Chateau Musar 1998 Red

The big feature of Lebanon's finest wine, Chateau Musar Red, is time. It is 'seven years in the making', and the winery is still selling vintages from the 1950s. The best vintages seem to go on and on. A blend of Cinsault, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon that varies depending on the character of the vintage, sometimes it can be more Rhône-like, sometimes closer to Bordeaux. Whichever, it always retains something distinctively Lebanese, and uniquely Musar.

Pale, particularly bright garnet. Light, spicy, particularly well-integrated nose ... The opposite of heavy. Lifted, jewel-bright. Really lovely wine. Fresh, sweet with some very slight mintiness. Dry finish and it would go beautifully with food. Very long. One of my favourite wines in this collection. Is it the Cinsault I like so much?

18.5 points

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 02/02/2018

Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Cinsault. Vineyards near the villages of Aana and Kefraya. Some vines date back to the 1930s, average vine age 40 years. 'Seven years in the making' with ageing periods in French oak barrels, cement vats and bottle. Unfined, unfiltered.