Lebanon
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Ghazir-Keserwan
Our Story
In 1930, Gaston Hochar founded Chateau Musar, inspired by Lebanon’s 6,000-year winemaking tradition and his travels in Bordeaux. Gaston’s eldest son, Serge Hochar, became Chateau Musar’s winemaker in 1959, and spent 18 years perfecting the formula for Chateau Musar’s Rouge bottling. Today, Serge’s sons, Gaston and Marc, along with their cousins Ronald and Ralph, continue his legacy and run the day-to-day operations alongside long-time winemaker and viticulturist Tarek Sakr.
Chateau Musar’s vineyards are located in Kefraya and Aana, both in the Bekka Valley, as well as a new site in Mehrine. The winery itself is located in Ghazir, just north of Beirut. All the vineyards benefit from 300 days of sunshine and 39–78 inch of rain per year, and the cooling breezes from the Mediterranean Sea and the 2 mountain ranges (Mt Lebanon and Anti Lebanon). The soil is predominately gravel with a limestone base. Ages of the vines range from 5 years to 130 years of age.
Since the 1960s, Musar's remote location and the Hochar family's environmental commitment have resulted in organic vineyards — with the estate receiving an organic certification in 2006. Grapes are hand-harvested by local Bedouins in the early morning to preserve freshness. Chateau Musar's winery in Ghazir is carved into the mountainside, offering ideal conditions for long-term wine storage. Their winemaking approach is 'non-interventionist,' with natural fermentation, minimal sulfur usage, and no fining or filtering.
Today, Chateau Musar wines are celebrated for their finesse, elegance, and aging potential, with commercial vintages dating back to the 1960s. The Hochar family's passion and dedication have made Chateau Musar a legendary wine producer.
Wines
Chateau Musar Blanc
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
Native Lebanese varietals of Obaideh and Merwah always make up this beauty of a blend. Chateau Musar Blanc is always harvested after the Rouge with inexplicable acid development with the longer hang time. Blanc can also outlast Rouge in longevity once bottled. Fascinating wines, period. Preserved lemon, marcona almonds, butterscotch.
Chateau Musar Rosé
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
Not produced every year, but when it is, we sell out very quickly. Essentially Chateau Blanc with a little percentage of Cinsault blended in. A truly age worthy rosé. Blended in concreted before fermentation and then finished in older French oak. Tangerine, rose water, minerality.
Chateau Musar Rouge
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
The flagship wine of the Estate. If you know Chateau Musar, you know the remarkable aging potential of these wines. A study in the living, breathing enigma that is wine. We try to keep at least four decades of this wine stateside. The youngest bottling is always 7.5 years old upon release. Blackcurrant, leather, delicate spice.
Hochar Père et Fils Rouge
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
Incorrectly referred to as a second wine of Chateau Rouge, this wine is grown and made with its own purpose. A single vineyard field blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermented in concrete tanks and then finished in French oak for about 6 months. Ripe red fruits, savory, peppery.
L’Arack de Musar
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
Chateau Musar’s Arak is crafted from grape alcohol aged for an average of five years and distilled four times, with anise seeds added during the fourth distillation. This process results in a smooth, sweet, and sophisticated Arak. Typically served with water as a digestif, this Arak is also enjoyable neat.
Levantine de Musar
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
Levantine de Musar is a unique blend of Cabernet, Cinsault and Tempranillo, hand harvested from Musar’s organic vineyards in West Bekaa Valley. The name refers to the wine’s source, the Levant, a region centered around modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The palate reveals fascinating tannins and depth while the nose is still shy but will develop over time.
Musar Jeune Blanc
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
The first vintage of this blend was 2006 and has quickly become a wine that we can't keep in stock. Always a blend of Viognier, Chardonnay and Vermentino in stainless steel. Green apple, almonds, and a little slick.
Musar Jeune Rosé
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
Cinsault and Mourvèdre are fermented and aged in stainless steel. A little bottle aging to let these naturally fermented wines settle before exporting. You know when you can't decide if you want red or white, but only want to open one bottle? This is your wine. Strawberry, rose petals, herbal.
Musar Jeune Rouge
Chateau Musar
Bekaa Valley
Always concrete fermented and aged blend of Cinsault, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. One of our 'go-to' reds. One we all typically buy for ourselves. Red and black fruit, sweet spice, earthy.
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