[France] Château Laribotte 2012 (Sauternes)

During Lunar Chinese New Year holidays, I bought a very bargain price of Sauternes sweet white wine from HK 759 Store. 759 Store always has different type of discount, for example original price item has 30% off. Occasionally, I will visit 759 to check out their new arrival wine because it may find some inexpensive and good value wine. Few months before, I had a post about a Spanish red wine Viña Eguia Reseva 2010, which is also bought from 759. This time, I found a Sauternes sweet white wine Château Laribotte 2012 (750ml), the discounted price is only $120 HKD. On Wine-Searcher website, the average price is $240 - $300 for different vintages. Now, it cost less than $200, so why don’t give it a try.

More information on the official website, Château Laribotte is a family owned winery since 1855, until now is the sixth generation. Winery is located in Preignac of Sauternes estate. Sauternes has 5 sub-regions that are Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, Fargues and Bommes, but on the wine labels are permitted to show AOC Sauternes and AOC Barsac only. Preignac wine style has lighter weight, less rich than other Sauternes wine, but similar style to Barsac. The Vineyard soils are mainly clay and gravel, and plant 90% Sémillon, 8% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle. After fermentation, the wine aged 24 months in cement tank and 12 months in barrels.

Sauternes sweet wine are made with Botrytis Grapes (Noble Rot), it contain less moisture to increase its sugar level, acidity, flavors, aromas, etc. Usually, it has a strong aging potential, can age minimum 5 to 25 years. Although 2012 is not an outstanding vintage but this wine is still very young, age for few more years will be much better. Does any one have taste different vintage of Château Laribotte? If, Yes! Please feel free to share the taste note with me!!

農曆新年假期間,我在759買了一枝感覺非常便宜的Sauternes(索甸)貴腐甜白酒.通常759都會有不同的折扣,例如正價貨品會有7折.不久我會去759,看看他們有沒有新返葡萄酒.因為間中在759都可以找到一些便宜和物有所值的葡萄酒.幾個月前我提過一枝西班牙紅酒Viña Eguia Reseva 2010,都是在759買的.今次這枝Sauterne貴腐甜白酒Château Laribotte 2012 (750ml),折扣後只是$120.之後我在wine-searcher看到,它的其他年份平均價錢都需要 $240-$300.這樣看,現在折後的價錢都不過於$200,是否值得一試呢?

酒莊官方網站可以找到更多資料, 在1855年到現在都是由家Château Laribotte族擁有和經營,目前已是第六代.酒莊位於Sauternes村里其中一個酒區叫做Preignac. Sauternes內有分為5個酒區,分別Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, Fargues 和 Bommes, 但是在酒標上只可以印有AOC Sauternes 和 AOC Barsac.Preignac酒的風格是比Sauternes期他酒區較輕型,雅淡,等等,跟Barsac酒有點相似.葡萄園主要都係粘土和礫石,品種種植比例是 90% Sémillon, 8% Sauvignon Blanc和2% Muscadelle.發酵完的酒會在水泥造的酒桶陳年24個月,之後再方在木桶12個月.

Sauternes貴腐甜白酒是用含有貴腐菌葡萄來釀製,是水份含量低來提升糖份,酸度,風味,芳香,等等.普遍都有非常強的陳年能力,最少可以陳年5至25年.雖然2012年不是一個出色的年份,但是這枝酒還是非常新,最好擺放幾年後先飲用.大家之前有沒有品嚐過Château Laribotte的其他年份?如果有,可否分享一下Taste Note!!

[France] Clos des Lunes "Lune Blanche"

The major wine produced in Bordeaux wine regions is red wine. However, Bordeaux also produces both sweet and dry white wine. Sweet white wine from Sauternes is very well known and some dry white wine is also worth to try. The Wine region Pessac-Léognan makes the top dry white wine, for example Château Pape Clément, Château Haut Smith Lafitte Blanc, Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, etc. But the prices for those wines are not cheap; it is not easy to drink too often. At a lower price, we can try Clos des Lunes 'Lune Blanche', the price is around HK $ 110. This winery is owned by the same owner of Domaine de Chevalier with the same winemaking team. Normally, low price AOC Bordeaux dry white wine is made from Entre-Deux-Mers but this one is from Sauternes.    

 

The terroir of Clos des Lunes has deep gravel on clay-limestone, which gives the wine power and freshness. They produce 3 different grades of white wine; it is classified as Clos des Lunes D’Or (Gold), D’Argent (Silver) and Blanche (White). All 3 wines use the same blend, 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc and the grapes are from the same vineyard. The difference between these 3 wines are the aging period, aging style and different of production volume. This time, I tried “Lune Blanche”, this is the lowest grade one, it is aged in small thermostat vats for 6-7 months. The other 2 grades are aged in barrels.

My Taste Note: This wine isn’t aged in barrels; it shows freshness and clear pale yellow color. It has pineapple, tropical fruits and honey aromas. The palate shows light body, not too much acid and dry but I can feel little honey-like sweetness. After taste can find Sauvignon Blanc acid, it keeps the wine lively. Overall, I found this wine is fruity with a lot freshness. 

波爾多的葡萄酒產區主要都是生產紅酒.但是它們都有小部份地區生產甜白酒和乾白酒. 來自Sauternes的甜白酒是眾所週知,但其實波爾多都有一些值得賞試的乾白酒.葡萄酒產區Pessac-Léognan 有生產一些頂級乾白酒,例如 Château Pape Clément, Château Haut Smith Lafitte Blanc, Domaine de Chevalier Blanc,等等. 不過這些酒的價錢都比較貴,很難可以日常品嚐. 如果價錢比較平的, 我們可以選擇Clos des Lunes 'Lune Blanche', 價錢是大約HK $ 110. 這個酒莊是由Domaine de Chevalier的莊主擁有,它釀酒團隊都是一樣的. 一般的低價AOC波爾多乾白酒都是來自Entre-Deux-Mers的產區, 不過這枝是來自Sauternes.

Clos des Lunes的葡萄園土壤是帶有深厚礫石在粘土石灰石之上,這可做出強勁和清新的葡萄酒. 他們有3個級別的葡萄酒, 分為Clos des Lunes D’Or (金), D’Argent (銀) and Blanche (白). 這3款酒都是用同一個調配, 70% Sémillon (賽美蓉) and 30% Sauvignon Blanc (白蘇維濃)和所有葡萄都是來自同一個葡萄園. 不同之處就是每款酒都有不同的陳年時間,陳年風格和產量. 這次我試了“Lune Blanche”,這款是級數最低,它是在恆溫桶內陳年6-7個月. 另外兩款都有在木桶進行陳年.    

我的品酒筆記: 這款酒沒有在木桶內進行陳年,所以它帶出清新的感覺和顏色是淡黃色.香氣方面有菠蘿,熱帶水果類和蜂蜜香.口感是輕身,沒有太多的酸和是乾型白酒,但是可以感覺到有少少的類似蜂蜜的甜. After Taste可以找到Sauvignon Blanc (白蘇維濃)的酸,這樣可以讓酒保持住它的活力.整體這款酒是Fruity在口腔裡帶有清新感覺.