Château Musar Rouge 2002 might just be the most exciting young Musar I have had. But since it has been a while since this wine has been available (or affordable) in Finland, there is a possibility that my emotions make this seem greater than it really is.
The year started out abnormally cool, but the end of the growing season was hot, but not so hot (or not hot long enough) that the acidity would have plummeted. It is a year with much of everything: fruit, alcohol (14%), acidity, tannins - and amazingly enough with such a combination, nuance and elegance, too. There is nothing raisiny or overripe as there was with the red 2001, yet it has the ripe, sexy, funky, savoury style of the 1991. Wonderful grip. I have previously thought of Musar's structure as more acid than tannin driven, but this has almost Nebbiolo-like palate-cleansing tannins. The wonderful acidity makes this very moreish. I always thought that having much fruit, much alcohol, much acidity and much tannin was a combination that made wine difficult to drink, but this Moose proves me wrong. Lovely stuff.