While dining at a Mediterranean restaurant, I noticed that their wine listed included three selections from Lebanon. Actually, it was three vintages of the same wine (Chateau Musar), which I have subsequently learned is well respected. We went with something Greek instead, which we found a little disappointing (though I'm often disappointed the week following a Bordeaux). I would like to give the Chataeu Musar a try though, the next time we are there.
Meanwhile, I have tried to find a vintage chart from the area, but have not had any luck. Can someone refer me to a web site that may have one (or simply list the "great" years, if there are any)?
I have two bottles of the white 1994 in the cellar and I was wondering if anyone has any comments on it. The two sites listed in this thread seemed to concentrate on the reds. Thanks.
I opened my last bottle of 1994 white last week while one of my sons was visiting. We found a wine that was so thin it tasted like a diluted Chardonnay. To avoid it being totally wasted, I used some of it the following evening when making a rissoto. Sojourner
Thanks for the (somewhat sad) news. I'll open my bottles as soon as possible and see how mine compare with yours. I don't feel too bad as I was given these two gratis by my wine shop a few months ago. Thanks.
Had some of the 91 on Sunday. Still very Musar-y but getting rather short and tiring rapidly in the glass. Looks like it may now be a "drink up" vintage.
James James Dempster (remove nospam to reply by email)
You know you've had a good night when you wake up and someone's outlining you in chalk.
Well, thanks! After checking out the site yesterday right before leaving work, I picked up a '95 Red on the way home (was going to the wine store anyway) since it was fresh in mind when my eyes met up with the word LEBANON. They had only one bottle of the '95, and several of other vintages, so I opted to buy the '95. I thought I'd have it Sunday with a lamb dish I'll be preparing. When I got home, my wife informed me that we were invited to the neighbor's for dinner. When I heard that they were having shish-kabobs, I knew it would be appropriate to bring a red. The only other non-cellared red in the house was a Shiraz, and I wanted something at room-temp. Also, my wife had already discovered my purchase and asked if I thought it would go good with lamb.
It was very.... intersting. Someone here used the word "Musar-y" the other day, and now I know what they were talking about. The various flavors that are present seemed flat, not be as well integrated as in a Bordeaux. At first, I saw that as a turn-off because - while tasting it - it struck me as somewhat harsh. But the sweetness seemed to mellow that out somehow and the aftertaste made me forget any unpleasantness all together, and begged for another taste. And with each taste, it became less intimidating, and with each taste I started noticing flavors that didn't seem to be present just 30 seconds earlier.
And as the review suggests, it goes very well with grilled lamb (and so says my neighbor who hardly ever drinks red wine, always "just a little"; this time I had to guzzle just to keep up with him; thankfully, his wife couldn't have any due to medicine, and my wife is nursing our baby, so only had one glass).
I will definitely seek out more bottles of the '95 Red in the future.
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