28.11.13

90 Ch. d'Yquem

Medium copper with fairly high intensity aromas of orange, apricot, honey and touch of caramel, grass, lime and mango. It is sweet with over medium intensity zesty acidity. Medium alcohol and fuller than medium bodied. The flavours has over medium level intensity, which contain grass, honey, apricot, raisin and caramel. Fairly long length with orange marmalade and honey finish. (93)

Tasted on 17 August 2013

這枝滴金好像已經發展成熟似的。酒香及酒味的力度及複雜性也不錯,酸度及甜度的平衡也算好,但如果想要爽口一點的甜酒的話,這酒可能交唔到貨比你。不是這酒酸度跌至太低,只是它的酸度不至會有清爽口感。好飲的。

26.11.13

1999 Henschke Hill of Grace

A deep purple dry red wine with pronounced nose of black cherry, black plum, black pepper and touch of pine, licorice and black olive. Medium acidity and alcohol with quite full bodied and medium fine grained tannin. On palate it gives medium intensity flavours of black cherry, vegetal, herbaceous, olive and touch of pepper. Rather cool and feminine with long length and black cherry finish. (93)

Tasted on 17 August 2013

陰陰柔柔的口感但有著濃烈複雜的香氣,酒味的複雜性也不錯但強度較弱了點,餘韻長,仍有些發展潛力。

24.11.13

1996 Musigny, Domaine Jacques Prieur

This wine has a deep ruby colour and pronounced noses of rose, red plum jam, red cherry, meat and spice. Dry with medium acidity and alcohol. Medium tannin and slightly over medium bodied. On palate it has fairly high intensity of red cherry, rose, british tea and touch of menthol. Fairly long length with red cherry and rose finish. (93)

Tasted on 17 August 2013

奇怪的地方是酒身唔夠順滑,以這葡萄園來說可以說是有點鞋口。酒香不錯,但香味令人覺得酒的風格較重。酒在口中也表現不錯,餘韻亦長。整體也是好喝的,只是沒有MUSIGNY一貫的順滑感。

21.11.13

1990 Ch. Lynch Bages

A deep purple wine with pronounced aromas of blackcurrant, black plum, earth, graphite, licorice, violet, smoke and touch of dust and brick. It is dry with medium acidity and alcohol. Slightly fuller than medium bodied with medium ripe soft tannin. On palate it has fairly high intensity flavour of vegetal, black cherry, licorice and touch of earth and graphite. Long length with black cherry finish. (96)

Tasted on 17 August 2013

酒香非常複雜強勁,餘韻可口悠長,單寧順滑成熟,唯口中酒味複雜性並沒有酒香咁好,酒味的層次感亦小了點,否則這是一枝接近滿分的酒。

19.11.13

2007 Vosne-Romanee 1er Aux Reignots, Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair

This dry red wine has a deep ruby colour with pronounced nose of cabbage, red plum, red cherry jam, strawberry, smoke, rose jam and touch of dried herb. It has medium acidity, alcohol and bodied with barely soft medium ripe tannin. On palate, it gives over medium intensity flavour of red cherry, strawberry, licorice and dried herb. Long length with red berry finish. (93)

Tasted on 17 August 2013

香氣誇啦啦,又強又複雜。酒在口中感覺順滑柔和,餘韻又長。只是酒在口中的複雜性欠了點,但總的來說是一枝飲得好開心好舒服的酒,會令你飲完一口又一口的。

17.11.13

1996 Batard Montrachet, Domaine Etienne Sauzet

Medium lemon coloured with fairly high intensity aromas of pineapple, honey, vanilla, wet stone, mineral and cantaloupe. It is dry with medium acidity, alcohol and bodied. Slight higher than medium intensity flavours of honey, lemon, mineral, flint and almond. Long length with honey citrus finish. (94)

Tasted on 17 August 2013

好好味的一枝白酒。酒香酒力也好好,餘韻又長。香氣亦有一點變化,複雜性比在口中出色。如果酒味在口中的複雜性再多一點就更好了,如果酒味有一點層次感就更加不得了。

14.11.13

2003 Auxey-Duresses, Domaine d'Auvenay

This dry white wine has deeper than medium intensity lemon colour. On nose it gives medium intensity aromas of lemon, roasted sesame, hazelnut, butter, and stewed pear. Barely medium acidity and medium alcohol. Just fuller than medium bodied with medium flavour intensity. The flavours contain lemon, almond, butter and touch of honey. Fairly long length with bitter lemon finish. (92) Just because of length.

Tasted on 17 August 2013

飲之前已知啊公D酒一D都唔平。好彩這枝不是我買的。雖然只是一枝村酒,年份也不是一個好年份,但相信也不便宜。酒較簡單,特別在口中的表現十分普通,酒香算不錯的。可是(也可能是年份關係)酒的酸度欠了點,亦感覺到酒的熟果味重,令人感到酒的年份。最值得讚的是餘韻,否則唔會比咁高分。有錢買這酒的人應該可以買到比它好的酒品。

12.11.13

1990 Dom Perignon

Deeper than medium lemon colour with slightly over medium intensity aromas of ripe apple, honey, hazelnut, caramel, lemon zest and touch of camomile. It is dry with medium zesty acidity, medium alcohol and fuller than medium bodied. Long and persistent bubble and creamy mousse. On palate it gives fairly high intensity flavour of lemon, flower, honey, butter, caramel and touch of musky. Quite long length with honey citrus finish. (94)

Tasted on 17 August 2013

好味道。有一定複雜性及酒力,餘韻亦很不錯,酒亦已發展成熟,90年所謂的 PERFECT TEN 不無道理。

10.11.13

參觀威士忌蒸餾廠(四) - Glenfarclas

最後一間係 Glenfarclas。一間出囗至超過 50 個國家、經歷 6 代的家族式蒸餾廠。他們的這個家族式與一些家族生意不同。他們仍是完全由一個家族擁有,不像其他只是由家族擁有部份股份及管理。 




歷史 

Glenfarclas 的歷史由 1791 年已經開始,但他們家族於 1836 年才取得牌照。酒廠經歷了 1865 至 1890 年行業工業化的轉變,但仍舊堅持舊有製法,亦專注於本土市場,賣酒比酒商作混合之用。當時他們亦想過創立品牌,亦諗過用 Glenlivet 呢個標籤(當時已經有人用)。其後 J G Smith 於 1880 年打官司爭取 Glenlivet 這個標籤,法庭最後判決只有他們可以用 Glenlivet 這個標籤,而其他廠只可以用這個字作字尾,所以他們的品牌便是 Glenfarclas-Glenlivet。 

1890 年 George G Grant 去世,他的兩個兒子 John 及 George 負責管理酒廠及麥場。當時威士忌的風潮開始轉向 Speyside 的風格,而 Islay 及 Campbeltown 開始失勢。酒廠亦有一定發展,亦開始迎來他們一場風暴。酒廠與酒商 Pattisons 於 1896 年合夥成立合夥公司,各佔一半股權。酒廠會負責製作威士忌,而 Pattisons 負責行銷。由於 Pattisons 因後來經營不善而導致清盤,因合夥人關係而導致 Pattisons 的債主向合夥公司追酒。但其實 Glenfarclas 仍未賣酒至合夥公司,可是仍因此而引起一連串訴訟。可幸的事,Glenfarclas 及 Pattisons 的合夥協議容許 Glenfarclas 可以優先買回合夥公司的資產,在得到銀行支持下,Glenfarclas 得以維持下去,事件繞釀至 1905 年,亦導致 Glenfarclas 走上一條獨立運作之路,直至現在,他們仍堅持由家族一直擁有酒廠,亦拒絕一切外來的收購要約,是現在碩果僅存的家族擁有及經營的酒廠。 

直至 1970 年前,他們主力還是製作麥芽威士忌供其他品牌混合之用,包括大家熟悉的 Ballantine。酒商對 Glenfarclas 酒的評價很高,亦令酒廠在財務上得到充實。 1913 年 John Grant 過身,George 成為主事人。在他帶領下酒廠捱過了 1920 至 1950 年的大蕭條及大戰。酒廠於 1947 年才轉為有限公司,1970 年代開始生產自家品牌的 Single Malt Whisky。 1972 年他們關閉了麥廠,並改建為焙爐及磨坊,增加了産能。在 1973 年他們獲得了 Chivas 一張大訂單,足夠他們一年的產量。因此他們加大投資,於其後幾年加建蒸餾壼及開設訪客中心。 




生產特式

Glenfarclas 的生產特式主要有三方面:直接用火加熱蒸餾(Direct Firing)、雪利酒桶使用(Sherry Casks)及潮濕和低層的倉庫。

酒廠現在是由製麥廠購入麥芽。麥芽品種叫 Optic,而且主要是經過低程度焙乾(約 3 ppm)。一般儲存了約兩星期的用量。他們發酵是分開兩段,一批發酵約 48 小時,另一批 96 小時,之後會把兩批混合再蒸餾。

酒廠有 3 對蒸餾壼,Wash Still 容量約 25000 公升,Spirit Still 約 21000 公升。他們會真接用火加熱,現在已經冇乜廠會咁用了。因為酒廠深信用火直接加熱會令酒更有特式。他們曾於 1980 年試過改用發熱圏加熱,但他們發現製成的酒不再似他們的風格,所以即刻改回用火。

木桶方面,他們主要用雪利酒桶(ex-sherry casks)。全部酒儲存在他們傳统的非常潮濕的酒倉,酒桶只排起兩層。 

產品方面,他們有一系列的陳年威士忌,由 12 年至 17、25、30、40 年。早於數月前他們在香港推出他們的50年威士忌。另外,他們亦有一款叫 Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength 的威士忌,有成 60 度酒精。 




另一款他們較特式的系列是他們每一年都會出年份威士忌,因為他們覺得這樣做好好玩。所以在他們的遊客中心內有一個櫃陳列了每一年的年份威士忌,頗壯觀的。大家亦可找出及買入自己的年份。這些威士忌全是 Single Cask Cask Strength 的。 





試酒 

今次酒廠遊歷的其中一個任務是幫人找一些好的威士忌成桶買。所以在這酒廠試酒是在他的酒窖內試。

當我們一行七人步入酒窖後,酒廠的銷售總監和酒窖經理便開始給我第一個樣本。我問他我可否寫紀錄時,他便給了我一個木的檔案板,板上的文件夾上有兩張 A4 紙。我看看發現是一個列表,第一欄是年份,之後是酒窖號碼,酒桶行號及木桶號碼,非常詳盡。之後他便說他給我的樣本是表中第一行所列的。

我試酒時看一看環境,他們並沒有吐桶給我吐,所以我呑了。剛呑下之後,他便給我另一個樣本,並說這是表中第二行所列的!那我立刻看看那兩張 A4 紙,每一頁約有 50 行,亦即表示他們约有 100 個樣本給我試!在不可以吐的情況下,我開始擔心我會醉了。之後我開始越來越揀擇,有些樣本只聞一下,香氣一不足夠就唔試,最後選擇了約 10 桶酒叫他們報價。 

試完後他們問我有什麼特別的酒想試。剛巧有朋友是 1966 年誕生,便問他可否試 1966 年的威士忌。酒窖經理一聽之後便説:「1966 was a bad year.」。我們正想問原因之時,他便說:「Because England won World Cup that year.」。這個笑話可笑了我們一整天,亦感受到蘇格蘭人對英格蘭有幾深厚的感情。 

最後,由於自己頗喜歡這酒廠的酒,所以又掃了一點.......


7.11.13

2006 Echezeaux, Domaine d'Eugenie


This wine has quite deep ruby colour with fairly high intensity noses of red plum, earth, rose, red cherry jam, smoke and warm earth. It is dry with medium acidity, alcohol and bodied, soft and ripe medium tannin too. The flavour intensity is at slightly over medium level with flavours of rose, cherry, red plum, licorice and tea. Slightly over medium length with red plum finish. (91)

Tasted on 6 August 2013

色澤比想像中淺但香氣及其複雜性仍足,單寧柔順而酒味亦夠,可是複雜性差了點,餘韻不錯,幾好飲的。

5.11.13

2002 Echezeaux, Jean Pierre Mugneret


This dry red wine possesses almost deep ruby colour. It has medium acidity but a bit sharp. Medium alcohol and barely medium bodied. Tannin is at medium level and fine grained in nature. On nose it has medium intensity aromas of tea, rose, red cherry, spice and touch of licorice. On palate, it gives slightly over medium flavours of red cherry, rose and dried spice. Medium length with red cherry finish. (89)


Tasted on 6 August 2013

簡單了點,酒香及酒味力度普通,複雜性也差了點,餘韻合格,收結簡單,一般的酒品,以牙刷蘇來說有些令人失望。

3.11.13

2005 Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte

This full bodied bordeaux wine has deep purple colour. On nose it gives fairly high intensity aromas of blackcurrant, black plum, licorice, black cherry jam, smoke, menthol and touch of earth. It is dry with medium alcohol and acidity, quite rich texture and medium soft and ripe tannin. On palate it has slightly over medium flavours of vegetal, blackcurrant, earth and dusty stone. Longer than medium length with black cherry finish. (92)

Tasted on 26 July 2013

酒香足及,其複雜性頗出色。酒味豐厚而餘韻亦算長,酒味的複雜性差了點點,單寧成熟而口感也厚,幾好飲。