The 2001 CHATEAU MUSAR, bottled in 2004, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan, aged for one year in French oak. Nuanced by cherries and spice, it is quite delicious. Which wine you like better of this lineup—the 01 or 00, or even the 02 Hochar, is a matter of taste, perhaps, more than any inherent quality issue, as the styles are rather different. The ’00 is the powerhouse bruiser, the most rustic, while the Hochar is the approachable, easier wine. This is the one in the middle, arguably the best balance of fruit and power. On the downside, this is as gamey and funky as the 2000, but the balance is different, the wine seeming fruitier and fleshier, not quite as austere. Depending on your taste, you may find that a good thing, or prefer the more powerful and intellectual 2000. This is still powerful, I hasten to add, with drying notes on the finish, but the fruitiness melds beautifully with the barnyard notes, and it is nicely supported by the tannin rather than overwhelmed. As with the 2000, this should age well, although the 2000 should age longer, and this will be a wine some will love, and some will find has too much barnyard. Personally, I enjoyed it a lot, and was just imagining how it would work with venison. Drink now-2020.
Drinking Window: 2010 - 2020
Reviewer Name: Mark Squires
Review Date: 27th February 2010
- Details
-
- Year 2001
- Colour Red
- Country Lebanon
- Region Bekaa Valley
- Sub Region NA
- Designation
- Classification
- Pack Size 1x75cl
- ABV 13.5°
- Drinking Window 2010 - 2020
- Drinking Recommendation Drink Up
- LWIN 110667320010100750
- Reviews (1)
-
91 Wine Advocate
The 2001 CHATEAU MUSAR, bottled in 2004, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan, aged for one year in French oak. Nuanced by cherries and spice, it is quite delicious. Which wine you like better of this lineup—the 01 or 00, or even the 02 Hochar, is a matter of taste, perhaps, more than any inherent quality issue, as the styles are rather different. The ’00 is the powerhouse bruiser, the most rustic, while the Hochar is the approachable, easier wine. This is the one in the middle, arguably the best balance of fruit and power. On the downside, this is as gamey and funky as the 2000, but the balance is different, the wine seeming fruitier and fleshier, not quite as austere. Depending on your taste, you may find that a good thing, or prefer the more powerful and intellectual 2000. This is still powerful, I hasten to add, with drying notes on the finish, but the fruitiness melds beautifully with the barnyard notes, and it is nicely supported by the tannin rather than overwhelmed. As with the 2000, this should age well, although the 2000 should age longer, and this will be a wine some will love, and some will find has too much barnyard. Personally, I enjoyed it a lot, and was just imagining how it would work with venison. Drink now-2020.
Drinking Window: 2010 - 2020
Reviewer Name: Mark Squires
Review Date: 27th February 2010
- Producer
-
Gaston Hochar started Chateau Musar in 1930 in Ghazir. The Hochar’s are of French origin but stayed after the crusades. They have taken up the region’s 6,000 year old wine heritage as Lebanon’s best wine producer. Remarkably they have made wine every year, except 1976 and 1984, even through civil wars. Their long lived red blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault. Uniquely it is only blended after 3 years in separate barrels, then aged for another 4 before release.
- Value Comparison
-
OvervaluedUndervalued
Musar Red
- Valuation Tools
Wine Rating is intended to show the quality of the wine from an investment perspective. It takes into account the prices achieved by the producer, the quality of the vintage and the critics' scores for this wine. AAA is the best rating, and B the most speculative.
Please wait a few seconds whilst we process the market data for this wine...
Calculating...Investment Rating
Show Investment Rating GuideWine Rating is intended to show the quality of the wine from an investment perspective. It takes into account the prices achieved by the producer, the quality of the vintage and the critics' scores for this wine. AAA is the best rating, and B the most speculative.
- Graph
