Ralph Hochar will be at the Roehampton Majestic store tonight I believe. Phone ahead if you want to meet the guy and take part in the Maj Winter tasting.

I'm giving him a mini plug because I'd particularly enjoyed his company at Maj Reading last night, and the sipping of the superb and delicious 2001 Musar. We chatted about the Bekaa valley, the wines and his business in general. One of the interesing facts to be learnt is that the bekka valley wines and climatic effects in the vineyards, do appear to follow the results achieved in the southern Rhone. For example, the humidity in the southern rhone in 2007 was responsible for those very juicy styles - Most interestingly, the same humidity was experienced in The Bekaa valley in Lebanon that year, says Ralph, with similar effect to the resulting wines.

You'll be pleased to know that the grand vin is made with entirely natural yeasts, and they culture their own from previous vintages as well as the nuances from the current year yeasts that are found on the bloom of the fruit in the vineyard.

His his dad's brother makes the wine. His sister and him do most of the marketing.

A very few of the 2001 can be acquired for £19.99. Stock is very limited though, and the 2004 is the current offer. You just might be able to order a few more 2001's via the store manager whist Ralph is there No harm in popping the question.

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Duncan

Dunc,

I love Musar !!! and my cellar reflects this.

Too far to travel though, did they have anything old open to try ??

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Rich, I know, I saw your note on CT on Monday 19th - its all been a coincidence with Musar this last week. No Rich, the 2001 was the oldest on the table, then the 2004. The fascinating white best served at room temperature, and the rose' and the 2nd wine on vintage 2007.

The oldest one that Ralph has drunk is a 1945. The earliest one in their cellars is a '37. He had a penchant for the *2003, extra hot as in Rhone and Bordeaux (that penchant goes against the grain of the professional tasters, he said the '03 was not burnt and baked, they picked the fruit earlier.
He doesn't know I've posted this blog

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Duncan

Dunc,

Which note was that on CT ?? I have found some 1991 I didnt know I had and one 1995. Was that the note you mentioned ??

Shame they only had young vintages to try, I would have thought Majestic or Ralph would bring something nice to sample from the 80`s ??

Prices seem to have increased year on year since 2000.
04 is £2-3 more than the 03 vintage.

Great wines though, Did you try any Hochar reds ?? 04 was decent a month or two back.

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Rich,

Hey, thats handy, You've 'Found' some 1991 - you lucky bu**er - Very Nice find.

1) Your TN about the 2001 posted on 19th November
2) We discussed this, he's bombing up and down the motorways, staying in London, I warned him about the speed cameras on the M4 these days going back into London. You can't lug around old bottles of Musar in a small car - sediment all shaken-up, he couldn't serve it on arrival.
3) World wide demand for this iconic wine - logistics, fuel costs, smaller amounts in many countries - although England is an important market for The Musar
4) Only the second wine on the 2007 vintage which was very full and sucullent and almost sweet after the 2001 grand vin.
5) Ralph does not think that Musar is properly ready for us, until it is 10 years from Ist fermentation, a very honest comment, considering he has to move the later vintages to clear space in their own cellars - a very genuine guy, no flannel.

Hocher reds, the best wine is fermented in 300 litre (kilo) barriques he said - there may be other special cuvees, but I dont know them.

Cheers

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Duncan

Dunc,

Mskes sense now !! I was stock takng and noticed I had one less Musar 2001 so quickly removed from my stock with a brief note on CT.

Drank this most probably early 2012.
Thats how I found the 1991 & 95 extra stock.

Yep transporting old wine around is not good, I have heard Serge usually sends over wines weeks in advance for tastings perhaps Majestic is not taken seriously ??

Any insite Dunc on the relationship.

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Interesting. Reading CT reviews I had gathered the same, however judging by day 2 tasting of my recent 2000 acquisitions I thinking either it was left to breathe too long on day 1 (double decanted and left open for 5+ hrs) or stored in not so ideal conditions
Was great on day 1 but tannins had really softened and gained a bit of a baked/port note on day 2

Yep, Shez you had prepared that for Supper / dinner party scenario, "a day 1 sitting.

The flavour profiles are a cultural thing. Ralph liked the 2003 Musar, whilst I would have teased him, if he had been a drinking buddy, for it being too much of a cooked confection. The 2001 has a flavour profile more similar to a very ripe claret - with excellent structure, sufficient fine grained tannin and acidity to support that ripeness. He'd done his homework for the British palate, at the TN table

I remember the petite chateau 2003 pessac- leognans / boggy standard Graves going baked and a tad port like on day 2 - These left bank clarets inland, and away from the river had gone soft, but not sweet per se', whilst those PCs and CBs from the north, St Estephe & areas on that peninsula were lush, and not over cooked and clumsy.

Musar does take a while to open though, I was swirling the 'just opened bottle of the '01 like mad to get it right on the night. So for your 2000's, just fill large glasses at starters, and whop the cork back in. Well.... you know what to do with the other 7 bottles now

I agree that You'd want to know how a 1991 and 1995 was drinking, so as to avoid the possibility of over bottle development for your palate. Perhaps Richard can tell us ?

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Duncan

thanks Dunc. Appreciate the advice

As said, I think they will make for a good xmas dinner option

Was the 2001 at Maj a little cloudy as we'd previously mentioned ?

About the same opacity and colour hue as a 2009 cab dominated CB haut medoc. No sunset rim yet, indicating that the proprietors of Musar had stored them in the cool and dark. More clingy legs than a CB haut medoc, and a tad more mouth coating as you would expect from the fruit from the Bekaa.

You will need to leave your bottles to rest, then very carefully pull them from the rack without rotating - treat them like a pendulum carriage clock - no sploshing required for the 2000s I'd say from the sound of it.

Its all change for sediment and brown yeast deposits these days. I have had old time burgundies that are a clear garnet with a fine brown yeast deposit on the down side of the glass, and some older clarets that have tartaric and purple brown 'soil' in the bottom. I have some 2001s like Chat Picard with zero deposits.

Wine makers are changing their fining and clarifying methods- so who knows what the future will be.

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Duncan

Dunc,

Hi, not had any of the red 91 or 95 yet.
Had a couple of 1990 reds which are beautifully developed and prehaps just on the way down now.
I have two left.
Only other recent ones drank or sampled have been young ones from 01,03,04.
The 04 was to check out the style / body etc, IMHO its way to young and will hold mine for another 4-5 years and check cellartracker for the development from other users.
01 was decent but holding these back as well,
I much prefer my Musar with plenty of age.

Richard

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.