Chateau Musar

Serge Hochar is my savior and my tormentor. He speaks the God’s honest truth about wine but then leads you down a path that not even a serpent could navigate. He crafts heavenly grape juice that is sometimes not appropriate for human consumption. He promises salvation through tasting yet guffaws at the merest inquiry into his methodologies. An hour in the company of Serge is like a walk in the garden of Eden or a trip through Dante’s nine circles.

The above  statement is paraphrased (edited for southern audiences) from something Paul Greco at Hearth in New York City once wrote, about wine legend Serge Hochar. Serge’s winery, Chateau Musar is located in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. His father planted the vines in the 1930’s with the cooperation of the Barton family of Langoa Barton fame. His wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault.

The 2001 is drinking like a well-aged Bordeaux, and reminds us of one of Serge’s many commandments: “drink wine that is true rather than what is good.” In this case, the wine is both.