Château Musar 2018 White — Lebanon
96 Points Wine Enthusiast | 91 Points Wine Spectator
Discover one of Lebanon's most extraordinary white wines. Château Musar 2018 White is a rare blend of 60% Obaideh and 40% Merwah, grown in ancient high-altitude vineyards. Fermented and aged in new French oak, this remarkable wine offers vibrant citrus, ripe orchard fruits, Mediterranean herbs and developing honeyed complexity. Rich, dry and beautifully distinctive, with exceptional aging potential.
60% Obaideh & 40% Merwah
An Extraordinary White Wine from Lebanon's Ancient Mountain Vineyards
Some wines are memorable because of their reputation. Others are unforgettable because there is simply nothing else quite like them.
Château Musar 2018 White belongs to the latter category.
Produced from 60% Obaideh and 40% Merwah, two ancient indigenous Lebanese grape varieties, this remarkable dry white wine comes from high-altitude vineyards in the mountains of Lebanon.
Founded in 1930, Château Musar has earned international recognition for producing wines of extraordinary individuality, complexity and longevity. While its legendary red wines have captivated collectors for generations, Château Musar White represents an equally fascinating expression of Lebanon's ancient winemaking heritage.
The 2018 vintage offers a distinctive combination of vibrant citrus, ripe orchard fruits, Mediterranean herbs and subtle oak complexity. Aromas of lemon, lime, oregano and pine lead to a beautifully textured palate featuring pear, apple, fresh herbs and a long, dry finish.
With additional maturity, the wine reveals the honeyed, nutty and savory characteristics that make Château Musar White so distinctive.
Awarded 91 points by Wine Spectator in April 2026, this unusual and age-worthy white offers an extraordinary alternative to mature white Bordeaux, traditional white Rhône wines and aged white Rioja.
For collectors and adventurous wine enthusiasts, Château Musar 2018 White is an opportunity to discover a wine that defies conventional categories.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Brilliant lemon-gold, with attractive golden hues that will deepen as the wine continues to mature.
Nose: Expressive aromas of lemon zest, lime, oregano and pine mingle with fresh orchard fruits and Mediterranean herbs. As the wine opens, more developed notes of honeycomb, almond, dried herbs and subtle savory complexity emerge.
Palate: Rich, textured and distinctly dry. Flavors of ripe pears, apples and citrus fruit are complemented by herbal nuances, delicate nuttiness and the wine's characteristic savory personality. Firm acidity and a subtle chalky texture provide structure and balance.
Finish: Long, dry and persistent, with lingering citrus, herbs, almonds and a pleasantly bitter-edged finish.
The 2018 vintage combines youthful freshness with the developing complexity of a traditionally made, mature-release white wine.
The 2018 Vintage — High-Altitude Vineyards and a Remarkable Growing Season
The 2018 growing season began with generous winter precipitation, providing much-needed moisture to Lebanon's mountain vineyards.
January brought an impressive 355 millimeters of rain and snow, followed by another 162 millimeters in February. Additional rainfall in March and April helped replenish the soils.
A sudden rise in temperatures after April 15 encouraged bud development, while rainfall during flowering in May and June created promising conditions for the developing grapes.
July brought dry Mediterranean summer weather, with temperatures averaging approximately 35°C (95°F).
In August, a three-day heat wave pushed temperatures to 39–40°C (102–104°F).
Fortunately, Château Musar's ancient white grape varieties grow at high elevations, where mountain conditions help preserve freshness and aromatic complexity.
The vineyards, planted approximately 50–90 years before the 2018 harvest, are situated around 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) above sea level.
Harvest took place in September:
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Merwah: September 18, 2018
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Obaideh: September 22, 2018
The resulting grapes provided the concentration, freshness and distinctive aromatic character needed to produce an exceptional Lebanese white wine.
Obaideh and Merwah — Two Ancient Indigenous Lebanese Grapes
One of the most fascinating aspects of Château Musar White is its reliance on two indigenous grape varieties rarely encountered outside Lebanon.
Obaideh — 60%
Obaideh is an ancient Lebanese white grape variety traditionally cultivated in the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains.
Growing in stony, chalky soils at high elevations, it contributes freshness, aromatic complexity and structure.
In the 2018 vintage, Obaideh brings attractive citrus character, orchard-fruit flavors and balance.
Merwah — 40%
Merwah is another ancient Lebanese variety, traditionally grown on the seaward slopes of Mount Lebanon, where calcareous gravel soils and mountainous conditions shape its distinctive character.
It contributes aromatic intensity, texture and savory complexity, with citrus, herbal and mineral-like characteristics.
Together, Obaideh and Merwah produce a white wine that offers an entirely different expression of Mediterranean terroir.
The vines are traditionally cultivated as low-yielding bush vines, with yields averaging approximately 10–20 hectoliters per hectare.
These ancient varieties are central to Château Musar's commitment to preserving Lebanon's historic winegrowing traditions.
Traditional Winemaking — Nine Months in New French Oak
Château Musar's winemaking philosophy emphasizes patience, minimal intervention and respect for the natural character of each vintage.
For the 2018 Château Musar White, both Obaideh and Merwah were pressed and racked before undergoing fermentation in new French oak barrels.
The wines remained in oak for nine months, allowing the fruit, acidity and oak-derived complexity to integrate gradually.
The two varieties were blended in spring 2019, followed by cold stabilization and bottling during the summer of 2019.
Rather than releasing the wine immediately, Château Musar continued its maturation for several additional years.
The 2018 vintage was officially released in late summer or early autumn 2024, approximately six years after harvest.
This extended maturation is fundamental to the estate's philosophy and helps explain the extraordinary character and aging potential of Château Musar White.
Château Musar — A Lebanese Winemaking Legend Since 1930
Founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar, Château Musar is one of the most celebrated wineries in the Middle East and an internationally recognized symbol of Lebanese winemaking.
The estate combines Lebanon's ancient viticultural traditions with a distinctive philosophy inspired by traditional European winemaking.
Under Gaston's son, Serge Hochar, Château Musar developed a worldwide reputation for producing wines of remarkable individuality and longevity.
Serge's approach emphasized patience, vintage expression and traditional winemaking techniques, creating wines that challenged conventional expectations.
While Château Musar Red became internationally renowned, the estate's white wines have developed an equally devoted following among collectors and adventurous wine enthusiasts.
Produced from indigenous Lebanese grapes grown in mountainous vineyards, Château Musar White demonstrates the extraordinary potential of Lebanon's ancient viticultural heritage.
The estate's historic cellars have held white vintages dating back to the 1950s, illustrating the remarkable longevity of these distinctive wines.
Today, Château Musar remains a testament to the Hochar family's vision and Lebanon's enduring contribution to the world of fine wine.
91 Points Wine Spectator — A Distinctive Mature-Release White
Wine Spectator — 91 Points | April 2026
Wine Spectator recognized the 2018 Château Musar White for its distinctive mature character, complex aromatics and structured palate.
The review highlighted intriguing notes of honeycomb, sun tea, white chocolate, blanched almonds, green herbs and mint.
On the palate, the wine displays a firm, dry character with chalky tannins and a long, pleasantly bitter finish.
Wine Spectator also emphasized that Château Musar White is an unconventional wine whose distinctive style particularly appeals to enthusiasts who appreciate mature, savory and traditionally made whites.
This is precisely what makes Château Musar White so compelling: it is not intended to imitate familiar international wine styles but to express a character entirely its own.
Food Pairing — A White Wine Made for the Table
The richness, savory complexity and firm structure of Château Musar 2018 White make it a particularly versatile companion to flavorful dishes.
Excellent pairings include roasted fish, grilled sea bass, lobster, scallops, seafood risotto, roast chicken, mushroom dishes, pâtés, rillettes and aged cheeses.
Its layered flavors also complement more assertively seasoned dishes.
For a Lebanese-inspired meal, consider grilled fish with lemon and herbs, chicken shawarma, roasted cauliflower with tahini, hummus, Mediterranean vegetables or seafood prepared with aromatic spices.
Unlike lighter white wines intended primarily as refreshing aperitifs, Château Musar White has the depth and complexity to accompany an entire meal.
Serving, Decanting and Aging Potential
Château Musar White is best served slightly warmer than conventional crisp white wines.
The estate recommends a serving temperature of approximately 59°F (15°C).
Avoid serving it excessively chilled, as lower temperatures can suppress its complex aromas and flavors.
The wine benefits from several hours of breathing time. Consider opening the bottle in advance or decanting carefully to allow its layered aromas to develop.
For long-term storage, keep bottles lying on their sides in a cool, dark environment with stable temperatures.
Château Musar White is renowned for its ability to evolve over decades, developing deeper golden hues and increasingly complex nutty, honeyed and savory characteristics.
Wine Details
| Attribute |
Details |
| Producer |
Château Musar |
| Vintage |
2018 |
| Wine |
Château Musar White |
| Country |
Lebanon |
| Vineyard Region |
Mountain vineyards of Lebanon |
| Wine Style |
Dry white wine |
| Grape Varieties |
Obaideh, Merwah |
| Blend |
60% Obaideh, 40% Merwah |
| Vineyard Elevation |
Approximately 1,300 meters |
| Vine Age at Harvest |
Approximately 50–90 years |
| Vineyard Soils |
Stony chalk and calcareous gravels |
| Fermentation |
New French oak barrels |
| Oak Aging |
9 months |
| Blending |
Spring 2019 |
| Bottling |
Summer 2019 |
| Vintage Release |
Late summer/early autumn 2024 |
| Alcohol |
12% ABV |
| Professional Rating |
91 Points Wine Spectator |
| Serving Temperature |
59°F / 15°C |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Aging Potential |
Several decades under suitable storage conditions |
Why You'll Love It
Château Musar 2018 White is an extraordinary expression of Lebanon's ancient grape varieties, mountainous terroir and generations of patient winemaking.
Its distinctive combination of citrus, orchard fruits, Mediterranean herbs, honeyed complexity and savory character makes it a fascinating alternative to mature white Bordeaux, traditional white Rhône wines and aged white Rioja.
For collectors, it offers rarity, heritage and remarkable aging potential.
For adventurous wine enthusiasts, it offers the opportunity to discover two indigenous Lebanese grape varieties rarely encountered outside their homeland.
And for anyone who appreciates wines with genuine individuality, Château Musar White is an unforgettable discovery.
Discover Château Musar 2018 White at MyWinePlus.com — exceptional wines from Lebanon's ancient vineyards, delivered to your table.
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