If you can remember when Chateau Musar was affordable, then you are as old as me. It was such an exciting wine, and it still is, tasting like the lovechild of a rebellious Pauillac and a free-spirited Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but it’s no longer the under-the-radar gem it once was. We tasted this Lebanese red at a restaurant and were transported back in time to those early days with Chateau Musar. It’s a similar blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Syrah and Grenache and has a ‘natural’ feel to it, as if it hasn’t been meddled with by a lot of industrial processes, allowing the grapes, the land and the traditions to show through. It’s full-bodied, with rich plum and black cherry flavours and has a touch of ‘barnyard’ about it, but it really integrates nicely and adds complexity rather than tasting like an uninvited guest. Delicious with robust dishes like chicken livers, merguez or grilled lamb chops. 13.5% alc. Drink now-2026.