[HK] Watson’s Wine Lucky Bag

[HK] Watson’s Wine Lucky Bag

From now on to 21 Aug, HK Watson’s Wine has a Lucky Bag (福袋) for $668. Lucky Bag is kind of lucky draw, you pick your own bag and inside the bag has 3 bottles of red wine that total is value from $1000 - $2000. The range includes French wine, Italian wine, Spanish wine and Australian wine. This deal has nothing to lose, why not give it a try, only $668 for 3 bottles of red wine that is around $222 for each and I have a chance to pick the expensive one.

Let ‘see which wine I got:

• Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 2010
• Chateau de Lamarque 2012
• Penfolds Cellar Reserve McLaren Vale Tempranillo 2012

Wow…Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere!! In HK it cost minimum $800 to $1000. The Staff told me that I picked the most expensive one lucky bag, it values around $2000. Only Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere is already over $668 and it is quite amusing and exciting. If, you intend to buy one, please hurry up, because those bags have limited number for each shop.   

從現開始到8月21日香港Watson’s Wine有一批福袋 (Lucky Bag)售價＄668, 大家對福袋應該唔會好陌生. 福袋內里有3枝紅酒總供價值到＄1000～＄2000, 款式包括有法國,意大利,西班牙和澳洲紅酒. 個福袋＄688有3枝紅酒每枝酒大約＄222, 其實我覺得係好低玩, 仲有機會抽到一D貴價酒.

大家睇下我抽到咩酒：

• Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 2010
• Chateau de Lamarque 2012 
• Penfolds Cellar Reserve McLaren Vale Tempranillo 2012

嘩!! Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere, 香港正價最少都要賣＄800﹣＄1000. 個STAFF同我講, 話我抽到呢一袋係價值最高既一袋, 價值大約＄2000. 其實單單一枝Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 已經超過＄668, 抽到靚酒, 又有得玩, 真係咩都低哂. 如果有興趣就要趁快, 因為佢同我講數量有限！賣完即止！

[France] Château Lascombes 2008

Last week, I just tasted Château Lascombes 2008, half bottle size. It may be too early to open this wine, but I am an impatient person, hard to wait 10 to 20 years to open a half bottle of wine. Chateau Lascombes is from Bordeaux Margaux, 2ème Crus Classés. Nowadays, Bordeaux Grand Crus Classés red wines are quite expensive. But compared to the other 2ème Crus, Château Lascombes is pretty worth to buy because the price is little cheaper than other 2eme Crus wine and it provides stable quality.

Château Lascombes established 17^th century, by the first owner Chevalier Antoine Lascombes, at 1855 it classified as 2ème Grand Crus Classes. Lascombes went through numerous sales and inheritance issues, owned by countless owners. Until 2001 USA Colony Capital purchased Lascombes for $67 Million (USD) and invested around $47 Million (USD) for estate renovation, improved and upgraded winery facilities. They hired 3 famous winemakers Yves Vatelot (Chateau Reignac), Alain Raynaud (Chateau Quinault L'Enclos) and Michel Rolland as consulting. With all kind of improvement, I found, after 2001Lascombes wine will have better guarantee. In 2011 Lascombes sold to a French insurance group MACSF.

Lascombes has118 hectare vineyards, planted 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, the vines average age are 35 years old. The terroirs included limestone, clay, sand and gravel. Margaux is gravelly soil and low clay content, it is suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon.  Wine from here is elegant, fragrant aroma and fine tannin structure. “Feminine” is often to describe Margaux wine. Vintage 2008 blends with 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Before, I had tasted the 2nd label of Lascombes, the name is Chevalier de Lascombes. 

My Taste Note: I decanted for 3-4 hours, deep purple color. The aromas have blackcurrant, violet, spices, licorice, vanilla and cedar. In the mouth, it is quite earthy mixed with blackcurrant, medium body with light acid and silky tannins. After taste can feel little sweet from tannins. Overall, this wine has opulent body and complex aromas, it is smooth and little tannins bite on the tongue. Age for few years later, it must develop more interesting flavors.  

上星期我品嚐了Château Lascombes 2008(半枝裝), 可能會太早開這枝酒. 因為我是一個比較心急的人,等不到10至20年才開一枝半枝裝的紅酒.  Château Lascombes是波爾多瑪歌區(Margaux)的二級酒莊.現今波爾多列級酒莊的紅酒都相當昂貴,不過以其他二級酒莊來計,Lascombes會比較低飲因為他的價錢是比其他二級酒莊低和酒質都很有保證和穩定.

Château Lascombes建立於17世紀,由第一位莊主Chevalier Antoine Lascombes創辦,1855年它被評選為二級酒莊.這個酒莊經歷過數多次的易手和繼承的問題,由多個業主擁有過.直到2001年一間美國退休基金集團(Colony Capital)以6千7百萬美元購買入和投資了大約4千7百萬美元來返新酒莊和更換釀酒的設備.他們聘請三位出名的釀酒師Yves Vatelot (Chateau Reignac), Alain Raynaud (Chateau Quinault L'Enclos) and Michel Rolland為顧問. 從以上提及的改善,我覺得從2001年之後的Lascombes會比較有保證.在2011年Lascombes再賣給一間法國保險集團MACSF.

Lascombes葡萄園占有118公頃,種了50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot 葡萄樹平均年齡是35歲,泥土含有石灰石,粘土,沙和礫石.瑪歌的泥土是有較多礫石,而泥土比較小,是Cabernet Sauvignon的理想種植地.釀出來的酒是优雅,芬芳香氣和細緻單寧.通常會以女性化來形容瑪歌的紅酒.這枝2008年有50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. 之前得都試過 Lascombes的副牌, 它叫做 Chevalier de Lascombes. 

我的品酒筆記 : 多數波爾多紅酒我都會醒酒大約1至2小時,這枝我用了2至3小時來醒酒. 顏色比較年輕帶有深紫色, 香氣方面有黑加倫子,紫羅蘭,香料,甘草,香草(雲尼拿)和雪松. 口感是Earthy帶有黑加倫子味道,中等酒身,輕輕的酸和柔滑的單寧. After taste可以感覺到單寧的小小甜.整體這款酒有豐厚(opulent)的酒身和香氣比較複雜,不停找到不同的香氣,酒是平滑和感覺到單寧輕輕地在舌頭走動.可以放在酒櫃裡繼續陳年, 遲多幾年一定會演變更多的風味.

[France] Clos Du Marquis 2004 & 2006

Before I have mentioned that some Bordeaux Grand Vin 2^nd wine is worth to try. This time, I want to talk about Clos du Marquis, it may be treated as 2^nd wine of Château Léoville-Las Cases, 2ème Crus Classés. But I think it is an another product of Ch. Léoville-Las Cases because it is made from the grapes of independent vineyards, which is near the Grand Vin vineyards. From 2007, Ch. Léoville-Las Cases made a real 2^nd label wine called “Le Petit Lion”. In recent years, few vineyards of Grand Vin uprooted and replanted new vines. These vines are for Le petit Lion production. In this case, Clos du Marquis is almost a separate cuvée made by Ch. Léoville-Las Cases.    

The vineyards for Clos du Marquis called” Le Petit Clos”. In French, Clos means a vineyard enclosed by wall. In the old time, these walls were used to protect the grapes inside vineyards. The location of Le Petit Clos is surrounded by different Grand Cru Classés from Saint-Julien and Pauillac. For example, Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Ch. Léoville Poyferré and Ch. Léoville Barton. The soil is nearly similar to the Grand Cru Classés, mainly gravel and well-drained. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, a typical Bordeaux blend. The Cabernet Sauvignon of Saint-Julien has more fruity character, unlike the powerful style of its neighbor Pauillac. From some wine reviews, this wine can challenge certain Grand Cru Classés and it can be classified as 3^rd to 5^th Cru Classés.      

My taste note: I have tasted 2 vintages of Clos du Marquis, 2004 and 2006. I tasted 2004 at around September 2011. The color is dark red, it shows with cherry, ripe blackberries and cedar aromas, tasted dry and full body with fine tannins and acidity. For 2006, I tasted at October 2014. The color is dark purple. It has more fruity and little earthy aromas, medium body with smooth tannins. Both wine have mellow fruit character, a good structure and balance. Overall I think, Clos du Marquis provides typical Saint-Juilien style, Grand Cru Classés quality wine and the price is quite bargain.     

之前我提過有一些波爾多列級酒莊的副牌酒,是很值得去嘗試.這次我想跟大家說的就是Clos du Marquis, 它可以當是Château Léoville-Las Cases, 2ème Crus Classés的副牌酒.但是我覺得它是Ch. Léoville-Las Cases的第二款產品,因為釀製這款酒的葡萄是來自正牌酒葡萄園鄰近的一個獨立葡萄園.從2007年Ch. Léoville-Las Cases生產了一款真正的副牌酒叫做“Le Petit Lion”(小獅子). 最近有些正牌酒葡萄園進行拔根和重新種植新的葡萄樹.這些葡萄樹就是用來釀製 ”Le Petit Lion”. 這樣看, Close du Marquis 好像是由Ch. Léoville-Las Cases釀製出來的獨立佳釀.

Clos du Marquis 的葡萄園叫做 ”Le Petit Clos”. 在法文Clos是指包圍著葡萄園的墙壁, 以前這些墙壁是用來保護葡萄園內的葡萄. Le Petit Clos 的所在位置是由Saint-Julien和Pauillac的不同的列級酒莊環繞着. 例如Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Ch. Léoville Poyferré 和 Ch. Léoville Barton. 它的風土可以說是跟列級酒莊差不多,土壤主要都是礫石為主和排水良好.葡萄酒的調配都是典型的波爾多品種Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot 和 Cabernet Franc. Saint-Julien的Cabernet Sauvignon是比較多果香和味道, 不像鄰近Pauillac的強勁風格.有一些品酒評語形容這款酒可以挑戰某些列級酒莊和可以分類為3級到5級的列級酒莊.

我的品酒筆記 : 我飲過Clos du Marquis的兩個年份包括2004和2006. 大約在2011年9月,我飲過2004年. 當時酒色是深紅色,它有車厘子,黑莓子和雪松的香氣.口感是乾紅酒型, 厚身和帶有細緻的單寧和酸.2006年大約在2014年10月,酒色是深紫色,這個年份果香比較多和有一點泥土香氣, 酒身是中等帶有平滑的單寧.兩個新年份都有醇美的果香和味道, 有好的結構和Balance.整體我覺得Clos du Marquis可提供到典當的Saint-Julien風格和有列級酒莊的質素,而價錢是比較宜人.