[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] 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.