Château Musar Blanc 2001 12,5% abv
2001 was the fourth straight year of abnormally hot temperatures in the Biq'á-valley. But this white doesn't seem to have such hot-year characteristics as the 2001 red - I guess that is because the white vines are planted at some of the highest altitudes I know of, at about 1200 meters.
But it is a fruity wine by Musar Blanc's standards, so much so that the oxidative notes which are there have to be actively searched for! It smells wonderfully like apricots and earth; rich and full bodied despite only 12,5% abv. The acidity for the white tends to be about 4,5-5 g/l, so it is technically a low acid wine, but it is still refreshing. Unending aftertaste, of wonderfully pure, mineral and apricotty fruit. A truly wonderful wine.
I'm hoping that I'll be able to take a detour into Lebanon to visit Musar on my trip to Syria next month. Last time I visited they had whites all the way back to the '50s on sale. It would be high time for me to try some mature white Moose for a change.