Varietal(s): Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan
Vineyard Management: Certified Organic (2006)
Winemaking: Spontaneous Fermentation, Unfined/Unfiltered, Minimal Sulfur
Vegan: Yes
Typicity: Classic. Gaston Hochar's wines are the benchmark for Bekaa Valley excellence. Decanting recommended due to sediment.
Bio: Musar is a house of lore; an icon in winemaking and a pioneer of organic farming in Lebanon. Every vintage of Chateau Musar Rouge takes seven years to craft, with 2016 being current release for 2023. Gaston Hochar was heavily influenced by his time in Bordeaux and friendship with Major Ronald Barton of Leoville-Barton when he began his vineyards in 1930. Serge Hochar, Gaston's son, took over in the late fifties and set the style for the Rouge in the late seventies, over forty years after the first vines were planted.
The Chateau is still family owned and operated, with Gaston's second son Ronald Hochar at the helm and the third generation still very much involved.
The influence that Musar has on viticulture in Bekaa and Lebanon cannot be understated.
