[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] Vin Doux Naturel - Domaine Les Tailhades Muscat de Saint-Jean de Minervois

Last week, I bought a bottle of sweet wine from Southern France, the price is quite affordable. The label wrote Vin Doux Naturel Muscat de Saint-Jean de Minervois. In Southern France the Languedoc wine region, there is a type of sweet wine call Vin Doux Naturel (Natural Sweet Wine). But, it is not naturally sweet as the name implies. It is a fortified wine made by the process of mutage. It is a French word to describe a winemaking method of artificially halt the alcoholic fermentation by adding Brandy or Spirits to keep the residual sugar. This technique is also used for making Port wine. This stops fermentation and will leave a high percent of residual sugar and makes the wine sweet and powerful. Some are bottled early and others are aged in large oak barrels to obtain more flavor and aromas. Major grapes varieties are Muscat and Grenache for red wine.    

Appellation Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois is located northeast of Minervois, with high altitude and limestone soil. The wine is made with White Muscat, but here Muscat is called “Petits Grains”, means small berries. I only find the basic information on Domaine Les Tailhades. The grapes are harvested by hand, the wine is vinified at a low temperature and then fortified and matured in vat.

My Taste Note: The wine shows Yellow Golden color. It has strong fresh white grapes, fruit (Mango and Fig), flower and spice aromas. The palate is sweet, rich, full body and after taste has little bitter. This bitter may come from the spirits alcohol. Overall, this wine may not be too famous or depth as botrytis sweet wine. But it can provide attractive aromas and fresh fruits flavors.         

葡萄酒上星期我買了一枝來自南法國的甜酒,價錢相當相宜.在酒標上寫上Vin Doux Naturel Muscat de Saint-Jean de Minervois.在南法國的Languedoc葡萄酒

區有一種甜酒叫做Vin Doux Naturel(天然甜酒).但是它不是顧名思義完全天然.它是一款加烈酒經過Mutage這個過程. Mutage是一個法文詞語來描述一個釀酒方法,這是加入白蘭地(Brandy)或烈酒來阻止酒精發酵,保持殘糖. 這個方法都是用來釀造砵酒(Port). 這樣停止發酵會留下許多殘糖和令釀造的酒都帶甜和濃厚. 有一些酒會在比較年輕時裝瓶，另一些會在大木桶內成熟,可以增加香氣和味道.主要的葡萄品種是Muscat和紅酒的Grenache.

Appellation Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois是位於Minervois的東北邊, 這裡是高海拔，土壤是石灰石.這裡的酒都是用Muscat來釀製,不過他們會叫Muscat做“Petits Grains”, 意思是小的果實. 關於Domaine Les Tailhades,我只找到一些基本資料. 他們採用人手採摘, 酒會在低溫釀造和會方進大桶內加烈和成熟.

我的品酒筆記: 這款酒是金黃色,有強烈的新鮮白葡萄香,水果香(芒果花和無花果),花香和香料的香氣.口感有濃郁的甜,厚身After Taste有少少苦.這種苦可能是來自烈酒的酒精.整體這枝酒可能不是很出名或沒有貴腐甜酒的深度.不過它可提供很吸引的香氣和新鮮的水果味道.