Jay Kline

9.4

It is customary for the wines of Chateau Musar to be released seven years post-vintage. However, in 2013, the decision was made to hold the vintage back. 2006 was unusual for two reasons. The first, were the cool climatic conditions in the Bekaa; the likes of which had not been seen since the 1950’s. There was a two-week period in winter where the valley was blanketed in snow and mild temperatures remained in effect throughout much of the growing season. The second was much more tragic: 2006 was a war year in Lebanon. On July 12th of that year, Israel and Hezbollah engaged in a bloody conflict that lasted (officially) a little over a month. Sadly, thousands of lives were lost. In 2017, eleven years after harvest, the 2006 vintage was deemed ready for release.

Poured into a decanter about 90min prior to service. The 2006 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black cherry, blackberries, black currants, tobacco, horse blanket, leather, some red and purple flowers, dried herbs and Eastern spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and absolutely delicious. A triumph and perfect with lamb chops. Drink now through 2046+.

How Chateau Musar endures to make wines from the Bekaa remain one of the great examples of human grit and determination available in the world of wine. Frankly, it’s a minor miracle this vintage ever made it to the winery. — 7 months ago

Lyn Farmer

9.4

Opened long before it will actually show its true depth this is still a stunning bundle of black fruit. The oak and cedar overwhelm the bouquet at first, then cassis, blackberry, black cherry, and plum emerge. The palate is rich and creamy with very ripe tannins giving a hint of the longevity this wine possesses. Mint, cigar box and forest floor are beginning to show but many more notes will emerge with time. Lovely wine, classic Napa black fruit. Cabernet with just a dollop of Petite Verdot (5%) and Malbec (2%) for complexity. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This bottle was a lovely gift from our friend Tim who visited Omaha this past Spring. Our only instructions were to enjoy it together with food; challenge accepted! While I have experienced many wines produced by Foillard, this was my first with his “Cote du Py”. The wine pours a deep ruby color; slightly hazy in the glass. On the nose, at least initially, there are signs of some Brett giving a barnyard characteristic but that sort of blows off (or at least becomes less obvious) with cherries, earth, blackened poblano, underripe plum, and purple Sweet Tarts taking a more central role. On the palate, it’s mostly dark cherry and blackberries showing very little in the way of evolution. Medium+ acid, medium- tannin. The finish was super long. I was really impressed how young this wine was coming across; hardly an indication of anything that would indicate ten years of age. Yet more proof that Beaujolais can cellar quite gracefully. We loved how this paired with grilled rack of lamb and a light salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, mozzarella and prosciutto. Grazie Tim! — 4 years ago

Tooty Frooty

9.0

Lättfotat och förföriskt vätskgodis. Omogna hallon. Småpartierna på systemet. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is the most picturesque Chateau in Bordeaux. Oh...and they make a pretty amazing Bordeaux. It's a good first look at the 03 vintage from my five bottle set. There are steak wines and then there are steak wines. This was a 10 pair with the T-bone...Heaven. The tannins have softened but have many years ahead to get to that perfect place. The mouthfeel is full, round, creamy and elegant. The fruits have a not too sweet liqueur style. They are; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, sweet tobacco leaf, anise, used leather, black tea, used coffee grounds, rich wet black turned earth, stones, dry red florals, spice; clove, nutmeg, baking spices; very light vanilla, touch of caramel, dark chocolate and acidity that pours over the palate. There is the start of harmony in the structure, length, balance and tension. The finish lasts a full two-minutes and it crushed with the T-bone. Next bottle in 5-7 years. For the legions of you on Delectable crushing only young Napa Cabernet, you have no idea what you're missing in aged Bordeaux...forget about it...even vs. well aged Napa Cabernet. Respect!!! 3-4 hour decant and it needed every second of it. — 9 years ago

Jess Kat

9.7

One of my favs I love all of Dave Matthews wine — 10 years ago

Coop Coop

9.0

Yummy inexpensive blend. Smooth. — 10 years ago

Patrick Fishman

10

Very smooth with chocolate flavor — 11 years ago

Rene Garay

9.7

Great wine with pork or chicken — 13 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

From the Downs Club First Growth Lunch last Saturday. Very brief notes. Mid crimson in colour - some bricking at the rim. A meaty note - a lovely red fruited perfume - unmistakably first growth. Just medium weight - a lesser vintage. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2012 pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Montmorency cherry, blackberry, dill, toasted coconut, olive, zatar, and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This only got better with air and might be my favorite young Tondonia since I first drank the 2006 vintage. Really good stuff already! Drink now with some patience and through 2042. — 10 months ago

Kamall

8.9

Still packing a tannic punch, fruit is very much in the background. A little disjointed at this point? Will wait a while on my other bottles. This was my favorite vintage at first taste. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

The first of my small tranche of 2019 Cuvée Reservée’s and I figured it would be fun to share with the Tasting Group. Popped and poured and presented double-blind. The wine pours a translucent, deep ruby with magenta rim, near opaque core, medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine was clean with macerated raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate fruits. There were purple flowers, some black pepper and rocky minerality along with a slightly gamey note which was quite charming. Both the fruit and non-fruit characteristics were confirmed on the palate. The wine finishes dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. There’s a compelling sense of power and energy in this wine. Everyone was in the Rhône but most were in the North; from Saint Joseph to Cornas, citing that they believed this was Syrah. However, two in the group called Châteauneuf du Pape and one actually called producer (!!) but missed on vintage (2016). Universally, the wine was fawned over and the dude who called Pagaü thought he actually favored the 2019 over the 2016 he had a while back. While I’m not sure I would go that far, the 2019 is truly quite stunning already and seems to have the guts to see a very long and wonderful life ahead. These are currently enjoying their customary early drinking window however, that window will likely close within a year or so and then I could see this shutting down pretty hard until 2025 — 4 years ago

Silvia Rossi

10

My first and big Love ❤️ — 6 years ago

Amr El-Azhary

9.5

my first! superb! little young but has it all.. very unique nose of stewed berries, smoke, anchovies and spice... medium bodied and great mouth feel... not sure how to to describe it... long finish on a sweet smoky note! fantastic and it was our wine of the night!! — 8 years ago

speedy duncan

8.9

This lost the papal battle due to jamminess but it was the first indication of greatness for this 2000 vintage — 9 years ago

Pia Rix

9.6

Very smooth. Not too sweet, at all, with hints of vanilla bean and a subtle spice. Would love to keep on hand! — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Not quite as sensational as our bottle in February due to storage differences. Cooked fruit of; rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, dusty crush stones, leather, dark vanilla barrel toast, black earth and pebbles, black tea, hint of mushroom. Finishes soft and elegant with just a touch of funk. Hope you all enjoyed Christmas!!! — 10 years ago

Charles Fitzgerald

9.7

Delicious wine well balanced. Drinking like an aged first growth Bordeaux — 11 years ago

Patrick Hurley

9.8

Needs to breathe a bit at first, but drinks well. Tastes more expensive than it is. Good red! — 13 years ago

Matthew Goldenberg

9.1

My first experience with a bdx with this type of age. It had a note of green pepper on the nose and had a lot of life left. — 10 months ago

Justin Farrar

9.7

All leather and cigars at first, and then the fruit showed up after an hour. Delicious. — 10 months ago

Michael Patrone

9.4

First time with Taittinger. Crisp with overall lighter mouthfeel. Taste notes include flesh of white fruit. Maybe would be better with some age on it. — a year ago

with Meghana

Catherine Gmoser

9.2

Full bodied, fruity — 4 years ago

with Liz

stephen powell

9.0

Red berries on nose. Strawberry, blackberry, plum and leather with bright acidity and assertive tannins. Too tannic on its own, but excellent with Thanksgiving dinner — 5 years ago

Mono Head

9.1

Wax was hard to get off. Essentially scrapped it off. Before cork even came out I could start smelling the wine. I thought it would be corked. Cork melted off even with an ah so. First sip just had a little bit of funk but overall very drinkable. Much like a French Bordeaux. Fruit is muted, dry. Dark fruit finish. Smell definitely is dry and has an older funk, herbal, medicinal - not in a negative way. Would have loved to seen how it would have done decanted but had no time. — 6 years ago

Mike R

9.0

Road wine so ease off me please and I usually enjoy stag leap but last night so so

First off o smiled but because I drank entire bottle

Color was fine smell was aromatic but from there the other things were off

Taste was not what I expected as was too much heat and alcohol and finish was weak

Sadly I have a few and will be handing off as gifts to people I really don't know when needed - sorry to al future gift receivers — 8 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.0

Went really well with the pepperoni pizza. — 9 years ago

with Ilida

Jack Fa

9.5

Magnum...love it! — 10 years ago

with Rachel

Marty Winters

9.5

The first vintage release from Harlan estate. Now I can say I have been lucky to try every vintage of this wine. Long finish, with a lot less of a ripe attack than anticipated. Long life ahead of this wine made in a different era in napa. #timetraveling — 10 years ago