[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 / New Zealand / Australia] A Little Shopping from August!!

From Left to Right:

1)     Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Marlborough New Zealand

2)     Domaine Montirius Confidentiel 2010 Gigondas

3)     Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2008 Yarra Valley Australia

4)     Fleur De Clinet 2011 Pomerol 

Looking forward to taste them!!

 

[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] 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.

[France] Get ready for Christmas Party!!!

The 2^nd wine I would like to recommend for Christmas party is a white wine from Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewürztraminer Alsace, it is also from Watson’s Wine Christmas promotion. Domaine Zind Humbrecht is owned by Father and Son, Leonard and Oliver Humbrecht. Alsace is located northeast of France near the French and German border. Most of the vineyards are situated on stoop slopes, the soils are limestone and gravel. Winemaker Oliver developed a strict viticulture and winemaking procedure, which include organic composting, low yields, extended pressing cycles, long fermentation with the sediment in oak barrels instead of stainless steel tanks, mature 8 months in old French oak barrels, etc. It receives a favorable reputation from Magazine Wine Spectator and Wine critic Robert Parker.

Domaine Zind Humbrecht produced Grand Cru, Single Vineyards, AOC Alsace and Late Harvest wine. The one I recommend is AOC Alsace wine with Gewürztraminer. Gewürztraminer is very easy to recognize, with its unique aroma of Lychee, Passion Fruit, Rose, Turkish delight, etc. The grape skin is pink to red color, so the wine color will be like golden color. There is a majority of the grapes for this wine is from vineyard Herrenweg in Turckheim, which is owed by the winery.

My Taste Note: This wine has clear golden color. It shows Pineapple, Lychee, Honey, Floral and Coconut aromas. Probably the oak barrels bring coconut aroma. The palate is medium dry with medium body and gently acid. It has quite long length after taste with floral flavor and fruit sweet. Overall this wine shows all Gewürztraminer unique characteristic, it may lack of acid but I found it is balance. Gewürztraminer white wine has attractive aromas and flavors, it must be a good choice for Ladies. For your reference, Vintage 2012 Wine Spectator rated 91 score.  

  

第二枝酒我想推薦給大家在聖誕節Party享用是 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewürztraminer Alsace, 這款酒都是在葡萄酒商店Watson’s Wine聖誕推廣內. Domaine Zind Humbrecht是由兩父子一齊經營Leonard (父) and Oliver (子) Humbrecht. Alsace(亞爾薩斯)是位於法國的東北邊,鄰近法國和德國的邊界.多數的葡萄園是設在陡坡上, 泥土是石灰石和礫石.釀酒師Oliver開發了一套嚴謹的葡萄種植和釀酒程序, 包括有機堆肥,低產量,加長壓榨時間,用比較長時間和沉澱物一起在木桶內發酵而不是平時用的不銹鋼桶,在舊法國木桶內熟成8個月,等等. 這個酒莊從雜誌Wine Spectator和酒評家Robert Parker獲得良好的聲譽.

Domaine Zind Humbrecht生產Grand Cru,單一葡萄園, AOC Alsace和遲摘葡萄酒. 我介紹這枝的是AOC Alsace 的Gewürztraminer(瓊瑤漿). Gewürztraminer是很容易就可以辨認去來,因為它帶有一種獨特的香氣例如很多人說的荔枝香,玫瑰花,熱情果,土耳其軟糖,等等. 葡萄皮的顏色是帶有粉紅色到紅色,所以釀出來的酒都會比較深色. 有一大部分釀製這款酒的葡萄,都是來自酒莊的一個葡萄園Herrenweg在Turckheim.

我的品酒筆記: 這款酒有清晰的金黃色.它帶有菠蘿,荔枝,蜂蜜,花香和椰子香氣.可能是因為木桶而有椰子香.口感是半甜(medium dry),中等酒體和有溫和的酸.它有比較長的After Taste帶花香和水果酸.這款酒整體來說,它有Gewürztraminer的獨特的特徵, 酸度可能會比較低,但是我覺得Balance. 用Gewürztraminer釀製的白酒,香氣和味道都是很吸引.女士們一定很喜歡這款酒. 這是給大家參考,2012年葡萄酒雜誌Wine Spectator 給91分.