10/21/05 兩款Syrah (Columbia Crest 2001 Grand Estate Syrah V.S Chat. Ste. Michelle 2001 Syrah) 的飲後感想與酒款的解讀-故事一

Columbia Crest 2001 Grand Estate Syrah
Columbia Valley, Washington
WE: 88(82)
Price: $8.99
Dealer: Ralphs

Content Info:
84% Syrah
16% Grenache
Total acidity 0.60 g/100 ml
pH 3.70
Alcohol 13.99%

Food pairings: Leg of lamb, beef stew

Background Story:
(Cited from大同亞瑟頓) Columbia Crest 不僅是華盛頓州最大的酒廠且為美國最暢銷的酒廠之一。酒廠獨特之處在於佔有相當的地理優勢，位於日照充足的東華盛頓州，周邊圍繞著 2,000 英畝品質極佳的葡萄園。排水性佳的土質與晝暖夜涼的氣候，正適合釀出兼具新世界與古典型優點之高品質美酒。2004 年 9 月世界權威品酒雜誌 Wine Spectator 選出全球最超值的紅酒，Columbia Crest Shiraz 在 150 款佳釀中名列第一，Columbia Crest 酒廠總共有 7 款酒入榜；而 2004 年 Wine Spectator 評選百大珍釀中，Columbia Crest 酒廠更有2款酒分別入選，非常難得，Wine Spectator 並盛讚 Columbia Crest 為最超值的酒廠之一。
Columbia Crest 和 Ch. Ste Michelle 同屬美國 Ste Michelle 葡萄酒集團


Official Comment:
“This Rhone-style wine features fresh rose, ripe strawberry and white pepper aromas. A terrific balance between fruit and cocoa flavors delivers a soft, well-integrated wine with a lush, lingering finish.”
The wine aged for 11 months in French (60%) and American (40%) oak barrels. Barrel-to-barrel racking occurred every four months. Grenache was blended in to create a fruitier, Rhone-like wine style.
The Grand Estates Syrah is harvested predominantly from vineyards located on the Horse Heaven Hills (balance and complexity), Wahluke Slope (texture and body), and Yakima Valley (aromatics).

WE Comment:
“The '01 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Syrah is a juicy effort; lovely, spicy wine seamlessly mixes bright berry and smooth chocolate, with hints of earth and pepper.”

Personal Comment:
A ruby color as the sight. With couple mins of being decanted, it comes out slightly jammy aroma. When close to smell it, black pepper follows by berry. Sweetness built-in the taste provides the whole wine slightly fruity. As far as I concern, it is a medium body wine. However, the same year’s merlot has better performance than this syrah. Kind of expensive for the table wine. Drink once is enough.
事實上這是我第一次品嚐Syrah的品種, 本是期待著像大家所描訴的澳洲Syrah般地獲得一定的感動, 結果卻是無法令人很興奮, 但比起同時品的Chat. Ste. Michelle 2001 Syrah, 似乎程度上要好一些.
開瓶後並無豐富的酒香飄出, 在經過一段時間的Decanted, 是有醬果的味道, 並陪伴著些微的胡椒般地辛香味, 飲入口中有著蠻充足的甜度, 但沒有足夠的餘味與澀度漫佈餘口與舌之間, 中度的酒體, 可以成為不錯的餐酒, 可是價位上又比一般的餐酒貴.



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