Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2BT thewinesociety.com Wine Notes

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1 page 1 memberservices@ Kékfrankos Reserve 2009 (Villanyi) Splendidly full, rich and invigorating example of the late-ripening kékfrankos which benefited from the long hot summer in Hungary in Known in Austria as blaufrankisch, this is a wine with distinct character, natural sweetness balanced by freshness and we think will delight all who try it. Product Code HU711 Dominant Grape Kekfrankos Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2017 Origin Hungary Alcohol Level 15.0% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2009 Price No longer for sale Cairanne Côtes-du-Rhone Villages, l'authentique, Domaine Délubac, 2006 Fabulously rich yet vibrant red from the Délubac brothers, a new source of Cairanne that makes hearty, full-bodied wines with plenty of concentration. This is their top wine. Product Code RH27711 Dominant Grape Grenache/Garnacha Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2016 Origin Other Southern Rhone Wines Alcohol Level 15.0% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2006 Price No longer for sale Chateau Musar 2005 This is an exquisite vintage for Chateau Musar and will go down as one of the estate's greatest. Fragrant and pure, with that rare combination of intensity and freshness which marks it out as a truly great wine. It will provide much drinking pleasure now and for at least another decade. Product Code LE551 Dominant Grape not applicable Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2013 to 2024 Origin Lebanon Alcohol Level 14.0% Style Full-bodied Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2005 Price No longer for sale Producer : Chateau Musar - See next page.

2 page 2 memberservices@ Producer : Chateau Musar Chateau Musar was established in 1930 by Gaston Hochar at the tender age of 20. His inspiration was both the 6,000-year winemaking history of Lebanon s Bekaa Valley and also his time in Bordeaux a connection which was strengthened during the Second World War when he befriended Major Ronald Barton of Château Langoa-Barton while he was stationed in Lebanon. In 1959 he graciously stepped aside for his two eager sons Serge and Ronald. Serge, who sadly passed away in 2014, was the better known of the pair, having travelled extensively to promote the wines and regularly attending annual Wine Society tastings to meet our members. Ronald, however, has been instrumental in running the business side of things, and his huge contribution includes keeping the winery open against all odds throughout the civil war. This is especially shocking given that in 1989 the winery and the Hochar family home were directly hit by shelling, but the Hochar brothers did more than stand their ground: for a short time they even used the cellars as a bomb shelter to give local people refuge. Today it is overseen by the third generation: like their father and uncle, Serge s eldest son Gaston now manages the day-to-day operation of the winery whereas his younger son Marc helps to control the commercial aspects. Ronald s son Ralph also works in Musar s UK office, and his daughter Elsa has immortalised the winery and her family s rich history in a documentary. The Musar property is located in the southern end of Bekaa Valley, around 30km north of Beirut. Here the altitude and shelter from surrounding mountains provide excellent growing conditions; the Bekaa valley is almost completely disease and frost free with long mild summers and just enough rain in the winter. The wide range of gravelly soils over limestone is also ideal for viticulture. The red grapes cabernet sauvignon, cinsault and carignan are grown on mature, low-yielding vines for extra concentration, whereas the white grapes are indigenous varieties are better suited to higher altitude - some are grown as high as 1500m above sea level. Picking is done by hand in the cool mornings to preserve freshness, and all of Musar s wines are produced with minimum intervention. Wines are made with the minimum of sulphur and are not fined or filtered. Chateau Musar has been described by many as one of the great wines of the world, and it is certainly eccentric and intriguing in style. The third generation continues to build on Serge Hochar s artistic craftsmanship. He has been quoted as saying I once produced a wine that was technically perfect but it lacked the charms of imperfection, and the ultimate aim is still to make Musar in the most natural and authentic way, but with a touch of fascinating volatility. Each year, the final blend has varying percentages of each grape variety, and they in turn are sourced from several vineyard sites, resulting in intriguing blends that evolve from year to year.

3 page 3 memberservices@ Producer : Chateau Musar - Continued. Chateau Musar is a wine that needs time in bottle and is usually kept in vats for several years by the Hochars before being released for sale. The white Chateau Musar is made in an oxidative style that can often divide opinion. For earlier-drinking, the second wines, labelled Hochar Père et Fils, are made in the same distinctive style and are a perfect introduction to the mighty Musar brand.

4 page 4 memberservices@ Chateau Musar 2003 The 2003 of this eccentric wine is full-bodied and powerful with chunky, ripe tannins which promise the wine a long life ahead. Product Code LE441 Dominant Grape not applicable Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2010 to 2020 Origin Lebanon Alcohol Level 14.0% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2003 Price No longer for sale Producer : Chateau Musar - See next page.

5 page 5 memberservices@ Producer : Chateau Musar Chateau Musar was established in 1930 by Gaston Hochar at the tender age of 20. His inspiration was both the 6,000-year winemaking history of Lebanon s Bekaa Valley and also his time in Bordeaux a connection which was strengthened during the Second World War when he befriended Major Ronald Barton of Château Langoa-Barton while he was stationed in Lebanon. In 1959 he graciously stepped aside for his two eager sons Serge and Ronald. Serge, who sadly passed away in 2014, was the better known of the pair, having travelled extensively to promote the wines and regularly attending annual Wine Society tastings to meet our members. Ronald, however, has been instrumental in running the business side of things, and his huge contribution includes keeping the winery open against all odds throughout the civil war. This is especially shocking given that in 1989 the winery and the Hochar family home were directly hit by shelling, but the Hochar brothers did more than stand their ground: for a short time they even used the cellars as a bomb shelter to give local people refuge. Today it is overseen by the third generation: like their father and uncle, Serge s eldest son Gaston now manages the day-to-day operation of the winery whereas his younger son Marc helps to control the commercial aspects. Ronald s son Ralph also works in Musar s UK office, and his daughter Elsa has immortalised the winery and her family s rich history in a documentary. The Musar property is located in the southern end of Bekaa Valley, around 30km north of Beirut. Here the altitude and shelter from surrounding mountains provide excellent growing conditions; the Bekaa valley is almost completely disease and frost free with long mild summers and just enough rain in the winter. The wide range of gravelly soils over limestone is also ideal for viticulture. The red grapes cabernet sauvignon, cinsault and carignan are grown on mature, low-yielding vines for extra concentration, whereas the white grapes are indigenous varieties are better suited to higher altitude - some are grown as high as 1500m above sea level. Picking is done by hand in the cool mornings to preserve freshness, and all of Musar s wines are produced with minimum intervention. Wines are made with the minimum of sulphur and are not fined or filtered. Chateau Musar has been described by many as one of the great wines of the world, and it is certainly eccentric and intriguing in style. The third generation continues to build on Serge Hochar s artistic craftsmanship. He has been quoted as saying I once produced a wine that was technically perfect but it lacked the charms of imperfection, and the ultimate aim is still to make Musar in the most natural and authentic way, but with a touch of fascinating volatility. Each year, the final blend has varying percentages of each grape variety, and they in turn are sourced from several vineyard sites, resulting in intriguing blends that evolve from year to year.

6 page 6 memberservices@ Producer : Chateau Musar - Continued. Chateau Musar is a wine that needs time in bottle and is usually kept in vats for several years by the Hochars before being released for sale. The white Chateau Musar is made in an oxidative style that can often divide opinion. For earlier-drinking, the second wines, labelled Hochar Père et Fils, are made in the same distinctive style and are a perfect introduction to the mighty Musar brand.

7 page 7 memberservices@

Wine Notes. The Society's California Old-Vine Zinfandel. These wine notes were created on 27-Mar-2019.

Wine Notes. The Society's California Old-Vine Zinfandel. These wine notes were created on 27-Mar-2019. page 1 memberservices@ The Society's California Old-Vine Zinfandel Zinfandel is California's quintessential red grape and is best at producing ripe, full-flavoured dry wines. The Society's Zinfandel is