| Description: |
Chateau Musar Rose
The wines of Chateau Musar are a unique expression from a country with an ancient wine-making culture, as vines have been cultivated from Lebanon's high altitude Bekaa Valley for over 6,000 years. French in origin, the Hochar family arrived in Lebanon in the 12th century and have remained there ever since. Chateau Musar's red vineyards are situated towards the southern end of the Bekaa valley, north of Lake Qaroun and about 30 km south-east of Beirut. The ancient and indigenous white grapes prefer slightly cooler temperatures and are grown at high altitudes on the mountain slopes, some 1,500 metres above sea level. Every wine at Musar is produced naturally with a 'non-interventoinist' wine making philosophy and the winery was the first in Lebanon to implement organically certified viticulture in 2006 for its Chateau Musar red and white grapes.
Chateau Musar Rosé is a still and softly-oaked tribute to the ‘blended’ rosés of Champagne, a style much enjoyed by Serge Hochar. It is not made every year as specific grape qualities are required to ensure the varieties combine in elegant form. The main components are Obaideh and Merwah, indigenous to the mountains of Lebanon and said to be related to Chardonnay and Semillon. Planted between 1920 and 1947 the Obaideh vineyards are in the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountains on stony, chalky soils, while the Merwah vines are on the seaward side of Mount Lebanon on calcareous gravels. Yields are very low for these untrained bushvines: 15 to 25 hl per hectare. At high altitude (around 1400m) they are still on their own roots, among very few vineyards in the world of this calibre. Around 5% of southern red Rhône grape Cinsault gives the wine its subtle colour.
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| Taste: |
Peaches, pears, oranges, grapefruit, almonds, wild herbs and citrus leaves. |
| Cellaring Potential: |
Drink now or cellar for 10 years |
| Food Matching: |
The citrusy flavours excel with canapés, olives, nuts, seafood and Provençal dishes. |