2004 Chateau Musar Rouge [JG93][D92][WA91]

Producer: Chateau Musar  Region: Bekaa Valley, Lebanon  Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan Year: 2004  John Gilman, 93 Points  "The 2004 vintage of Château Musar is a touch cooler in aromatic profile than the very promising 2008, offering up a very complex constellation of cherries, black raspberries, a touch of currant, a gorgeous signature of soil, woodsmoke, beautiful spice tones, sandalwood, just a touch of pepper and a topnote of lavender. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and laser-like in its focus, with a beautiful core of sweet fruit, lovely transparency and complexity, ripe, well-integrated tannins and excellent length and grip on the very promising finish. It is interesting that there are really no signs of garrigue on the nose of the 2004, but at the backend of the palate, it is just loaded with it! This is already into its plateau of maturity and is drinking with breed and style, but it will continue to improve for at least the next decade and