感恩節, 火雞與烏鴉的共舞 - Ravenswood 2002 Vintners Blend Zinfandel

Ravenswood 2002 Vintners Blend Zinfandel
Varietal: Zinfandel 76%, Carignan 9%, Petite Sirah 8%, Agiorgitiko 7%
Appellation: California, California
Price: $7.99
Dealer: Stater Brother
ST Score: 85
WN Score: 86

Content Info:
13.5% Alco. by Vol.

Background Story:
為何這次我在法定產區上打上California, California, 兩遍呢? 猜猜看猜得到嗎?
在我一再在 Google 裡想要想要找到相關的產地訊息總是找不到, 最後在總算在酒廠網站裡讀出個所以然來, 原來在瓶身已經清楚的寫明 – Vintners Blend, 中文應翻作”酒商, 釀酒師兼葡萄酒包商的精選”, 怎麼說呢? 酒商大部分只賣酒, 釀酒師則是把手中葡萄酒的特色發揮到極至, 而葡萄酒包商則是每年要到各產地去品嚐各個果園的葡萄酒, 然後最後再決定購買哪一個或哪幾個果園的酒來釀製出當年的酒款, 薄酒萊之父 – Georges Duboeuf, 便是此行中的佼佼者, 此外還有Guigal, Jaboulet, Jadot, Drouhin 和 Laboure-Roi 都是 negociant. 他們的職業有一個特定的稱號 – negociant, 而他們有如古代練金術的職業技能又稱為negociant-eleveur.

Official Comment:
"The Vintners Blend has a rich, somewhat soft, moderately complex, spicy, ripe, raspberry aroma. The flavors are those of black cherries, mint and vanilla with a sturdy, slightly astringent finish. The freshness and youth that we strive for in the Vintners Blend allows it to be released with slightly less barrel and bottle age. This forceful but friendly wine is a wonderful complement to pasta, poultry, red meats and other highly-flavored dishes." - Winemaker

ST Comment:
"Medium red. Aromas of black raspberry, mocha, smoke and bitter chocolate. Sweet, simple berry and chocolate flavors nicely firmed by ripe acidity." - Stephen Tanzer

Personal Comment:
Sight: Crimson with dark red in the center.
Nose: Black berry, vanilla, peppery and toasty aromas. Occassionally comes out bread flavor.
Taste: Light sweet, nice acidity, and enough tannin. Lingering is around 5 to 10 seconds. Medium to full body. Do not like fully loaded Zinfandel style So not greasy at all.
相較起 Woodbridge 的那款Zinfandel, 這一款可說是較為清瘦, 整體而言, 不會過分濃郁, 已經從淡淡甜味偏向輕度的澀感, 在感恩節的時刻搭配上火雞大餐, 蠻適合的, 這好像也是大部分 Zinfandel 的特色.
酒的顏色偏向深紅色並有些微地帶紫墨色, 酒香上則是包含了黑莓果, 香草, 胡椒及薰烤的香味, 而且不時地飄出麵包的香味, 有一定的層次感, 縱使是飲入口中也不會呈現一般 Zinfandel 的甜膩, 而以適度的酸以及單寧來作結尾, 餘韻不錯, 頗適合配上雞肉類的餐點.


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