2018 Chateau Le Crock

在 Saint-Estèphe 礫石土壤中長成的剛毅與優雅：黑莓、煙草與法國橡木交織，帶出長時間的餘韻。

【為什麼選它？】
- 礫石與砂黏土地質＋人工採收 -> 果實專注、純度高，適合收藏或立刻開瓶享受。
- Famille Cuvelier 家族管理＋新桶熟成 -> 單寧有支撐但已經很順，兼顧力量與細緻。
- 評價與價格平衡 -> 像名莊的輪廓，售價更親民，性價比明顯。

【侍酒師私房筆記】
這支酒入口先是黑莓與黑櫻桃的果核甜感，接著有煙草皮革與淡淡巧克力、香料尾韻，酸度保持活力，單寧結構結實但不粗糙。要即開即飲，建議醒約90分鐘；要藏幾年，口感會更圓潤、層次更深。

【釀酒與田地】
土壤以 garonnaise 礫石為主，底層為砂黏土。人工採收並以整串分選入桶；溫控混凝土與不鏽鋼發酵，選用商性酵母，完成後於法國新桶進行乳酸發酵與熟成。家族傳承管理，對細節很講究。

【場景化配餐指南】
週末家常烤牛、朋友聚會的燒烤牛排、或酒席上的紅肉主菜都很合適；搭得來的還有陳年起司或燉煮深味料理。

【降維打擊對比】
比同區大牌更直接、價格更實在：你得到的是「典型 Médoc」的結構與陳年潛力，但不用為品牌溢價買單。

Classic Saint-Estèphe power with refined texture — dark fruits, tobacco and oak in a long, structured finish.

【Why choose it?】
- Gravelly terroir & manual harvest -> Concentrated, site-driven fruit that rewards short-term cellaring.
- Famille Cuvelier stewardship & careful oak regime -> Serious structure with polished tannins, great ageing potential.
- Strong critic recognition at accessible price -> High-quality Saint-Estèphe without the ultra-premium mark-up.

【Sommelier's private notes】
On the nose expect blackberries, dark plums, a thread of tobacco and cedar; the palate is mid-to-full bodied with juicy core fruit, firm but well-integrated tannins and an oak spice that adds complexity rather than masks the fruit. If you open before its peak, give it 60–90 minutes to unwind; for drinking now it shows confidence, for cellaring it will reward patience.

【Winemaking & Vineyard】
Soils: garonnaise gravel over sandy-clay subsoil. Manual harvest into crates with whole-bunch sorting. Fermentation in temperature-controlled concrete and stainless vessels with selected yeasts; malolactic in new French oak; ageing in French oak. Ownership: Famille Cuvelier.

【Occasion (pairing)}
Perfect for a Hong Kong rooftop steak night, a family Sunday roast, or a hotel banquet where bold red wine is welcomed. Pairs especially well with seared sirloin, braised beef, or matured cheddar.

【Competitive edge】
Delivers textbook Médoc structure and longevity at a fraction of top-tier Bordeaux prices — a go-to for collectors who want provenance and punch without overspending.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 14 - 14.5%
• Decant Time: 90 minutes
• Taste: blackberry, black currant, ripe plum, tobacco, cedar, dark chocolate, spice, lavender / violet, earthy / savory, juicy core, firm integrated tannins, oak spice
• Food Matching: Beef (Hereford bone-in sirloin, roast beef), Venison and game, Braised short ribs, Lamb chops, Boeuf en croûte, Aged cheddar and hard cheeses, Mushroom-based dishes
• Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon : 57%, Merlot : 33%, Cabernet Franc : 5%, Petit Verdot : 5%,

Winery

Chateau Le Crock 位於 Saint-Estèphe，由 Famille Cuvelier 擁有（與 Léoville-Poyferré 家族有關）。酒莊以人工採收、嚴格分選與謹慎的新桶熟成著稱，追求典型的 Médoc 結構與陳年潛力。

Chateau Le Crock is a Saint-Estèphe estate currently owned by Famille Cuvelier (the family behind Léoville-Poyferré). The estate practices manual harvesting and attention to oak management, aiming for classic Médoc structure and longevity.