1995 Chateau Musar Lebanon -- dark cranberry in colour; kind of a sweet funky, earthy, cinammony nose, which evolved over 3 hours but never became really inviting; bright cranberry, cherry, spice cake flavours, a bit too acidic, a bit hard; medium-length finish, with acid, fruit, and fine tannins showing in about equal proportion. This wine has a good track record, so maybe will show better in a few years; I've had the previous 2 vintages of this wine both of which I liked better. I rated it at a perhaps generous 88-89 pts. for now.

I have never had a Musar. How do you know which vintages to buy? How does it age?

I first had '93 Musar at the recommendation of a server in a restaurant; I described it as Chateauneuf meets Bordeaux (I posted a TN on some wine sites, not sure if it was on this one). I liked it enough to buy a couple bottles.

I bought a couple '94 when I saw them discounted at a wine shop; haven't drunk them yet.

I had read of Musar previously, it having been described by some writers as the finest (or maybe the only good) wine of the Middle East, though I understand there are now some good Israeli ones.

As far as knowing which vintages goes, well, that's the beauty of the internet. There's almost always some wine site that will give you the information you seek, for example here's a link to a Musar vertical held with the owner . I've read TNs from the gentleman who wrote these, and know him to be quite knowledgeable, so I'd trust his comments. Others are available as well, of course.

Thanks. As far as Israeli wines, I haven't had any I'd buy, but then again, I tend to avoid them.

Musar ages wonderfully. I have had some disappointing vintages (a 94 tasted last month was particularly disappointing) but overall all things considered its a reliable quite high quality producer.