Girolate Rouge 2018 (JS: 91, RP: 91+)

EU Organic

International Sustainable

Despagne是一家波爾多一家知名的葡萄酒生產商，亦是懷抱熱情的葡萄農。他們家族紮根於北面的Entre-Deux-Mers已有200多年歷史。
Entre-Deux-Mers字面解作兩海之間，但真正所指的其實是Garonne及Dordogne兩條河流，當地的風土受海潮 Mascaret影響。
如今由 Basaline Despagne 和她的釀酒師兄弟 Thibault 經營。由5個酒莊組成，佔地約300公頃。
Girolate被酒評家Jancis Robinson譽為Entre-Deux-Mers superstar。Girolate Rouge用100% Merlot釀造，葡萄不僅採用風土最好的老藤，種植密度更高達每公頃10,000棵。

產區：
AOC Entre-Deux-Mers

產地：
法國波爾多

種類：
紅葡萄酒

葡萄品種：
Merlot

風土：
Girolate 是"lieu-dit”傳統地塊的名字，位於石灰石採石場上方的小山坡，由粘土組成。當地的老藤是Despagne家族在Naujan 和Postiac村內的最佳葡萄。

釀造：
原粒葡萄置於新的法國橡木桶(225升)內發酵，進一步陳年令風味融和。

品酒筆記：
(James Suckling's rating: 91 points)
黑加侖子、李子、焦油，再加上香料的香氣。酒體飽滿，粉狀而堅實的單寧。口感像牛油般柔滑、優雅。

(Robert Parker's rating: 91+ points)
2018年份的Girolate呈深石榴紅和紫色。從杯中噴發出燉紅櫻桃和黑櫻桃、黑莓蜜餞和香草的芬芳；並帶有雪松木、菸葉和紅茶的味道。酒體中等至飽滿，清爽的口感穿透了帶有橡木味的紅果和黑果味，單寧緊實，顆粒感十足，餘韻濃郁。給它 2-3 年的時間，讓橡木沉澱，之後有15年陳年潛質。

食物配搭：
麻油燒吞拿魚、勃艮第牛肉配意粉、陳年Gouda芝士。

Country of Origin:
Bordeaux, France

Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)

Grape Varieties:
Merlot

Terroir:
Girolate is the name of the "lieu-dit" where the family historically produces its best grapes in the village of Naujan and Postiac. Small clay hillside above a limestone quarry made up of a massal selection of old vines. 

Vinification:
Fermentation with full berries in new french oak 225L barrels and long further ageing for the finest integration.

Tasting notes:
(James Suckling's rating: 91 points)
Blackcurrant, plum, tar and spice box on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Creamy and polished. Better from 2022.

(Robert Parker's rating: 91+ points)
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Girolate bursts from the glass with notes of stewed red and black cherries, blackberry compote and sautéed herbs with touches of cedar chest, tobacco leaf and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a very refreshing backbone cutting through all that oak-tinged red and black fruit with firm, grainy tannins and a lifted finish. Give it a good 2-3 years for the oak to settle and drink it over the next 15+ years.

Food Pairing:
Grilled red tuna in seasame oil, Bourguignon beaf with fresh pastas, old Gouda cheese.