Chateau Musar, Rose, Bekaa Valley

Palate trailing nose by a fair bit.

Chateau Musar Dinner (Tim and Elliott's Place, San Francisco) : Salmon pink; highly aromatic with some lovely cheese rind, watermelon, slight fennel; palate is medium bodied, medium to medium-plus acid, nice light red fruit; medium finish. Very, very nice with exceptional balance. I kind of like the 2014 a bit better. 93-95

Musar Dinner (Tim's, SF) : Pale salmon-copper color. This is past the initial inflection point, which means the primary fruit has departed and the honeyed, sweet carrot/yam secondary fruit is starting to intensify. Riveting nose of rich honeyed tertiary fruit. Piave cheese rind, baked and bruised strawberries, oxidative notes - raw almond, and even a bit of savory sweet carrot. Dry with medium body, alcohol, and medium plus acid. Nutty strawberry finish.

The first initial sniff had me giggle like a kid, there's a complexity on the nose of this wine that's almost pale salmon in color as notes of camomile tea, honey, and caramelized sugar rise out of the glass. On the palate there's an interplay between notes of watermelon, strawberry, and clementines. Light body, high acidity, and more complex on the nose than palate for this...but I do love smelling this in the glass.

This bottle was a library release and was my first experience with Musar rose. Pale pink, slightly oxidative, highly structured, but not as big as the Blanc. Salty and slightly nutty with citrus notes, served cool but not cold, got better with air time, very good with seafood and also magnified the umami of shiitake mushrooms. The components are very balanced and harmonious. Based on this limited sample, this is one of the best and most age-worthy roses I've tried...Tempier …

Musar Industry Tasting at Wingtip with Marc Hochar (Wingtip) : Stunning! Sweet almond biscuit. Sweet savory apples. Starting to develop Musarian honey and toast aromas. Slight baked strawberries. Honeysuckle. Medium plus body with slightly elevated acid. Savory strawberry. Slight tannins. Extremely persistent on the palate. Finishes with sweet scone (lees). 9-9.5

Cradle of Wine Civilization (SF Wine School) : Moderately concentrated salmon-colored with a slight blush of pink. Initially reticent on the nose with biscuity brioche leesiness and faint dried strawberry. There’s a slight apple-balsamic quality. Savory with some slight nutty signs of development. Complex and shifting, thought speaks a bit more quietly than the ’89 Blanc. This is a rose I can get behind! The best rose I’ve ever had.

Well, this bottle was quite disappointing, not living up to the quality of Musar reds and especially whites. Lots of yeasty aromas, taste was quite dirty and lacking focus. Will try it once more when there is a chance, but better stick to Musar whites, they are excellent all over the range. (C)

Musarathon (Strictly Rhythm, London) : No notes taken

Musarathon (Strictly Rhythm, London) : Too late in the evening to do this one justice - seemed a bit neutral

Chateau Musar food wine tasting : Light salmon, vibrant and sparkling despite 7 years of age. Medium nose of spice, oak, and some red fruit in the distance, austere. Dry, high acidity, stern upon attack, aromas of apples, yellow plum, pepper, red cherries, dried fruit and oak. Complex, stiff and not easy going, never really opened up. Manly structured wine, with medium finish, too little fruit for my liking to give enjoyment, definitely it needs food (like the quail we …

An Afternoon with Serge Hochar, Ch. Musar, China Club, Hong Kong : Interesting.......not my kind of thing.