February Mini-bar | 21 February 2013

The annual offer of Château Musar is here, and The Wine Company of  Colchester has again given us some very generous discounts. I never recommend wine as an investment, partly because I believe it is for drinking rather than money-making, and also because I don’t want to be blamed for you losing your life savings. But I would point out that some of the older vintages of Musar are now going for ridiculous sums, such as almost £1,500 per bottle for the 1956, and £145 even for the 1978. This is a wine that just goes on improving. The days when you could pick it up for, say, £5 a bottle are very long gone.

The Hochar family have decided to hold back the most recent vintage — the 2006 — which they think needs more time to mature, and I suspect they are right. So TWC are offering three older vintages, all of them different, all of them excellent. The 2003 is rich and powerful, and though delicious now will go on improving. The price represents a £60 per case discount.

The 2000 millennium wine is spicy, with leather, figs, cedar, tobacco smoke, and is close to a really fine claret. There’s a £42 per case discount. The oldest is the 1998, which, at 15 years, is close to what most experts think is the optimum age for Musar. It is lighter than some years, with a heady, fragrant perfume. A tremendous treat. The £48 discount means you are getting a wine better than most classed Bordeaux, for a small fraction of the price.

There are also three other junior wines. The Musar white  2005 is made from two local grapes, and is weighty, plump and powerful. They recommend you drink it at room temperature, and it’s perfect with fresh fruit and cheese. I am happy to drink it slightly chilled, and find that it helps cancel out the sweetness in desserts. Reduced by £30 a case.

Musar Jeune 2010 is a gorgeous everyday drinking wine, packed with character and perfect for drinking on its own as well as with food. An £18 a case reduction. Hochar is the medium red, reduced by £33, and comes between the two. But a delectable wine in its own right. There are also magnums and other vintages available at similarly excellent prices. Give TWC a call.