovers out there somewhere?
also, would love to know which member thinks the wine will live 10 more years. anyway, my bottle was exquisite. the wine maker is a true bordeaux disciple. the cork was pristine with just the slightest penetration of liquid along the shank. some crystal deposits. on initial pour color seemed a little brown but was bright crimson in the glass with just a hint of fading at the rim. fruit has started to turn a little with hints of plum turning to prune. still quite delectable however. i believe it has enough backbone to go another year but would be hesitant to keep much longer than that.
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12/28/2005 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasting of six vintages, third place. Closed nose, opened slowly but very fragrant with red cherry fruit, more of the same on the palate, lovely fruit, medium body and medium finish with hints of very soft tannins.
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10/29/2005 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 96 Points
A palish raspberry red colour. Fragrant, high toned nose - glorious essence of Musar! Really attractive wine. Gorgeous. Love it. Excellent.
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10/17/2005 - tendring wrote: 86 Points
Quite dense with evident age on the rim.
Vegetal aromas, pear drops, complex.
Lots of fruit, good balance, medium length.
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7/12/2005 - Rupert wrote: 91 Points
Tip-top Musar. A touch of farmyard (only a touch), loads of V/A, piercing acidity, but there's so much fragrant fruit to support it and the finish goes on and on and on. Lovely wine.
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7/3/2005 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Off-putting murky colour, dirty red and not clear. Little funk on the nose, brightly acidic as well. Upfront and lively tart cherry acid. Some dusty notes and a nice finish with cedar and slightly soured fruit. Very enjoyable with lamb kabobs. Probably a touch over the hill, but still a winner considering the lottery of older Musars.
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3/7/2002 - tendring wrote:
Wine Education Service - Château Musar: Orange coloured.
A gentle nose, mushrooms, vegetal.
Sweet fruity attack, a hint of bitterness, medium length.
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6/12/1999 - buckeye76 wrote: 90 Points
BLACK CHERRIES, CHOCOLATE, MINT, LEATHER, & BACON IN THE NOSE. BLACK CHERRY, LICORICE AND PLUMS IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH. NICE COMPLEXITY.
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