Chateau Musar

Its a few years since I tasted some of Gaston Hochar’s delicious Lebanese wine, but on Monday evening we were in Tewkesbury overnight, ready for a visit to the Three Choirs Vineyard the following day. We had supper at the Corse Lawn Hotel, north of Gloucester, and since I wasn’t driving, I chose a half bottle of Chateau Musar 2001 to enjoy all by myself.

I first came across Chateau Musar over 25 years ago, when the thought of anyone producing wine, let alone excellent wine, in the Bekka Valley, sounded like the most extreme anachronism one could get. However, on a visit to Montpellier last year, I discovered a Lebanese restaurant in the city which offered at least four wines from the region – none of them Chateau Musar. But in th UK, Musar is the most well known!

I once had a very rewarding experience when asking for Chateau Musar. Cringletie House, near Peebles, was at one time a regular in the Good Food Guide, and a place we had visited a couple of times for supper and bed. On one of these visits, a request for the cheapest vintage of Chateau Musar on their list resulted in the sommelier apologising profusely that they had none left, but that an earlier (and more expensive) vintage was available, which they would supply at the same price. This was brought, opened, sniffed by the sommelier, who then apologised once more that the bottle was corked. He returned a few moments later to explain that they had no more of that vintage, but could supply an even earlier (and even more expensive) vintage at the same price. That final bottle we enjoyed immensely!

The 2001 was remarkably light in colour, but intense in its nose. So much so I didn’t want to start drinking it, but the flavour was equally good. Maybe not brilliant value in a restaurant (but what is?), but certainly good value if you can get it for around £15 a bottle.