As far as collectible wines go, the Bekaa Valley’s Chateau Musar is right up there at the top of the list. The Hochar family hold a unique position in the wine world being such a sought after Lebanese winery. Furthermore, the family embraced being organic decades before it became a ‘thing’. Since the 1930s, they have made wine with philosophy of minimal intervention.

The Chateau Musar wines cultivate a passionate following. From what I saw at a recent tasting, the many avid collectors have a very personal connection to the wines. Each one has plenty of stories to share about their collections and a library full of memories of the wines they have opened in the past.

Just as important to the Chateau Musar collection of wines, is the wines that they have crafted for immediate drinking pleasure. The Musar Jeune range was initially launched in 2007. The three wines are all unoaked, dry, fruit driven styles. The new releases below will also be sporting a new style label.

Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ White 2018  

A savoury combination of unoaked viognier, vermentino and chardonnay. The viognier adds its apricot and stonefruit plushness to the lemon citrus line of crisp acid. There is a smoky minerality tautness too.

The Jeune White has not been made to have complexity and intrigue that the Chateau Musar Blancs are renown for.  For the value, this is ‘fragrant refresher’ territory and goes down easily.   UK £13 | USA $19++

Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ Rose 2018  

A sessionable style of rose that is dry, fruity and fresh. This pale pink hued blend of Rhone grapes of cinsault (85%) and mourvedre (15%) made using the saignee method. A method that involves bleeding some of the must of a red wine before it develops any depth of colour.

The result is some redolently ripe cherry berry fruit has a tight spice profile. This is not just a summer treat. UK£13  | USA $19++

Chateau Musar ‘Musar Jeune’ Red 2017 

This is my pick of the Musar Jeune trio. A red blend of cinsault, syrah and cabernet sauvignon. These traditional French grapes take on a Lebanonese accent starting with the deeply purple depths. It is bold and bright in its ripeness.

Offering a mouthful of spicy, earthy cassis, berry and mint that lingers for a long moment. The winemaker’s use of lined cement vats rather than any oak, leaves that fresh fruit to shine within its fuller bodied style. UK£13 | USA $19++

Like the sound of these blends, check out more here!

For more information, please visit Chateau Musar’s website.