Chateau Musar’s story is one of war, hardship and utter determination in the face of chaos and destruction. Serge Hochar, the heroic Lebanese winemaker who stood by his wines through the 15 years of civil war (1975–1990) dodging shells and road-blocks to get his precious grapes to safety, knew that his wines were among the brightest stars in the world wine firmament. Today we look at the uniquely complex (and often miraculous) wines he created and begin to understand how and why Serge worked in the way he did. Only now, in a new era of ‘Natural Wines’ do we fully appreciate what he was trying to achieve…
Our new book celebrates Chateau Musar – its history, its terroir, the philosophy of its winemaker, and the legacy that the Hochar family (Ronald, Gaston, Marc and Ralph) continue today – alongside its remarkable catalogue of vintages and stunning new releases from the winery in 2020.
Musar has attracted a loyal fan base around the world since Michael Broadbent first ‘discovered’ the wine in 1979. Today, vintage collectors, food lovers, A-list sommeliers and the many of us who look for a wine with something distinctively different to say, are drawn to its unique character and fashionably ‘hands-off’ approach to viticulture and winemaking. Our new title charts Musar’s journey from Lebanese rising star to global taste sensation.