Fancy Pants Wine: Chateau Musar White 1999

Originally published on May 3, 2008.

Time for another fancy pants wine…

Chateau Musar White 1999 (Bekaa Valley, Lebanon)
Gaston Hochar’s red Chateau Musar wines have developed cult following, but the whites are even more obscure – and just as worthy of a little cult of their own. Made from the Merwah and Obaideh grapes, the wine reminds us of traditional aged white Rioja. Done in a slightly oxidized style, the wine is nutty, with notes of carmalized almond, dried fruits, and a bit of honey – but it’s not at all sweet. It has a super long finish and would go very well with simply grilled fish.