Chateau Musar Red 2001

Scarlet in colour with terracotta tones at the rim, it has a complex nose of cigar box spice, warm leather, baked fruits, ripe
morello cherries and blackcurrants. The palate has intense flavours of red cherries, dark chocolate, olives, figs and velvet
smooth tannins on the very long finish.

Overview
2001 was a most unusual year – although it began normally with some quite rainy and cold days, by mid February the
climate changed to much warmer weather with almost no rain or snow at all. From March until August there was only
23mm of precipitation – therefore the total for the year was dramatically less than normal and the water table was
significantly lowered. After a regular flowering in the spring, July and August were exceptionally hot.
This was the fourth year in a row of very little rainfall causing the vines to tire. Cinsault vines were the most affected,
especially those grown on limestone soils. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan grapes, with their thicker, firmer skins
were more protected from the sun and showed excellent concentration.
The Cinsault was still fragrant and fruity but lost some of its colour; the Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan were,
however, rich, powerful and fruity with smoky, leathery aromas and deep violet colour.
Grape Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan
Winemaking
The harvest began on the 3rd September – one of the earliest start dates on record. The overall crop was reduced by 15%
but the grapes were healthy and ripe, not overly tannic or acidic. Fermentation progressed steadily and the malolactic
followed easily and naturally as it did in 2000.
This vintage is marked by the dominance of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Carignan over the Cinsault. The wine was
fermented in cement vats, aged in French Nevers oak barrels for one year and bottled in the summer of 2004.