[Old World ] Spanish Wine

                                      Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2013

I love Spanish wines, it always surprise me and show unexpected flavor. Recently, I tried different price range of Spanish Wines and want to share with everyone.  

BodegasBorsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2013

Tres Picos is a 100% Grenache red wine, made by Borsao winery, from Northern Spain Campo de Borja. The wine name “Tres Picos” means Three Peaks, which is the Grenache for this wine are exactly from mountain vineyards between 35-60 years old, located in 600-700m altitude. It fermented in stainless steel tank, and then spends 5 to 10 months in French oaks. This wine has dark purple color, shows plum, cherry, menthol and spices aromas. In the mouth has rich fruit like plum and blackberry, it is medium to full body, dry red wine but after taste can find the sweeten of ripe fruit. The price is around HKD $125~150 ( at Watson Wine).

                                Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja DOCa 2001

BodegasFaustino I Gran Reserva Rioja DOCa 2001

The Faustino Gran Reserva used traditional packaging like a gold wire wrapped the bottles and Faustino iconic frosted bottles which are easy to recognize in wine shop. Bodegas (Winery) Faustino established in 1861, located in Oyón, Rioja Alavesa. The Gran Reserva blended with mainly Tempranillo, plus Graciano and Mazue. It spent 26 month in French oak and at least 3 years in bottle. This is a traditional Rioja style wine, it very plummy, it has ruby red color with light orange on the rim. The aromas have plum, spices, tobacco and little of oak. In the mouth have delicate palate, medium body, mild and acid, tannic. The price is arouns HKD $250~$300. 

                                     Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2013

                                 #1 Greatest Value wine of 2014 By Robert Parker 

                              Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja DOCa 2001

我都幾鍾意飲西班牙紅酒, 因為每次都飲都會有驚喜或意想不到的發現. 近來試了兩枝不同價錢的西班牙紅酒, 想和大家分享一下.

BodegasBorsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2013

Tres Picos 採用100% Grenache 來釀製, 酒莊 Borsao來自西班牙北部的  Campo de Borja.酒名"Tres Picos"是西班牙語解, 三個山峰的意思, 因為釀製這款紅酒的葡萄就正是在山上的葡萄園採摘, 樹齡大約35-60歲, 位於600-700米高. 首先會在不銹鋼酒桶內發酵, 之後再放在法國橡木桶內5-10個月. 深紫色的葡萄酒帶有西梅, 車厘子, 薄荷, 香料的芳香. 口感非常豐富, 有濃郁水果香, Medium ~ Full Body, 這是一款Dry紅酒,  不過After Taste可以找到一些類似水果熟透時的甜. 價錢大約 HKD $125~150 (屈臣氏酒窖有售). 

                               Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja DOCa 2001

BodegasFaustino I Gran Reserva Rioja DOCa 2001

Faustino Gran Reserva 用了最傳統的包裝, 金屬酒瓶網和他們代表性的磨砂瓶, 所以在紅酒鋪內非常容易認得出. Bodegas (酒莊) Faustino 在1861年創立, 位於Oyón 在Rioja Alavesa內. Gran Reserva主要是用Tempranillo葡萄, 加配多兩款葡萄Graciano / Mazue. 葡萄酒會在法國橡木桶陳年26個月, 裝瓶後在酒瓶內再陳年多3年. 這款酒可品嚐到Rioja的傳統風格, 非常  Plummy, 帶有紅寶石色的酒, 在紅酒的邊緣位有輕微橙色, 比較舊年份的紅酒都有機會帶有橙色,銅色,等等. 芳香都有李子, 香料, 煙草, 輕微的木桶香(可以當是雲呢拿). 口感細緻帶有美味水果香,Medium Body,輕輕的酸和柔和的單寧. 價錢大約 $250~$300, 己忘記在哪裡買.

[France / Italy] Montirius Gigondas Confidentiel 2010 & Fattoria Le Pupille ElisabettaGeppetti 'Poggio Valente, Morellino di Scansano Riserva DOCG Italy 2009 Wine Tasting

I have been so busy on these past weeks but still have time for wine tasting. These 2 wines are worth to try, let’s share these simple wine reviews for your reference.

The 1^st one is Montirius Gigondas Confidentiel 2010, from Gigondas which is locating in Southern Rhone Valley. The terroir here is limestone and clay slopes up to 1,300 ft. Here is Mediterranean climate hot temperature, dry and sunny. Gigondas only has black grapes plantation, so no white wine is yielding. The wine blended big amount of Grenache grape, it gives the wine firmer and longer aging potential. Montirius Gigondas Confidentiel 2010 blended with 80% of Grenache and 20% of Mourvèdre, the average age of the vines are 75 years old. Before, I decanted for around 30 mins. The color is dark purple, has plum, cherry, spices, black pepper and light smoke aromas. In the mouth can found richness of plum and cherries, powerful tannins, aftertaste has little mineral. Overall, this wine is dry and full body with luscious fruits, can drink now or keep in cellar for aging.    

The 2^nd one is Fattoria Le Pupille Elisabetta Geppetti 'Poggio Valente, Morellino diScansano Riserva DOCG Italy 2009, an Italian wine from Southern Tuscany. Morellino di Scansano DOCG is a dry red wine region from Village Scansano. Here the wine made with at least 85% of Morellino grapes, which is identical with Sangiovese grapes, the characteristics are medium to full body with cherry, plum, herbs and cedar aromas. Then, it matured in barrel between 4 to 12 months, for “Riserva” wine had 2 years of maturation which has 1 year in barrel. Fattoria Le Pupille winery owns by Elisabetta Geppetti, she is also the President of Morellino di Scansano Consortium. This Morellino di Scansano blends with Sangiovese and Merlot, the grapes are from Poggio Valente vineyards. After fermentation, the wine matured in a big barrel for 15 months. This wine shows very fleshy fruits aromas such as cherry, plum, raspberry, and it has tobacco, nutmeg and liquorice aromas. Overall, it is full body, dry with high acid and balance tannins, then aftertaste has richness of fruits come out, I found this is ready to drink now

近期因工作比較忙所以好少出文,不過都可以抽少少時間出嚟飲下酒. 就飲咗呢兩枝紅酒感覺都值得同大家分享一下.

第一枝係 Montirius Gigondas Confidentiel 2010, 來自法國隆河谷南部的 ”Gigondas”. 這裡是地中海氣候, 溫度比較熱, 乾燥和陽光普照. 主要土壤是石灰石和粘土, 地勢是斜坡型最高可到1,300FT. Gigondas主要種植黑葡萄為主, 所以只有釀製紅酒沒有白酒. 而釀造紅酒的主要葡萄是Grenache, 這款葡萄釀出來的酒會比較硬身, 可陳年, 帶有香濃的Plum(李子)風味.  Montirius Gigondas Confidentiel 2010 用了80% Grenache 和20% Mourvèdre來釀製, 每棵葡萄樹的平均年齡是75歲. 飲之前Decant大約30分鐘, 酒色深紫色, 有李子, 車厘子, 香料, 黑胡椒芳香和輕微的木桶煙燻香. 口感方面帶有豐富的李子和車厘子味道, 單寧較強勁, Aftertaste 可感覺到一些礦物質既感覺. 整體這是一款Dry 和Full Body 紅酒, 而帶有出色的水果風味, 濃郁得嚟又容易飲. 現在可以飲用或可以繼續陳年.

第二枝是來自意大利Tuscany(托斯卡納)的紅酒Fattoria Le Pupille ElisabettaGeppetti 'Poggio Valente, Morellino di Scansano Riserva DOCG Italy 2009. Morellino di Scansano DOCG 主要生產紅酒, 位於Tuscany南部的一個村莊叫做Scansano. 這裡的紅酒最少85%都是用Morellino葡萄來釀製, 而這款葡萄其實是跟Sangiovese "山吉歐維榭" 同一種葡萄, 釀出來的酒是近乎中等到厚身, 帶有車厘子, 李子, 草藥和雪松芳香. 釀成酒之後會放在木桶內陳年4至12個月, 如果”Riserva”紅酒需要陳年2年最少1年在木桶內. 酒莊Fattoria Le Pupille的莊主是Elisabetta Geppetti, 她又是Morellino di Scansano聯盟的會長. 這款酒主要是用了Sangiovese其餘是Merlot, 所有葡萄都是來自Poggio Valente葡萄園, 當紅酒釀成後放入大型木桶內15個月. 這款酒有飽滿的水果芳香, 有車厘子, 覆盆子, 李子和有一些煙草, 肉荳蔻(Nutmeg), 甘草的芳香. 整體這款酒的口感是, Dry, Balance 單寕, 酸度較高的紅酒不過Aftertaste可帶出豐富的水果甜味, 我覺得現在可以飲用.

[France] "Wine in a can"

Last month in HK, I found this wine which is packed in small aluminum can with 187ml. It names Winestar, their concept is let people to enjoy wine in a convenient way for different occasion. This small can of wine distinguished by Red, White and Rosé, very suitable for lunch, picnic or for people can't hold liquor very well. The price is around $23~27 HKD, not expensive, we can stock dozen cans for daily drink.

My Taste Note:

Red (AOC Corbières): It blends with 40% Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre and 20% Grenache noir. The color shows beautiful garnet red. It has strong black fruits, black pepper and different type of spices aromas come out slowly. The palate has medium body with very fresh acid and light tannins. In the mouth has full of black fruits and spices flavors.

White (AOC Corbières): It blends with 55% Malvoisie, 25% Rolle Vermentino and 20% Grenache blanc. The color shows pale yellow. The major aroma is pineapple and the rest are grapefruit and lemon, fresh style. On the palate is light body, soft acid, very easy to finish.

Rosé (AOC Languedoc): It blends with 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache Noir. The color shows orange and pink. I can only feel strawberry aroma. The palate has medium body and can find strawberry and candy flavors. Overall, this rosé is fine but after taste has little bitterness.

Overall, all 3 style of Winestar can provide pleasant aromas and taste. For myself, I like red and rosé because the palate is richer than white and the taste has more layer.  For this low price wine can be provided such a quality is worth to try out.              

上個月我在香港發現到一款葡萄酒是裝在一個小型鋁罐裡,容量是187ml.這款罐裝酒叫做Winestar,他們的概念是讓人可以在不同場合上方便一些來品嚐葡萄酒.這款小罐裝葡萄酒分為紅酒,白酒和粉紅酒,非常適合食下午飯和野餐的時候飲用或一些酒量比較差的人飲用.價錢每罐大約 $23~27 HKD比較便宜,可以買多一些方在屋裡慢慢飲.

我的品酒筆記:

紅酒(AOC Corbières) 這款紅酒是混合了40% Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre a和20% Grenache noir. 它的顏色帶有漂亮的石榴紅.香氣有強烈的黑色水果,黑胡椒和不同的香料慢慢出來.口感是中等酒體,酸味比較鮮明和輕輕的單寧.在口裡有豐富的黑色水果和香料味道.

白酒(AOC Corbières): 這款白酒混合了55% Malvoisie, 25% Rolle Vermentino和20% Grenache blanc.它的顏色帶有淡黃色.香氣帶有主要是菠蘿,有多一些柚子和檸檬,清爽型白酒.口感是輕酒體,輕巧的酸度,我覺得這款比較輕鬆.  

粉紅酒 (AOC Languedoc): 這款粉紅酒混合了 80% Syrah和20% Grenache Noir.它顏色帶有粉紅橙色.我感覺到它有士多啤利香氣.口感是中等酒體和可以找到士多啤利和一些類似糖果味道.整體是不錯,只是after taste有少少苦味.

整體3款酒都提供到優美和宜人酒香和味道.我本人比較喜歡紅酒和粉紅酒,因為這兩款的口感比白酒較醇厚和味道上更有層次.對於這種廉價葡萄酒可以提供到這種質素,是很直得去嚐試.

[France] The taste of history!

In my taste note, Rhône Valley wine is highly recommended. It is separated into Northern and Southern side, each appellation has their unique characteristic. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is located in Southern Rhône Valley. This village is full of history, the name in English means New Castle of the Pope. Back to the 14^th century, the papal set a new Castle in Avignon (close to Châteauneuf-du-Pape). Perhaps of the history, the wine bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is embossed with papal keys. The climate is Mediterranean with dry and hot weather. Many of the vineyards are covered by mixed pebbles, sand, clay and limestone. This type of pebbles in French is called Galets, which is larger and smooth. It can retain the heat during daytime and release the heat at night to help the grapes to get fully ripen. The famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wine is powerful, full bodies, with high alcohol and jammy fruit because it is mostly made with 75% of Grenache, and the rest is Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Roussanne, Picardan and Picpoul. Red wine of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is permitted to blend with 13 different grapes varieties but most of the wine is blend with 3 varieties such as Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, only few wineries are blend with all 13 varieties.   

Brunel family owns Château de la Gardine since 1947, before that it may have a longer history. At that time, the vineyards were in a poor condition, because it was left uncultivated during World War 2. Afterward, they replanted and expended the vineyards to the present 52 ha, there are 48 ha for red wine and 4 ha for white wine. The soil of the vineyards is covering by round stones, clay, sand, limestone and pebbles. Average age of the vines are 40 – 60 years old, the oldest vines were planted in 1925. In their wine list include 5 red and 2 white wines. This time, I tried one of the red wine, Château de la Gardine Cuvée Tradition 2008. It blends with 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre,15% Syrah and 5% Muscardin. All the grapes are harvested by hand, and then go through a selection process. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tank and aged 60% in vats and 40% in 1 to 6 years old 225 liters oak for 9 to 14 months.

                      The embossed papal key on the bottle & 酒瓶刻有教皇鑰匙的圖案

                                                          (Photo from website)

My Taste Note: The wine has deep purple color. The aromas include spices, black fruits, violets and strong of lavender. In the mouth, this wine is dry, full body, like there is different of flavors in the mouth, delicate acid. After taste is a little astringent, maybe the tannic is still a bit young then at the end it has little sweet. This wine is interesting because the aromas are continuous showing out during drinking. Overall, it is a strong and powerful wine, with little spicy, in aromas and mouthfeel is very opulent.      

The bottle should have embossed papal keys but 375ml bottle didn't have it.

酒瓶應該是刻有教皇鑰匙的圖案,不過半枝裝(375ml)是沒有刻上.

                                                 Galets (Pebbles) & 鵝卵石
                                                    (Photo from Wikipedia) 

在我的筆記裡法國Rhône Valley (隆河)的酒是非常值得賞試的. 隆河是分為南北兩個區域, 每一個產區都有它們的獨特的特色. Châteauneuf-du-Pape 是位於Rhône Valley的南部. 這裡好像充滿了充滿歷史色彩,如果將 Châteauneuf-du-Pape 翻譯做中文是教皇新堡的意思.回顧到14th世紀,有一位教皇曾經在Avignon(Châteauneuf-du-Pape 附近)興建一座城堡.可能因為歷史的關係, 它們的酒瓶都刻上類似教皇鑰匙的圖案.這裡的地中海氣候,帶有乾燥和較熱的天氣.很多的葡萄園泥土都包含了鵝卵石,沙,粘土和石灰石.這種鵝卵石法文稱為Galets,外形都是大塊和平滑.它可以保留日間的熱量之後在晚上釋放走來,這樣可以幫助葡萄完全熟透. Châteauneuf-du-Pape 的紅酒出名強勁,厚酒身,酒精度偏高和果味較濃郁.因為這些紅酒的葡萄成Grenache佔了75%,其餘的用Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Roussanne, Picardan 和Picpoul, Châteauneuf-du-pape是允許用以上13種葡萄來釀製它們的紅酒.用Grenache釀造的紅酒都會比較濃郁和多酒精.不過多數的酒莊都是只用上3款葡萄來釀製,這就是Grenache, Syrah和 Mourvèdre, 只有少數的酒莊才會真正用上13款葡萄來釀製紅酒.  

1947年Brunel家族收購了Château de la Gardine, 在他們收購之前這個酒莊還有一段很長的歷史.在收購的時候葡萄園的環境都是很差,因為在第二次大戰的期間葡萄園都荒廢了.到他們管理之後就返新和擴大葡萄園到現在52公頃,有49公頃是供給紅酒用，另外的4公頃是供給白酒用.葡萄園的泥土都是由石子,粘土,沙子,石灰石和鵝卵石覆蓋著.葡萄樹的平衡年齡是40-60歲,最老的葡萄榭在1925年種植.他們的出產包括5款紅酒和2款白酒.這次我試了他們的紅酒 “Château de la Gardine Cuvée Tradition 2008”, 用了65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre,15% Syrah和5% Muscardin來釀造.所有葡萄都是人手採摘, 然後所有葡萄會經過篩選.榨出來的葡萄汁會在不銹鋼桶內發酵,當釀成酒時60%的酒會放進大木桶內熟成,另外的40%會放進1-6年的225升的舊木桶內9-14個月.

我的品酒筆記: 酒的顏色是深紫色,香氣包括香料,黑色水果,紫羅蘭和很強薰衣草香氣.口感上是乾型紅酒,厚酒身,在口內好像感覺到很多不同的味道最後帶精緻的酸度.After Taste有少少涩可能因為單寜比較年輕,之後有輕微的甜味.這是一款有趣的酒,因為品嚐的時候香氣不斷釋放出來,使你在品酒的時候不會覺得沉悶,慢慢來發掘這款酒的特色.整體這是一款強而有力的紅酒帶有少少辣,在香氣和味覺都是非常豐富.