2012 Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley Lebanon 750 ml

Château Musar is often likened to the First Growths of Bordeaux and the great wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape—an apt comparison, but one that has its limits. 

While those wines define their regions, Musar defines an entire nation. It’s one of the planet’s most celebrated and storied wines—whose impeccable quality puts it in great company, but whose unmistakable character makes it truly distinct. 

The Wine Advocate has called Musar “iconic,” and we can’t think of a winery more deserving of that title. Musar produces astoundingly complex and aromatic reds that rival Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux. They’re the standard-bearer of Middle Eastern wine—the only one poured at The French Laundry, and that has been on the lists of countless other world-famous restaurants.

Crafted by the late Serge Hochar, Decanter’s first Man of the Year (who passed away in 2014), Musar isn’t just about enology, but about life. It’s utterly unique, full of passion and surprises. 

Musar’s Grand Vin combines the breadth of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the richness and structure of a Left Bank Bordeaux, and the aromatic lift of a Brunello. It demands a slow, measured experience, and in time reveals many expressions—along with an air of antiquity, thanks to its Fertile Crescent origins.

Musar’s old vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan benefit from 300 days of sunshine a year, cool nights, limestone soils, and 4,000 feet of elevation. A natural winemaker long before it was trendy, Hochar embraced a non-interventionist approach, and it’s apparent in Musar’s impossible-to-copy vivacity, energy, and earthiness.