The Chateau Musar Jeune Red Gaston Hochar 2000 is an exceptional aged red wine from the renowned Lebanese winery, reflecting the rich terroir of the Bekaa Valley.
The winery was founded by Gaston Hochar in 1930, and the winery has been under the management of the family ever since. In the 1930s and 1940s, when Lebanon was under French control, important customers of the winery were local French army soldiers stationed in Lebanon. A French officer named Ronald Barton - after whom Gaston named his second son - was also stationed here and had a great influence on the development of Chateau Musar's wines, as Barton was connected to the Château Langoa-Barton and Château Léoville Barton wineries in Bordeaux. Before the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), Chateau Musar wines were mostly sold to domestic markets, but the war changed that. Gaston Hochar's son Ronald Hochar helped sell the wine abroad, and from the late 1970s and early 1980s the wine became more popular abroad. The international discovery of Musar took place at the 1979 Bristol Wine Fair, when auctioneer and taster Michael Broadbent and journalist Roger Voss chose the 1967 Musar as the "discovery of the fair". Despite the war in Lebanon and frequent tensions, wine was made at the Château every year except for the 1976 vintage, where employees sometimes worked in high-risk conditions. Although it is sometimes compared to Bordeaux wine, Burgundy wine or Rhone wine, it is most often claimed that Musar wine is unique.
Crafted from Syrah, Cinsault, and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has evolved into a velvety and deeply complex expression over the years. Its bouquet is filled with dried red fruits, spicy undertones, and earthy nuances, while the palate reveals notes of plum, ripe cherry, and a touch of tobacco. Well-balanced acidity and smooth tannins create a harmonious finish. Perfect for special occasions, it pairs beautifully with game meats, lamb, or aged cheeses.
