1999 Château Musar

Alexander Russo

We opened the bottle, it had a vibrant cherry to red brick colour. There was manure, horse, and straw on the nose. The kind of horse smell you get after you remove the saddle. There was definitely a leather component. As I swirled the wine in my glass to aerate the wine a little more I realized its nice legs. As I took the first sip I realized there was a heavy mouth feel, it had the weight of olive oil, it coated your mouth with its beautiful flavours. For being ten years old now, the tannins were still strong. That makes me think that it could still stand for another five plus years of aging. Now that we have 2 more bottles we can definitely try that out. We decanted this wine for about an hour before we served it, but because of how intense this wine is, it could probably withstand 3 hours of decanting to open it up. It is always the case that the last sip is the most amazing, but after realizing that, next time, I am going to decant it for 3 hours. There were beautiful flavours of black pepper, black fruit, and a healthy amount of acidity to make this wine so well balanced. The most intriguing part about this wine was when I read where it was from. I read the label but not well enough obviously. It is from Lebanon! LEBANON? I could have sworn it was a Bordeaux.

Tasting Tags: balanced dark fruit leather manure strong tannins well

1999 Château Musar

Jon Oropeza

A delicious wrap-up to 2008. With my eyes blinded this is a young Stag's Lead cab. Lots of currant, plum, vanilla and that sage-licorice taste I associate with my hometown on the NorCal coast. Some tannic harshness still lingering, long gone by the second glass.

Tasting Tags: currant plum sage vanilla

1999 Château Musar

Karl Laczko

This needed decanting, as recommended on the bottle. I tried a glass immediately, and then left it for an hour before returning.

On first try.
Nose Green and vegetal, a spicy heat with a touch of menthol. An earthy rawness.
In the mouth surprisingly sweet and smooth, with none of the earthiness threatened on the nose. Is that cherries? Much lighter than expected and very easy to drink, there's a warming at the back of the throat as it goes down and a vanilla touch at the end - decent length.

After 1 hour.
Nose similar to the first, maybe a little more muted. Still getting the vegetal, minty experience.
Now in the mouth a chocolate layer is coming through with a pleasing dryness coating the palate. The richness is still there, this is a very well balanced wine. Another mouthful and a mint and herb combination join in. Yet another and chocolate cherries and a sprig of mint on the top get together, I've finished another glass and the prospect of this lasting another hour is slim.

In the glass this looks like medium bodied wine but the depth of flavour is immense, I recommend everyone who loves "old world" to try this out. Note that the blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan.

Tasting Tags: cherry chocolate mint

1999 Château Musar

allu

Surprisingly pale and developed colour, don't let it mislead to think this is a light wine, or past its best. Strong developed and fine nose with animal/barnyard and leathery notes. Even classy -provided that you like this type of a wine. Palate follows the nose. Strong animally flavours. I really like it. Ready, but will age comfortably for many many years. Maybe not 5 stars for some, but in my opinion really good. Tasted blind Feb 2007

1999 Château Musar

simond

Startling, and quite unique: a really earthy taste that's almost too much... but not quite. This has been our 'special occasion' wine for a good couple of years now. One taste, and you'll see why.

Be warned, though. You'll get some funny looks when you order a Lebanese wine, or take it to the supermarket checkout. The first time a friend ordered it for me, I really didn't know what to think. But it was remarkable to see the change in the waiter's general attitude. :)

Tasting Tags: big deep earthy favourite soil

1999 Château Musar

Rick Clark

excellent wine, one of my all time favs... Very heavy so works well with red meats, or a Chinese.

1999 Château Musar

tomq

This is a unique wine. It is spicy and ripe, with an element of sweetness. It falls somewhere between a heavy red and a fortified wine - it has a lot of power and a full palate. An acquired taste, but very good.

Tasting Tags: rich ripe spicy sweet