Wine Advisor
Musar, Rose 2018
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Description
About the Producer
Chateau Musar, one of the most prestigious wineries in Lebanon, is located in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon and is owned by the Hochar Family. The vineyards of Moussa Winery are located at the southern end of the Bekaa Valley, north of Lake Qaroun. The region has a long history of winegrowing, with Phoenicians spreading their winegrowing and winemaking techniques along the Mediterranean coast around 4,500 BC. Located in the Bekaa Valley, the vineyard has two main advantages: the altitude of the vineyard is over 1,000 meters, which allows for cooler nights and longer ripening periods, and the soil is mostly calcareous limestone gravel, which allows the grapes to produce wines of unique flavor and complexity. The main red grape varieties planted in the vineyard are Carbernet Sauvignon, as well as Cinsault and Carignan from the southern part of the Rhone Valley. The white varieties are the native Lebanese Obaideh and Merwah, which are found at higher altitudes and on cooler slopes. Moussa is the first winery in Lebanon to be certified as an organic winery, with a "non-interventionist" approach that allows the process of growing and vinifying grapes to occur as naturally as possible. As a winemaker, I am lucky to have contact with the creatures in the vineyard, and I should not have to rack my brains to remove them," said Serge Hocar. At harvest time, the grapes are hand-picked by workers in the early morning to preserve their freshness. The red grapes for the wine are fermented in individual concrete fermenters and decanted after six months, then placed in French oak barrels to mature for 12 months. Most of these barrels are old, and only a few are renewed each year. This allows the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan to express the unique style of each vintage. Musar currently produces four lines of red, white and rosé wines, such as Musar's signature wine, Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar Red, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, which has a rich, textured mouthfeel and aromas of roasted fruit. Musar also uses grapes from young vines to make its wines, such as the Musar Jeune Red (Bekaa Valley, Lebanon), which is an unoaked red blend.
