Musar 1999 was an off bottle - probably seen a bit of heat at some point.
Musar 1998 was a fun little wine. It's never been a great Musar but it was a pleasant, soft, easy-going wine. Fun but not profound.
Musar 1997 is a pretty wine that I've always liked though it doesn't get universal approval from Musar fans. It is very ripe, almost raisiny, but not as volatile and wild as my previous bottles have been. This was strangely tame for the year and I think if more bottles were like this this vintage would have more fans.
Musar 1996 was perfectly ready to drink with lovely sweet fruit and a touch of funk, but nothing too much. It seems very classic and harmonious with all the right "faults" that we Musaroholics love but nothing in excessive amounts. I used to think this was a weak vintage but even these weak years end up being really lovely once they get enough age. But maybe this is the fanboi in me speaking.
Musar 1995 was a classic, rich, funky, wild Musar. It is big and sweet but has a lovely almost Gueuze-like sourness and high acidity. It's a nice big friendly punch in your face.
Musar 1994 was served from halves. This has always been a rich and sweet wine and now, when beside such a brilliant 1995, it wasn't as lovely as I thought previously: this time it seemed just a bit too ripe so it smelled a bit raisiny. But apart from that everything was just right with it. It's a very good wine. Just don't open it alongside a 1995.
Musar 1993 must be a victim of bad storage as it smells oxidised and dead.
Musar 1989 was surprising in that it smelled like a Grand Cru Burgundy with all that lovely shite and beetroot and red fruited sexiness. But it was also unmistakeably Musar since it was wild and funky in just that way. Really lively with highish acidity and again that almost Kriek-like sourness. Awesome wine.
Musar 1988 was very much in the mould of the '89 except lighter and brighter. Also awesome. Though I can't write as much about it, I think I ended up preferring this '88 over the '89.
Musar 1986 from magnum. Oxidised and dead.
Musar 1983 from magnum. A very nice Musar, not a great one but certainly not a mediocre one. Dark toned fruit, not high on Musar's volatility or shite scales, quite soft and gentle for a Musar. But really fun. Resolved and perfect to drink now but won't die any time soon if stored well. Very satisfying.
Musar 1981 corked.
Musar 1980 corked.
Musar 1979 was an awesome wine. Really quite a perfect mature Musar. Very pretty but funky fruit, quite extraordinary intensity, high acidity and sourness, very moreish despite its intensity. Interminable. Outstanding.
We finished with a sole white, the Musar Blanc 1992 which IIRC I have not tried before. A very dark orange colour. The scent was weird and utterly lovely: very fresh white fish, honey and orange marmalade. Rich but seems to be slightly more acidic than Musar's whites usually are. It has an almost olive oil texture and peppery bitter twist to it. I just love these whites. I'm sorry to say I wasn't the only fan so I couldn't drink it all by myself.
It was a lovely evening despite quite a few flawed bottles.