图像: Terry (Venice, Italy) 

图像: Renzo Giusti (Milan, Italy) 

图像: Leda (Milan, Italy) 

图像: Fabio Ingrosso (Milan, Italy) 

在展览会第三天即将结束前, 2009年度 VinItaly 的主办单位宣布这次共有九万名参加者出席的大会非常成功. 在所有参加者当中, 约有35%是来自于意大利国外的外国人. 主办单位发表声明这次的大会带来许多商机，很满意这次大会的展示者们对于他们的葡萄酒出口至世界各地的可能性相当乐观.

这展览会的主要活动包括了一场庆祝 嘉雅 (Gaja) 150 周年的评酒会. 英国品酒家与葡萄酒专家 珍茜-罗宾逊 (Jancis Robinson) 也参与了这座满的品酒会, 品尝的葡萄酒包括了Gaia & Rey 1994, Darmagi 1997, Conteisa 1996, Sperss 1989, Sorì San Lorenzo 1988 与 Barbaresco 1964.

这场品酒会所得, 将会全数捐出作为慈善用途. 尝试 意大利! (Taste Italy) 也是大会的另一个焦点, 提供了一系列的品酒与交际活动. 受欢您到来 布鲁耐罗! (Welcome Back, Brunello!) 这活动也让参加者们品尝了许多2004年份的 布鲁耐罗葡萄酒.

随着科技的进步与发展, 意大利的葡萄酒产量也逐渐增加, 促使意大利酒商们寻找新的市场. 意大利现在的葡萄酒产量和出口量都远高于 西班牙 (Spain) 与 南非 (South Africa) 等国家, 高踞世界第二, 仅次于法国 (France).

普遍认为中国未来5年的葡萄酒市场前景乐观. 高级或超高级葡萄酒在 香港 (Hong Kong), 新加坡 (Singapore) 与 中国 (China) 等地的推广非常顺利. 虽然面对着传统葡萄酒生产国法国, 澳洲 (Australia) 的竞争, 意大利酒商们仍然看好意大利和 美国 (United States) 葡萄酒在亚洲市场的前景, 这点的重要性在欧洲各国葡萄酒消耗量的减少下, 显得更加重要.

亚洲国家的葡萄酒爱好者及买家们现在将可以在国内参加 VinItaly 展览会. 有鉴于 神之水滴 (Kami no Shizuku) 在亚洲的受欢迎以及其在亚洲对葡萄酒的影响力. 主办单位将会连同这节目共同在 中国 (China), 日本 (Japan) 与 新加坡 (Singapore) 等地展出.

VinItaly 世界巡回展览会将在11月4号于 香港 (Hong Kong),4号和5号于上海，25号于东京举行. 至于 新加坡 (Singapore), 则在2010年1月21和22号举行.

想要获得 VinItaly 的资讯，请电邮至 support@veronafiere.it 或浏览 www.vinitaly.com. 谢谢.

波尔多右岸的酒庄协会 
2008年法国波尔多品酒会
星期三 2009年3月25日
峰景餐厅 @ 山顶, 香港 

以上: 使用的图像和照片经由 Eddie Tsang 许可.

Organized by the Embassy of France in Singapore and UBI France, The asian tour previewed in Singapore’s Hilton recently after a tour of Taipei and Ho Chih Min city. My rough estimate would put at around 50 or more trade buyers and wine enthusiasts were present at this 9 wine exhibitors strong road show.

We had time for one, whom we are reviewing the wines from Chateau La Gorce and Canteloup. The estate was founded in 1821 by a Madam Force when ownership moved on to a Raoul Fabre and his children in 1980. Today, this 36 hectares estate is overseen by winemaker and owner Denis Fabre (as pictured above), whom intend to continue to exploit and export his wines outside France.

The practices of Chateau La Gorce and Canteloup, sited some 7km south of the commune St. Estephe is one of modernity. Planted with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the wines are picked late, destemmed, before being lightly crushed and seeing fermentation in vats for 18 to 21 days. They are then aged in its cellar for another 18 to 20 months before bottling and release. Some 25,000 cases or 300,000 bottles (2003 had a lower output at 200,000 due to rigid selection) are made yearly of which 80% is exported outside France.

For more information about this maker, please email info@chateaulagorce.com or click here to access its web-page.

Information is correct at time of publishing with images from the event and Chateau La Gorce representative courtesy of Singapore’s Jeri Soh of Jericho Photography.

As below is our summary of our impression of the wines. Please click on the name of each hyper-linked wine label to view its image and for further elaboration. Thank you for viewing.

The 2002 La Gorce at 12.5% (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot) is a simple and light wine with herbabecous, black currant aroma, but in restrained proportion with light expression. Balanced, soft, dry with wood flavors on the palate.

2002 拉高斯酒庄. (12.5% 酒精度, 50%赤霞珠, 45%美乐, 5%品丽珠, 小华帝) 是个简单葡萄酒. 赫伯, 黑加仑醋的香味，不过还是稍有不够开放. 挂杯均匀, 入口柔滑, 干燥的味觉, 充满了橡木味道. 10/20分

2003 La Gorce, 13.5% (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot) was brimming with bitter dark and ripe berry fruit, licorice aromas, some tea and drying tannin.

2003 拉高斯酒庄. (12.5% 酒精度, 75%赤霞珠, 15%美乐, 10%品丽珠, 小华帝) 充满怨恨和成熟的黑果味, 甘草风味. 入口帶出有些茶叶味, 干燥坦宁. 12.5/20分

2004 La Gorce, 13.5 (with the usual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot) is indunated with a distinct but present stewed red berry and black cassis aroma. Casual on the palate. A classic and typical French Bordeaux with herb and black currant flavors.

2004 拉高斯酒庄. (13.5% 酒精度, 75%赤霞珠, 15%美乐, 10%品丽珠, 小华帝) 蕴涵一种独特中炖的黒莓的紅漿果和黑醋粟风味. 味道马马虎虎. 并有一种法国梅多克特有的香草味及黑加仑味. 13.5/20分

2005 La Gorce, 13.5% (I would feel beside the official blending information, this vintage is seeing more Merlot in it. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot). A beautiful, modern dry red Bordeaux from a vintage where winemaker and winery representative Denis Fabre needn’t work too hard. Fresh and fleshy with compacted red fruit and underlying black currant notes. Full-bodied with density and balance, with realtively youthfulness, and gripping acidity and tannin. Best from 2011.

2005 拉高斯酒庄. (13.5% 酒精度, 75%赤霞珠, 15%美乐, 10%品丽珠, , 小华帝). 这款波尔多葡萄酒香气非常诱人, 漂亮. 香气独特. 新式变干. 鲜明, 丰满. 有波尔多葡萄酒的独特香气. 酒体成熟均衡. 这款葡萄酒口感相对年轻, 充满了心弦的酸味, 和强烈的坦宁. 14.5/20分

2005 Château Canteloup (Premières Côtes de Blaye) 13.0% with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 55% Merlot has a dense core red colored body, with distinct yet candied red fruit aroma, with some toast. Easy on the palate, quite light, with a simple and light finish.

2005 Canteloup. (13.5% 酒精度, 45% 赤霞珠, 55% 美乐). 浓厚的深红色酒体, 散发出精致而清淡的红果香, 些许辛辣和淡淡的烘烤芳香. 口感和谐, 回味轻快. 12.5/20分

2006 La Gorce, 13.5% (with the usual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot), is rich and highly toned, with soft tannin and a fruit driven body. Lacks weight.

2006 拉高斯酒庄. (13.5% 酒精度, 50%赤霞珠, 45%美乐, 5%品丽珠, 小华帝). 入口圆润, 饱满, 单宁柔滑. 酒体平衡度好, 红色水果的香味在余味中仍有体现. 12.5/20分

Aligoté

Wine Style:
Medium-bodied, crisp, dry wines with spicy character.

Flavors:

Origin:
Burgundy only

Found:
Burgundy in France only

Bourgogne Aligoté is a light white wine blessed by high levels of acidity. People in Burgundy drink it young as Aligoté, which is sold cheaply in France is not a wine that can age such as others.

Aligoté stands for a white grape name used only in Burgundy. However winemakers are allowed to add up to 15% of Chardonnay grapes.

The production of Bourgogne Aligoté is decreasing years over years as people are going more after Chardonnay these days.

Further Reading:
Wikipedia
Epicurious
Appellation America

Bordeaux

Wine Style:

Red: Full-bodied wine of complexity, fruit flavors and good length. Suggested food pairings and there are dozens include Lamb, and Game whether roasted or prepared as a Steak.

White: Light to medium-bodied wine of good minerals and lime flavors. Suggested food pairings include Poached Salmon, and in the case of dessert wines, Cheese or Foie Gras.

Flavors:
Red:

White:

Origin:
Bordeaux in France

Found:
Loire and Bordeaux in France, Australia, Chile, Washington State, and California

Bordeaux Reds: Bordeaux is a world-famous wine producing region in southwestern France. Bordeaux wines are almost always blends. The most important grape varieties in red Bordeaux wines are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot.

Bordeaux produces well over half a billion bottles of wine a year, mostly red. While most Bordeaux wines are far from spectacular, many of the greatest wines in the world come from this corner of what some would call a winemaker’s paradise. (Bordeaux and Burgundy are very similar, and yet very different.)

Bordeaux White: While less than a quarter of Bordeaux wine is white, don’t make the mistake of ignoring it. The most important grape varieties in white Bordeaux wines are: Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

Further Reading:
Wikipedia
Cellar Notes
Epicurious
Wine.com (For Bordeaux Reds)
Wine.com (For Bordeaux Whites)

Cabernet Franc

Wine Style:
A sibling red wine grape used in Bordeaux for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon. It is an earlier-maturing red wine, due to its lower level of tannins. Light- to medium-bodied wine with more immediate fruitand may carry herbaceous odors evident in unripe Cabernets.

Flavors:

Origin:
Bordeaux in France.

Found:
Clare Valley in Australia, Bordeaux in France, Villany in Hungary, Friuli, Veneto in Italy, Catalonia in Spain, and Napa, Sonoma in California plus Washington State.

Cabernet Franc is widely planted in Bordeaux and is the most important black grape grown in the Loire. In the Médoc it may constitute up to 15% of a typical vineyard – it is always blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and and is used to add bouquet and complexity to the wines. It is more widely used in St.Emilion where it adapts well to the cooler and moister clay soils – Cheval Blanc (as pictured above) is one of the most famous Cabernet Franc wine in the world, with the final blend consisting of up to 65% of the grape.

The Cabernet franc is ripening in an earlier stage, which gives him reason for existence in the Bordeaux area. In the Loire, where we find him a lot, he gives a clear red fresh and fruity wine. The grape has the aroma of strawberries or raspberries, violets and pencil. In colder climates like the Loire the wines become fresher and fruity. The cabernet franc is also a good basis for rosé, that will be spicy, somewhat unsophisticated, in the nice way, with a dark pink color.

Further Reading:
Wikipedia
Wine Pros
Epicurious
Cellar Notes

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Style:
A host of aromas and flavors: Currant, Plum, Black Cherry & Spice, with notes of Olive, Vanilla Mint, Tobacco, Toasty Cedar, Anise, Pepper & Herbs. They are often full-bodied wines with depth; especially with bottle aging. Cabernet spends from 12 to 30 months aging in American & French Oak barrels which tend to soften the tannins, adding the toasty cedar & vanilla flavors.

Flavors:

Origin:
Medoc in France

Found:
Most wine growing countries from France to California to rest of the world.

The above grape is indisputably the most famous red wine grape in the world and one of the most widely planted. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils, although it performs particularly well on well-drained, low-fertile soils.

Its spiritual home is the Médoc and Graves regions of Bordeaux where it thrives on the well-drained gravel-rich soils producing tannic wines with piercing blackcurrant fruits that develop complex cedarwood and cigar box nuances when fully mature.

The grape is widely planted in California where Cabernet Sauvignon based wines are distinguished by their rich mixture of cassis, mint, eucalyptus and vanilla oak. It is planted across Australia and with particular success in Coonawara where it is suited to the famed Terra Rossa soil. In Italy barrique aged Cabernet Sauvignon is a key component in Super Tuscans such as Tignanello and Sassicaia, either on its own or as part of a blend with Sangiovese.

Further Reading:
Wikipedia
Wine Pros
Cellar Notes
Appellation America

Carignan

Wine Style:
None.

Flavors:

Origin:
Rhone in France

Found:
France, Spain, Italy and California

It’s also known as Carinena and Mazuelo in Spain, Gragnano in Italy, Carignane in California.

The berries are bluish-black, round and fairly large, with fairly thick, astringent skins. They hang in large, rather compact clusters that are short-stemmed, difficult to harvest, and susceptible to grape worms. They also rot easily.

It’s also a semi-classic grape commonly used for making red wines in Southern France and Spain. It is also successfully grown in California’s Central Valley, often ending up in generic blends and “jug” wines, although some old plantings allow small lots of premium extract wine to be made. Blended with other varieties such as Cinsaut, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, it has been used to create red wines in California similar to the famed Chateauneuf-du-Pape blend of the southern Rhone region of France.

Further Reading:
Wikipedia
Jancis Robinson
Wine Pros

Carménère

Wine Style:
A full-bodied wine with lots of fruits, spices, berries, smokes and earth best enjoyed young.

Flavors:

Origin:
Chile

Found:
Chile only

Carmenère is yet another grape that was eventually exiled from the Bordeaux blend. In the late 1800’s, Carmenère was brought over to Chile from France, and it never turned back. For a while, Chilean growers thought this grape was Merlot and labeled their wines as such. But in the early 1990s, thanks to DNA testing, vineyards were revisited and the grapes correctly labeled, and Carmenère was discovered to be the backbone of many Chilean wines.

Perhaps you may still find minute plantings of Carmenère in France, as well as a few other wine growing regions, but you’ll find most bottling of this variety in Chile. With Carmenère, Chileans are producing wines with good, plumy fruit, like Merlot, and firm structure, similar to Cabernet Sauvignon. The grape kicks in a heady dose of pepper and spice, which helps distinguish it from other varietals in Chile.

Further Reading:
Wikipedia
MSNBC
Houston Wine
Wine Pros
Dallas Secret Wine
Berry Bros
Appellation America

Champagne
(Blend)

Wine Style:
Light, fresh, toasty to yeasty, and dry to sweet.

Flavors:
Beside some comment on Citrus and yeast flavors, the sweetness varies from Extra Brut (at most 0.6% sugar) to Doux (more than 5% sugar). Champagne is considered one of the most food friendly wines and accompanies most fine foods.

Origin:
Champagne in France

Found:
France only. Other countries: Cava (Spain), Sparkling juice (Other countries)

Which grapes are included in the blend, and their proportion, is one of the key factors determining the style of most Champagnes. Three grapes are used – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Petit Meunier. 26% of vineyards in Champagne are planted with Chardonnay and it performs best on the Côtes des Blancs and on the chalk slopes south of Epernay.

It is relatively simple to grow, although it buds early and thus is susceptible to spring frosts. It produces lighter, fresher wines than those from Burgundy and gives finesse, fruit and elegance to the final blend. It is the sole grape in Blancs de Blancs, which are some of the richest long-lived Champagnes produced.

Pinot Noir accounts for nearly 40% of the plantings in Champagne and lies at the heart of most blends – it gives Champagne its body, structure, strength and grip. It is planted across Champagne and particularly so in the southern Aube district.

The final component is Petit Meunier and this constitutes nearly 35% of the plantings. Its durability and resistance to spring frosts make the Marne Valley, a notorious frost pocket, its natural home. It ripens well in poor years and produces a soft, fruity style of wine that is ideal for blending with the more assertive flavours of Pinot Noir.

Further Reading:
Wikipedia
Wine Pages