2011 Chateau Chasse-Spleen (3000 ml)

傳統 Médoc 的穩健派，成熟果實與礫石礦感平衡，喝得出年份與土地。

為什麼選它？
1) 橡木陳年 12–16 個月（40% 新桶）→ 香料與結構到位，但不蓋過本味。好處：即飲也可短期儲藏。
2) 分期人工採收與嚴格篩選→ 在潮濕年分仍保留乾淨果實。好處：果味純淨、帶鹹礦感與黑胡椒提點。
3) 家族莊園經營、礫石白堊地塊→ 有脈絡的產區表現。好處：比大牌更實惠、風格真實。

侍酒師私房筆記：倒出來是深而有光的紅色，先聞到李子與黑加侖，慢慢跑出薄荷與黑胡椒的清爽感，再有一抹香草木質香。入口輪廓清晰，細緻單寧編成絲線，帶一點豐潤感把中段拉開，尾段有甘草與鹽味的回甘，餘韻長且帶微辛辣。建議醒酒約 90 分鐘，溫度 16–18°C 最舒服。

田地與釀造：莊園坐落在 garonne 礫石覆蓋白堊下層，排水好、礦物感明顯。採收分期（9 月中下旬），在不穩定天氣下以人工篩選去除受影響果串，發酵在不鏽鋼與混凝土槽中控溫進行，再進行橡木陳年。

場景化配餐指南：週末在家煎一塊帶骨西冷、節慶烤羊或拼一個熟成切達芝士盤；也適合在港式西餐廳點牛扒時用來對比酒體與胡椒味。

降維打擊對比：有 Médoc 經典結構與陳年潛力，但價格更易入手——想要波爾多骨架感、又不想買超級大牌，這支是聰明選擇。

Soul Hook: A classic Médoc that pairs poised structure with late-maturing fruit — confidence without pretense.

Why choose it?
1) Traditional élevage -> Balanced oak integration: 12–16 months in barrels (40% new) that give spice and grip without overwhelming the fruit. Benefit: immediate approachability with cellar potential.
2) Proven vintage management -> Careful sorting and staggered harvests kept quality fruit despite a challenging season. Benefit: expressive ripe fruit framed by saline minerality and peppery lift.
3) Estate pedigree -> A family-owned château with consistent Médocean terroir and gravel-on-chalk soils. Benefit: authenticity and value compared with more polished big-name offerings.

Sommelier's Notes: On the glass the hue is deep, lively red. The nose opens with dark plum and blackcurrant, threaded with minty pepper and a light vanilla oak. The palate is clean and direct at first, then fills with a fine-grained tannic weave and a gentle fatness that softens structure into a silky mid-palate. Liquorice and a saline undertone push the finish long and peppery — a wine that rewards a short decant now and will evolve further.

Winemaking Notes: Vinified in stainless steel vats and concrete with thermal regulation, followed by 12–16 months in oak (about 40% new). Careful sorting during harvest limited rot-affected bunches and concentrated flavours.

Vineyard Notes: Garonne gravel over chalk sub-stratum with asteria provides drainage and minerality. Harvest was staggered across September to capture ripeness while managing humidity risks.

Occasions & Pairing: Decant ~90 minutes and serve at 16–18°C. Ideal for weekend steak nights, festive roasts, or an elevated cheese board at home. In Hong Kong terms: perfect for a Western-style dinner at home or a hotel steak night when you want classic Bordeaux character without the ultra-premium price tag.

Competitive Edge: Delivers Médoc structure and length at a more accessible price than many classified-growth counterparts — classic terroir expression and ageing ability with strong bang-for-buck.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 12.5 - 14%
• Decant Time: 90 minutes
• Taste: plum, blackcurrant, minty pepper, vanilla/wood spice, liquorice, silky tannins, ripe dark fruit, long peppery finish
• Food Matching: Grilled bone-in sirloin, Roast lamb, Venison or game dishes, Mature cheddar or hard cheeses, Steak with peppercorn sauce
• Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon : 50%, Merlot : 40%, Petit Verdot : 7%, Cabernet Franc : 3%,

Winery

Chateau Chasse-Spleen 是家族經營的莊園，以傳統 Médoc 風格見稱。莊園在礫石蓋白堊的地塊上細心耕作，釀造時採用控溫不鏽鋼與混凝土槽，入桶陳年以求果味與木香平衡。

Chateau Chasse-Spleen is a family-owned estate known for producing traditionally styled Médoc wines. Combining careful vineyard work on gravel over chalk soils with modern vinification (thermal regulation vats and concrete), the estate aims for clear fruit expression framed by measured oak.