Chateau Musar Red Wine Bekaa Valley, Lebanon 2009

Chateau Musar has been making world-class wines in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley since the 1930’s. About half Cinsault, then Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignane. Warm vintage: get ripe fig, plum and boysenberry, alongside pipe tobacco, saddle leather and cinnamon. Long, spicy finish. Chunky tannins resolve with decanting and swirling. Delicious now, better 2020 and beyond, we suspect.