1989 Château Musar Red
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Tasting notes
A commemorative bottle to honour the legacy of Serge Hochar on his 50 th anniversary, it says on the back label. Dark green bottle. Pale amber wine, very broad bouquet that hits you like a cloud not an arrow. This is not oxidised but is waxy, with a green, vegetal sort of Sémillon note on the nose. Then on the palate it has depth, real presence and something definitely salty about it – but citrus too. It’s certainly not rich. Bone dry, with a hint of walnuts, and really quite light in the mouth. Truly unlike any other wine I can think of. It is indeed difficult not to find the idiosyncratic, impish but utterly assured spirit of Serge Hochar in this one-off wine. Fully mature but definitely not decayed. Extremely clean in fact. (JR)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Blend of two local varieties, Merwah and Obeideh. Both varieties are partly fermented in oak barriques where they mature for a further nine months. They are then blended, bottled and aged for a further four years before release. 25% new barriques each year. Loads of baked apple – reminiscent of vintage champagne with an old-Chardonnay-like character, along with coconut and brazil nut. Dry and full-bodied still showcasing crisp acidity. A very complex wine. (LG)
About the producer
In the 30 years following Serge Hochar’s decoration as Decanter magazine’s "Man of the Year" in 1984, his wine became legendary.