Bekaa Valley Red 2003

This Château Musar red comes from a vintage the Hochar family sums up in two words, alcohol and acidity. Founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar, the Bekaa Valley estate held the 2003 for seven years and released it in 2010.

A rainy winter gave way to a dry, sunny spring. Then a ten-day heat wave hit during flowering in May and cut the crop by about 30%, concentrating both sugar and acidity in the grapes. The family has called it classic Musar and a great year for Carignan, which joins Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault in the blend. The wine spent time in cement and a year in French oak. In the glass it’s garnet, with cigar box, fresh tea, plum, and Eastern spice on the nose. The palate is full and lively, with figs, cherries, tea leaves, and dark chocolate, finishing with bright, cleansing acidity.

Decant it and pour alongside slow-roasted lamb or aged cheeses.