CHATEAU MUSAR | Hochar | 2019
cinsault | grenache | cabernet sauvignon

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Chateau Musar is a historic winery founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. The estate is renowned for its commitment to traditional winemaking methods, combined with modern techniques. The vision of the winery is to create exceptional wines that reflect the unique lebanese terroir while maintaining a non-interventionist approach to winemaking.

Today we are going to review a quite intriguing wine from Lebanon, which we were eager to try for quite some time – Hochar 2019 by Chateau Musar. This wine is a blend of cinsault (50%), grenache (40%), and cabernet sauvignon (10%), where cinsault forms the wine’s main body and structure, grenache adds up-front richness and red fruit flavors, while cabernet sauvignon enhances the wine’s color depth and offers a more dynamic finish. The grapes were sourced from the Bekaa Valley – a renowned area for its ancient winemaking traditions and optimal grape growing conditions, where the relatively cool climate in tandem with the deep and gravelly soils results in an enhanced flavor profile of the resulting wine.

//Terroir
The Bekaa Valley is located at an altitude of 1000 meters, characterized by deep, gravelly soils over a limestone base. This unique geological composition ensures excellent drainage, essential for grape health. The mediterranean climate, with its dry warm summers and cold winters, results in substantial temperature variations during the growing season. This climate, alongside the moderate rainfall (around 200-300 mm annually) and optimal sunlight exposure, allows grapes to retain their natural acidity and complex flavors. Compared to wines from other regions, those from Bekaa Valley often possess a unique character, showcasing a delicate balance between fruity and earthy notes.

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That said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results below.

//Visual
color: medium-deep ruby color
clarity: hazy ruby hues at the rim

In the glass, the wine exhibits a medium-deep ruby color with hazy ruby hues at the rim, indicative of its vibrant and youthful character.

//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & oaky
fruit character: overripe & dehydrated

On the first nose, this wine unveils a pronounced and oaky character, showcasing a ripe and dehydrated fruit character that envelops the senses. In the foreground, nuanced notes of varnish and red fruits intertwine with appealing oaky hints, while a background of pronounced earthiness and subtle spice adds complexity to the wine’s aromatic profile.

//Palate
sweetness: off dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: crisp

On the palate, the wine reveals a ripe character dominated by red fruit notes that are complemented by rich layers of spice and oak. The wine hints at an off-dry profile, with overwhelming acidity, and ripe tannins alongside a touch of alcoholic warmth. The mouthfeel is opulent and slightly angular, contributing to an astringent texture. The finish is medium+, gracing the palate with a crisp aftertaste.

//Verdict
maturity: developing | needs time | drink in 2- or 3-years time
verdict: nice | enjoyable & good | a well made wine that lacks elegance and finesse

Overall, this is a wine that requires time to settle down a bit, as it presently exhibits some off-balanced elements, particularly a pronounced volatile acidity on the nose and seedy tannins on the finish. In its current state, the wine lacks harmony and finesse, making it a good candidate for further bottle ageing, in order to develop more and get closer to its full potential.

//Pairing
This wine pairs beautifully with hearty dishes such as grilled lamb kebabs, spiced vegetable tagines, or rich stews that would complement the wine’s fruitiness while enhancing its earthy undertones. The spice element in these dishes will harmonizes with the wine’s rich flavor profile, creating a delightful balance.

//Scoring
CHATEAU MUSAR | Hochar | 2019
variety: cinsault | grenache | cabernet sauvignon
country: Lebanon
region: Bekaa Valley
rating: 91.5
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//Fun Facts
Hochar Pere et Fils (which is the alias of the wine we have reviewed today) is sourced from a single vineyard in the western Bekaa Valley, near the village of Aana. The vineyard has a low yield of 20-25 hectoliters per hectare, resulting in concentrated flavors. The 2019 vintage was notable for the record rainfall, leading to delayed flowering and harvesting, a favorable condition that enhanced fermentation.

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.