Château Musar - Musar Jeune White 2021
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (75 cL)
A burst of flavours with a dry, refreshing finish.
Château Musar Jeune White is a blend of Viognier (40%), Vermentino (30%), and Chardonnay (30%) that are grown in the fertile and pristine soil of the Bekaa Valley at around 1000 metres above sea level. The Vermentino, native to Sardinia and Corsica and thus well suited to the Eastern Mediterranean climate, adds citrus, mineral and even a marine character. It is moderate in alcohol and combines well with the richer Chardonnay and fragrance of the aromatic Viognier.
The unoaked blend results in a wine full of fragrance - pineapple, pear, passion fruit and herbs with an underlying mineral note. The wine has a pale, lemon-gold color. On the palate, you find flavours of pineapple, pear and apricots with some floral and herby notes of basil and thyme with a dry, refreshing finish. There is a rich honeyed mouthfeel but at the same time it is vibrantly fresh with good acidity, which makes it deliciously drinkable lightly chilled. Perfect to drink on its own or with seafood, light salads, and appetizers.
Château Musar was the first producer in Lebanon to achieve organic certification for its vineyards. Remote and unspoilt, the Musar vineyards were 'organic' by default before the term was coined. Most are located in the Bekaa Valley, cradled between two mountain ranges running parallel to Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline. Vines have been cultivated here for at least 6,000 years. The Hochar family's philosophy of respect for the environment means that the 180 hectares of Musar vineyards are managed with minimal human interference and all the wines are made as naturally as possible. All the grapes are hand-harvested between August and October. In the winery, ambient yeasts do the work of fermentation. The bare minimum of sulphur is used and the Château Musar wines are neither fined nor filtered.
Musar's youthful 'Jeune' wines are made from the fruit of low-yielding Bekaa Valley vines at around 1000 metres altitude, keeping the grapes temperature moderate at 25°C. Add to that 300 days of sunshine a year and the grapes are ripened to perfection.
Château Musar - Musar Jeune White 2021
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (75 cL)
Soil : Clay and limestone
Farming : Organic
Grape(s) : Viognier, Vermentino, and Chardonnay
Alcohol : 13.0°
Aging : Stainless steel tank
Serving : 8°C - 10°C
Conservation : Now until 2026
Decanting : Direct consumption
Pairing : Salads - Grilled Seafood - Fish - Grilled Vegetables