Woods Wines of Henley on Thames are delighted to be a distribution partner for the wines from the World Famous Chateau Musar in the Lebanon.

Chateau Musar was established in 1930 in the Bekaa Valley by the Hochar family & the 3rd generation of the family are now at the helm, running the business and making the wines with the same passion and dedication.

May arrived with 45mm of rain, enough to boost the vines and from then on, we began to have higher expectations for this year’s harvest. A sunny June followed with low humidity and in July, we enjoyed an average temperature of 34 degrees throughout the month. This was key in pushing the harvest towards early maturation, faster than any previous year!

Cabernet Sauvignon was the first to be harvested on 16th August from silty soils encouraging early ripening. Cinsault followed on the 2nd September with Carignan on 7th.

Grape Varietals - An equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan

Each varietal was fermented with natural yeasts in concrete vats, then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels before blending in February 2019 and bottled without fining or filtration during the summer months of July and August. Fermentation proceeded smoothly, with an average temperature between 27 and 29 in concrete vats. After the various fermentations, our first discovery was the quality of the Cabernet which was outstanding, with a great depth of fruit and concentration. Cinsault was elegant and silky with an explosion of aromas reminding us that this grape is actually our very own Lebanese Pinot. As usual, Carignan showed its quality, benefitting from the warm conditions sacrificing yield though in turn, gaining greater concentration. This is an exceptional grape which truly typifies the terroir of the Bekaa.

Our 2016 vintage is deep ruby in colour with high viscosity. Red cherries, plums, carob and figs dominate the nose with a hint of eastern spice. Kirsch and plums follow through to the palate with blackcurrant and chocolate. The tannins are velvety soft and this wine has a lot of depth and fruit concentration with a long finish. The 2016 harvest showed without a doubt, that global warming is causing higher annual temperatures and at the same

time, successive years of low rainfall have resulted in drier soils. Clearly, these factors may affect maturation of the grapes as well as the wine-making process but for 2016, with the much needed rainfall and almost perfect climatic conditions, we have high expectations for this vintages’ future for decades to come.       Alcohol 14% Alc./Vol

A year for the history books, where the mountains of Lebanon failed to turn white with snow. Very low rainfall during October and November 2013, where precipitation did not exceed 18mm. This trend continued into the New Year – no rain, snow or cold weather and only two stormy days affecting no more than 20% of the country!

 February and March were the driest and it seems as if this winter was an extension of summer 2013. April, May, June and July, where buds open and flowering occurs was perfect for the vines, but with one very important element missing for summer survival - water. By early August, the vines were starting to suffer badly. Sugar content in Cabernet Sauvignon rose drastically while acidity was stable. The varietal lost 40% of its weight due to lack of moisture and the hard work started on the first day of the red grape harvest - four teams harvesting simultaneously for the first time in Chateau Musar history. Carignan was also affected but not to the same degree, while the survivor of them all was, as usual, the Cinsault.

Grape Varietals -An equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan

Winemaking - Each varietal was fermented with natural yeasts in concrete vats. Due to the high sugar content, Cabernet Sauvignon was very slow to start, and fermentation was controlled at a lower temperature than usual to ensure its completion. Carignan was also very slow, however Cinsault survived the crisis and fermented normally with elegance and style. The wines were aged for 12 months in French oak barrels before blending in January 2017 and then bottled without fining or filtration in July and August 2017. The bottles are aged in the Chateau Musar cellars before their release in 2021.

Tasting Notes - A deep red colour, with aromas of sweet cherry, plum and dried fruit together with a subtle spice element and hint of tobacco. The wine has a soft, rounded mouthfeel with lots of flavour and fruit concentration – caramel, mocha, ripe red

fruits which are supported with soft, velvety tannins and a spicy finish.

14% Alc./Vol

Hochar Pere et Fils is sourced from a single vineyard in the Western Bekaa Valley, near the village of Aana, characterised by deep, gravelly soil over a limestone base. Yields are low, 20-25 hectolitres per hectare, which results in concentrated full flavoured juice.

Grape Varietals - Cinsault 50%, Grenache 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

The grapes fermented at temperatures ranging between 27-29˚C with 15 to 20 days maceration in cement vats, followed by 6 months in French Nevers oak barrels. The 2019 vintage was blended in the winter of 2021 and bottled during the following summer of the same year. 

Tasting Notes - A fragrant and deeply coloured vintage, full of generously ripe and brambly fruit. There are black cherry, plum and blueberry notes on the nose and palate with a touch of spice. The 2019 vintage has great ageing potential although the tannins are already soft, ensuring its immediate appeal and approachability upon release in the spring of 2022.

“It has the DNA of the grand vin and is akin to fine Chateauneuf-du-Pape in its complexity, with delicious cherry notes flooding out from the Cinsault.” Jonathan Ray, The Spectator Magazine February 2022.      13.5% Alc/Vol.

We are very fortunate to have been allocated a limited number of the Chateau Musar  Hochar Père et Fils 2015 Magnum

 

Hochar Père et Fils is sourced from specially selected vineyards near the village of Aana in the Bekaa Valley, characterised by deep, gravelly soil over a limestone base. Low yields (25-30 hectolitres per hectare) result in concentrated wine and the altitude keeps the average yearly temperatures at around 25 ° C, encompassing cold, snowy winters, mild springs and hot summers.

The Hochar Père et Fils 2015 is a blend of Cinsault (50%), Grenache (35%) and Cabernet

Sauvignon (15%) – the grapes were fermented between 27 ° C and 29 ° C with maceration in cement vats, followed by 6 months in French Nevers oak barrels. It was blended in the spring of 2017 and bottled later on that year.

The Hochar of this year is a bright ruby colour – there are red fruits on the nose; bitter sweet cherries with a hint of dark chocolate. Classic bright red fruits flavours and sweet, spicy notes follow through to the palate. The tannins are soft, the acidity fresh with very long length. Cellared well, it will keep for several years.     13.5% Alc./Vol

We are thrilled to have been appointed as a distributor of this amazing unique wine from the Lebanon. They have only recently started to bottle in larger formats & we managed to scoop up some Double Magnums & Imperials of the wonderful 2013 Vintage. 

With the heavenly fruit purity of the finest Musar vintages married to the elegance of a more suave, feminine, seductive vintage, this 2013 is sure to be noted as one of the most lithe, elegant, attractive expressions from the Bekaa in more than a decade !