31.12.15

2008 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Eiswein

A medium intensity lemon colour icewine with over medium intensity aromas of honey, chrysanthemum tea, apricot, citrus, steel and mineral. Sweet with fairly high acidity, full bodied but rather low in alcohol. On palate it has quite high intensity flvours of honey, lemon candy, apricot and touch of chrysanthemum. Fairly long length with honey citrus finish. (95) Very concentrated but a bit lack of complexity, need to develop further.


Tasted on 8 December 2015


相信可以遲D飲的酒,酒的濃度很高,甜酸的平衡很好,即使咁甜也不覺得膩。酒香、酒味和餘韻都算強。亦有一定的礦物質感,只是複雜性現在欠缺了點,相信時間會令它再有好的發展。現飲已不錯,但再陳年應該會得到更好的品飲享受。

29.12.15

1996 La Tache, Domaine de la Romanee Conti

Deep ruby coloured dry red wine with fairly high intensity aromas of red plum, redberry, rose jam, licorice, forest floor, fresh cabbage and damp wood. It has medium acidity and alcohol, fuller than medium bodied with medium fine-grained tannin. On palate it has quite high intensity flavours of rose jam, red plum, licorice, forest floor, and cabbage. Long length with rose and plum finish. (95) Clean, precise, fine and delicate.


Tasted on 8 December 2015


也不致於筆墨難以形容,但這酒會令人有嘩一聲的感覺。酒香和酒味的強度和複雜性也很好,單寧須要多一點時間醇化一下,餘韻長而吸引。味道層次分明,亦優雅,是一個很享受的品飲過程。好好酒,值得一再回味。

27.12.15

2002 Ermitage L'Ermite, M. Chapoutier

Medium lemon colour with quite high intensity aromas of lemon, white flower, honey, peach and touch of stewed pear and mineral. It is dry with medium acidity, medium alcohol and quite full bodied. On palate it gives medium intensity lemon candy, peach, white flower and touch of honey almond. Longer than medium length with honey lemon finish. (92) Good complexity but a bit lack of acid.


Tasted on 8 December 2015


隆河的白酒有像較醇厚的感覺,但同時又很易欠缺鮮活性,因為酒的酸度好易不足。這酒的酸度勉強可以,複雜性不錯,酒香的強度不俗,只是在口中不能維持,餘韻亦長,幾好飲。


24.12.15

1988 Richebourg, Domaine Leroy

This wine still has deep ruby colour. On nose it has fairly high intensity aromas of red plum, rose tea, licorice, redberry, floral garden, fruit plate with touch of toast and earth. It is dry with medium acidity, medium alcohol and bodied. The tannin is at medium level and fine-grained in nature. On palate, it has slightly over medium intensity flavours of plum, redberry, licorice, floral and touch of earth and spice. Fairly long length with rose and plum lingering finish. (93)


Tasted on 8 December 2015


如果不是餘韻咁誘人,我會比少一分。酒有著引人入勝的香氣,是會令人腦海中有畫面的,酒在口中雖然仍有一定表現,但不及香氣,層次及複雜性亦差了點,但吞嚥後的餘韻隱隱約約的,令人回味,好飲,即使27年酒,仍保持著這優雅的花果味,十分難得。

22.12.15

2006 Chevalier Montrachet, Bouchard Pere & Fils

A medium lemon intensity dry white wine with medium intensity aromas of honey, lemon, steel, almond, floral and touch of chalk and mineral. Slightly higher than medium acidity, medium alcohol and fuller than medium bodied. On palate, it has over medium intensity flavours of honey, lemon, mineral, floral and touch of nuttiness. Fairly long length with honey citrus finish. (92)


Tasted on 8 December 2015


如果唔係酒香少了些強度,這酒的評價會更好。酒的複雜度好,亦有一定層次,餘韻長而可口,礦物質感亦強,反映出酒有一定的質素。飲比聞好得多,很工整四正,好酒一枝。



20.12.15

寫酒的二三事(二)凌凌漆說:「睇落係風筒,其實係鬚刨嚟。」

二 . 凌凌漆說:「睇落係風筒,其實係鬚刨嚟。」

這個情況其實在現今社會比比皆是。因工作關係,我參考過很多法庭案例。我發現有很多訴訟其實在一開始時已决定了輸赢。主要原因是負方的案情本身已經前言不對後語,即使在不考慮另一方案情的情况下,負方的案情已站不住腳。

這個情况在社會上也不時出現。不受歡迎的政客很多時不是他的政治立場不受歡迎,而是他們的論述及言行不一致,一時一樣,跟電影「大內密探凌凌發」中無相王的武功一樣,「好難捉摸呀。」

其實只要一個人的論述或案情由始至終都一致的話,即使對方唔同意,也會明白他的觀點。這個在寫酒或談酒時很重要。相信很多人都認同酒是很個人的,所以很多時有關酒的同一課題大家會有不同睇法,這個是完全可以接受的。可是如果一篇關於酒的文字前後矛盾或表述不一致時,讀者便較難明了。

文章的不一致性有時是顯而易見的,但有時也須要對酒有一些認識,所以又回歸到上一篇所説:「基礎是很重要。」

以下是一段節錄自WSET考試報告的品酒筆記:

Ripe plum, prune and dark cherry, hints of pepper and vegetal notes, jammy and boiled sweets, hint of vanilla. A developing wine, simple.

大家覺得有冇問題呢?請思考一下再看下去。

另一個例子,這段對話我是節錄自一條兩、三年前的網上短片:

主持人:大家好,今集仍然有我同威士忌大師呀乜哥同大家品嚐威士忌。
乜哥:大家好。
主持人:乜哥,今集我地終於試一試名滿天下嘅麥卡倫了。
乜哥:冇錯,我地而家面前放了好幾款麥卡倫的威士忌。
主持人:其實麥卡倫有乜野咁特别而咁出名呢?乜哥!
乜哥:講起麥卡倫呢,佢地就有六大支柱,而令到 D 酒特别好。
主持人:乜哥,睇落而家面前呢幾款酒,都好深色下喎!其實呢 D 酒有冇加色呢?
乜哥:係有加色嘅!
主持人:咁我地一路試,一路講解吖!

呢段大家又覺得有冇問題呢?

如果一枝酒已經有幾個層面的味道,那支仍是一支簡單的(Simple)酒嗎?至於那段短片,我建議大家先上麥卡倫的網站看看,我相信看完之后你已經達到或甚至高過「威士忌大師」的級別了。

下一節我會轉入另一個話題,一個解釋爲甚麼有些文章我們應該作出懷疑,甚至批評,有些又不須要。

17.12.15

2003 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Pucelles, Domaine Leflaive

This dry white wine has medium intensity lemon green colour. On nose it gives quite high intensity aromas of lemon, white flower, honey, peach and touch of mineral, stewed pear and almond. It is dry with barely medium acidity, medium alcohol and quite full bodied. Medium plus intensity flavours of lemon candy, peach, white flower and touch of honey almond. Fairly long length with lemon honey finish. (92) Good complexity but a bit lack of acidity.


Tasted on 8 December 2015


酒的複雜性好,酒力亦算強,餘韻亦長,幾好飲。可是酸度似乎欠了點點,可能是年份問題吧,這導致酒的鮮活性下跌了些。整體都仍是一枝好酒。

15.12.15

2004 Dom Perignon

A medium lemon coloured dry champagne with over medium noses of ripe pear, peach, white flower and touch of cream soda and yeast. Medium acidity, alcohol and bodied with creamy mousse. The flavour intensity is over medium with flavours of green apple, bitter lemon, pear and mineral. Longer than medium length with bitter lemon finish. (91)


Tasted on 8 December 2015


04年的香檳可以飲。這酒以 Dom Perignon 來說算不錯,但不算出色。酒香複雜性差了點,酒力尚算強,餘韻不錯,中上的酒。

13.12.15

Krug Rose NV

Medium onion skin with fairly high intensity aromas of yeast, lime, fresh red apple, chalk and touch of honey bread. It is dry with medium soft acidity, medium alcohol and slightly fuller than medium bodied. Creamy mousse too. On palate it has over medium intensity flavours of red apple, strawberry, honey, chalk and bread. Slightly longer than medium length with red apple finish. (92) not too oaky with good mellow acidity.


Tasted on 8 December 2015

酒入口後把口腔包得豐豐滿滿的。口感綿綿。二次發酵的感覺不太重,酒力及複雜性不俗,餘韻亦長,好飲。


10.12.15

2015 Beaujolais Village Nouveau

A deep purple dry red wine with fairly high intensity aromas of fresh ripe red cherry, candied redberry, red flower, redcurrant, bubblegum, very fruity. It has slightly higher than medium acidity, medium alcohol and barely medium bodied. Soft tannin at barely medium level. On palate it gives quite high intensity flavours of red cherry, ripe redberry and touch of bubblegum. Medium length with red cherry candy finish (89) Fruity and powerful, but simple and lack of length, good gulpable wine.

Tasted on 21 November 2015


知道2015年是一個很熱的年份,所以已預計了酒的果味較漿。這酒酒香很強,只是不能持續至口中。餘韻亦較短,複雜性亦欠奉。一枝標準做來大啖大啖"啪"的酒。雖然好似彈得好多,但這只是一貫保祖利風格。要讚的是果味十足,好像滿口花果莓的感覺,亦感覺到果味的熟透情度。酒不是優雅的美,但飲者會因其豐富的果味而飲得很開心的。


8.12.15

1998 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva

Fairly deep ruby coloured with medium noses of red berry, vanilla, red plum, coconut, redcurrant and touch of spice, this dry red wine has medium acidity, alcohol and bodied. The tannin is a bit coarse but still fine-grained, quite high intensity too. On palate it has medium flavours of red cherry, vanilla, red plum and touch of fishy and sweet spice. Medium red cherry finish. (90)


Tasted on 16 November 2015


酒的果味保持得很好,木桶味也很融和。酒香及酒味強度算不錯,餘韻亦算合格。酒的複雜性欠了點,但展示到一點點品種特性,很不錯的一款佐餐酒,剩飲的話也是很輕鬆隨意的。

6.12.15

寫酒的二三事(一)安西教練說:「基礎很重要。」

現在市場上,不論印刷媒體或網上媒體,都不時有一些關於酒的文章、短片和筆記。這反映出酒友越來越多和有更多人喜歡分享他們對酒的感受,實屬可喜的現象。但是我在看這些東西時有幾點是覺得要注意的,在此分享一下。

一. 安西教練說:「基礎很重要。」

這個想法來自早前網上一則新聞。一位家長氣憤的貼上他子女的數學試卷。内容的題目如下:

Use the repeated addition strategy to solve 5 x 3.

他的子女答:5 x 3 = 5 + 5 + 5 = 15

老師改卷後扣了他1分,並列出正確答案爲:3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15

那位家長認爲答案都是 15,那應該全對而不應該扣掉1分。

如果從乘數的英文定義來說,5 x 3 即是 5 個 3 相加的意思,所以 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15 是正確解答。可是在數學運算時,乘數有一個交換性質(Commutative property),亦即是 A x B = B x A,所以在運算方面 5 x 3 = 3 x 5。因此這位家長便認為他的子女並沒有任何錯誤,原因如下:

5 x 3 = 3 x 5 (Commutative)
3 x 5 =  5 + 5 + 5 = 15

嚴謹的說,我認為這裡涉及一個概念上的問題。正如我在上面所說,交換性質在運算時才可應用。但實際上會有所不同,例如:3 箱酒,每箱有 5 枝,共 15 枝;這和 5 箱酒,每箱有 3 支不同。所以在運算上沒有分別的東西並不代表實際上是一樣。英語上有兩個字正好解釋這情況,就是 Equal 和 Equivalent 了。5 x 3 等於(Equal)5 + 5 +5,但不是相同(Equivalent )。我相信有時由於運算十分簡單,我們會把一些步驟省略了,這很容易令自己忘記了一些很根本的分別,而把這些概念混淆了。

這和酒有什麼關係呢?在評酒或在一些關於酒的文章上,很多坊間的作者也時常會誤把一些 Equal 的東西當成 Equivalent 。這情況屢見不爽,特別在一些對酒一知半解的人尤甚。舉例說,有些酒的香味、特性可以是由品種或釀造方法而來,但並不代表某一款酒有某一種香味便代表是某一品種或釀造方法。這種關係是一個推斷關係(Implication)而不是相同關係(Equivalent )。

我常常替一些要考盲飲(Blind Tasting)的人安排試酒練習。其中一條我常用來「陰」他們的題目就是 Carbonic Maceration。使用這個技術較出名的其中一處地方是 Beaujolais ,但是這個技術其實也在很多地方用作釀造一些可以早飮用的酒。這種技術造出來的酒一般有著顯注的糖果、香口膠和生香蕉的香氣,很多人(包括所謂學過和自稱專業的)當聞到這香氣便說是 Beaujolais ,因為他們已經把這些香氣和 Beaujolais 這款酒劃上了等號,所以結果通常都是被我「陰」到的。

這跟上面說到的原理一樣,很多時盲飲是一種推斷,但是很多人卻把他當成了一種直接掛鉤的相同關係。所以,品飲者須先弄清楚葡萄品種特性、泥土、氣候和各樣對造酒有時影響的因素才可以有較全面的判斷。

這些很老生常談,對嗎?

但為什麼在坊間仍有那麼多有問題的酒評或文章?下一節會說另一個話題。


3.12.15

2005 Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes, Vincent Girardin

A deep ruby wine with fairly high intensity aromas of red plum, rose perfume, red cherry jam and touch of wormwood, incense and forest floor. It is dry with medium acidity, medium alcohol and bodied with fine grained medium tannin. Slightly higher than medium flavours of red cherry, cabbage, wet leaves and rose pedal. The length is at longer than medium level with plummy finish. (92)


Tasted on 16 November 2015


這酒頗濃,香氣很好,強而複雜,十分誘人。酒在口中仍算保持著水準,亦有著品種特性,只是以這村來說就像欠了點點田土風味。餘韻亦長,好飲的。

1.12.15

2004 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques, Domaine Denis Mortet

A medium ruby coloured dry red wine with quite high noses of red plum jam, earth, mushroom, cooked cabbage, rose and touch of toast. Medium acidity, alcohol and bodied with soft medium tannin, a bit greenness is detected. The flavours contain red cherry, redcurrant, rose pedal, smoke and vanilla. Barely longer than medium length with red cherry finish. (91)


Tasted on 16 November 2015


04年的酒大部份都有這點點的青澀感,即使濃郁如這酒莊的差品亦是。酒香不俗,強亦複雜,酒在口中複雜性不及香味,餘韻不錯,幾好飲。