Chateau Musar
Chateau Musar was established in 1930, by the then only 20-year-old Gaston Hochar. Despite a culture of cultivating vines dating back over 6000 years, modern viticulture, as has existed for over 1000 years in the likes of France, is still in relative infancy in Lebanon. The first large wineries started popping up in Lebanon around 150 years ago and up until the arrival of Chateau Musar, winemaking in Lebanon remained fairly invisible, with regards to exposure on the world stage. However, seeing the remarkable potential in his land and inspired by Lebanon’s ancient winemaking traditions and the time he’d recently spent in Bordeaux, he took it upon himself to showcase what was possible in his homeland.
The Musar property boasts some truly spectacular terroir. The wide range of gravelly soils over limestone is ideal for viticulture and the southern end of the Bekka Valley enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year. The high altitude (between 3000-4500ft) helps moderate the temperature in the vineyards and the shelter provided by the surrounding peaks shields them from the worst of the weather. This all results in the grapes benefitting from incredibly long ripening periods, allowing the fruit to develop an otherworldly depth and intensity (so much so that both the red and white are aged for 6-7 years in the cellars before they are released to the public). The altitude also brings big day-night temperature differences, helping to increase complexity and add some much-needed freshness.
In order to truly express their magical terroir, all of Musar’s wines are produced with minimal intervention. They have spearheaded the organic movement throughout the years, and in 2006 finally received their full organic certification (making them the first winery in Lebanon to achieve this). Work in the vineyards is all done by hand and in the winery the wines are truly allowed to ‘make themselves’, with wild yeasts used during fermentation, no clarification or filtering and minimal use of sulfur during bottling.
Into its third generation now and Chateau Musar remains the flagbearer and face of Lebanese winemaking. Their wines are immensely structured, heady, dense, wholly unique and intriguing in their profile and filled with incredible energy and puissance. Their flagship Chateau Musar red has been described by many as one of the great wines of the world and their white is masterfully crafted and wonderfully individual in its expression. These are both world class, serious wines that need to be experienced to be believed!
The Musar property boasts some truly spectacular terroir. The wide range of gravelly soils over limestone is ideal for viticulture and the southern end of the Bekka Valley enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year. The high altitude (between 3000-4500ft) helps moderate the temperature in the vineyards and the shelter provided by the surrounding peaks shields them from the worst of the weather. This all results in the grapes benefitting from incredibly long ripening periods, allowing the fruit to develop an otherworldly depth and intensity (so much so that both the red and white are aged for 6-7 years in the cellars before they are released to the public). The altitude also brings big day-night temperature differences, helping to increase complexity and add some much-needed freshness.
In order to truly express their magical terroir, all of Musar’s wines are produced with minimal intervention. They have spearheaded the organic movement throughout the years, and in 2006 finally received their full organic certification (making them the first winery in Lebanon to achieve this). Work in the vineyards is all done by hand and in the winery the wines are truly allowed to ‘make themselves’, with wild yeasts used during fermentation, no clarification or filtering and minimal use of sulfur during bottling.
Into its third generation now and Chateau Musar remains the flagbearer and face of Lebanese winemaking. Their wines are immensely structured, heady, dense, wholly unique and intriguing in their profile and filled with incredible energy and puissance. Their flagship Chateau Musar red has been described by many as one of the great wines of the world and their white is masterfully crafted and wonderfully individual in its expression. These are both world class, serious wines that need to be experienced to be believed!
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