RIP Serge Hochar - Owner of Chateau Musar Dies In Swimming Accident While On Vacation

[DonRocks]

"RIP Serge Hochar" by Jancis Robinson on jancisrobinson.com

I doubt anyone in the history of the world has done more to promote the Carignan grape (which played a significant role in Chateau Musar's blend) than Serge Hochar.

[Kibbee Nayee]

Among the many great things to come out of Lebanon, along with Danny Thomas and Dr Michael DeBakey, was and still is Ch. Musar.

Few realize that Lebanon, although rich in history, was a part of Greater Syria until after World War One. It then became a French Mandate, more or less because the French wanted a country that was 6 parts Christian to 5 parts Muslim, and so the gerry-mandered border of Lebanon was split off from the British Mandate of Syria. Soon after the Mandate period began, Ch. Musar began creating wines with quite a bit of French influence and assistance, and some of them can be considered among the most interesting -- if inconsistent -- in the world. Serge Hochar studied in Bordeaux before taking over the winemaking at Ch. Musar in 1959.