Wine of the Middle East – Chateau Musar
As you can imagine working in an airport you see and deal with a wide variety of people from all sorts of backgrounds. I still after 2 years find it difficult to not crack a smile when people ask for wine from Dubai. You know Dubai, that country in the desert with 50 degree temps in summer and is a Muslim country? I really shouldn’t laugh as that would have probably been me 5 or so years ago…perhaps!
Recently I tried the 1995 vintage and I swear once I got my first whiff of it I was suddenly in my gumboots standing in a big pile of manure on a farm! Not exactly a smell everybody adores but once you dig a bit deeper the scent of strawberries and cherries emerges with some sweet spice mixed in there. On the palate the strong animalistic characters come through as well as the signature volatile acidity of Musar. Though the acids are surprisingly well balanced with the tannins contributing to a nice structured body with an after taste of old leather.
I know people who would really love this style of red wine, though I have to admit it’s not one I could sit in front of a fire with and get through the whole bottle.