Château Musar Rouge 2017
Château Musar
Serge Hochar's legendary estate has produced wine through civil war and political upheaval, and this 2017 vintage shows why the world took notice decades ago. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan aged in French oak is released only when deemed ready. Copper's role here is quieter — in winemaking, trace copper contact during fermentation helps manage reduction — but the result is a wine of haunting complexity.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Mature cherry and dried berry mingle with cedar and a distinctly gamey, almost leathery note. There's a subtle floral quality — dried rose petals — and a warm vanilla undertone from years in French oak.
Palate
Medium-to-full bodied with a texture that's silky yet firm. Blackcurrant and cherry drive the fruit expression, supported by toasted spice and a savory, herbal complexity. A hint of mint freshness provides lift. The wine has the structured warmth of a mature Bordeaux-style blend but with an unmistakable wildness.
Finish
Long and evolving, with cedar, cherry, and a gentle earthy resolve.
- Varietal
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Blend
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan
- Vineyards
- Estate vineyards in the Bekaa Valley, 1,000m elevation
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with sumac and za'atar
From the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, where the Hochar family has made wine since 1930 — often under extraordinary duress — Château Musar's reds are fermented in concrete vats and aged in French oak barriques, with the winery famously releasing vintages only when they've reached maturity.
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