# Château Musar Red (2020)

- **Producer:** Château Musar
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan
- **Region:** Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €45
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, black pepper, liquorice, violet, cedar, vanilla, cloves, smoke, leather, tobacco, forest floor, game, dried fig, prune

## About this wine

Château Musar is Lebanon's most famous winery, founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar in the historic Bekaa Valley. Despite the challenges of the Lebanese Civil War and extreme weather, the Hochar family has consistently produced world-class, deeply complex wines. The estate is celebrated for its unique philosophy of low-intervention winemaking, crafting wines of exceptional longevity and character that reflect the ancient terroir of the Levant.

## Interesting facts

- The 2020 vintage suffered a massive 40% crop loss due to extreme heatwaves reaching 40°C.
- Harvesting in 2020 was highly unusual, dictated by soil type and sugar levels rather than grape variety.
- Château Musar was founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar, who was inspired by the ancient winemaking history of Lebanon.
- The winery famously continued production throughout the Lebanese Civil War, missing only two vintages.

## Food pairing

Château Musar's high acidity, robust tannins, and complex savory profile make it an exceptional match for rich, gamey meats and earthy dishes. The wine's natural spice and dark fruit notes harmonize beautifully with Middle Eastern spices like cumin, coriander, and cinnamon, while its structure cuts through the fat of slow-cooked lamb or duck.

## Wine making process

The 2020 vintage was marked by extreme summer heatwaves reaching up to 40°C, resulting in a 40% crop loss. This forced an unconventional harvest based strictly on sugar development and soil types rather than grape variety. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan. Fermentation occurs with ambient yeasts in concrete vats, followed by 12 months of aging in French Nevers oak barrels. The components are blended and bottled unfined and unfiltered, then aged in the cellars for several years before release.