2018 The Mascot

年輕山坡果實、名莊血統入門款——力道與細緻並存，醒一小時就能開出層次。

【為什麼選它？】
1) 來自母莊旁的年輕地塊 -> 有名莊背景但表現更直接、價格更友善。
2) 山坡礫土與小藤齡果實 -> 味道集中、礦感和黑色果實交織，不會只靠單一香料堆砌。
3) 輕度橡木調理 -> 帶來粉末感的單寧與溫和香辛，支撐酒體但不喧賓奪主。

【侍酒師私房筆記】
打開有黑果、黑茶和草本調，舌頭中段厚實而有重量，單寧是那種不刺口的粉質感，推動出結尾的活力與細節。建議先開瓶醒約60分鐘；若是聚餐煎烤或做滷味，這支能把味道拉得很完整。

【場景化配餐指南】
週末朋友燒烤配肋眼、家常中式五香排骨、或是較濃口的紅燒牛腩都很合拍；飯後拿一片成熟Gouda做延伸討論也很優雅。

【降維打擊對比】
擁有BOND、Harlan、Promontory等名莊年輕地塊的基因，卻不是天價收藏款——對想嘗試名莊風格但又要實際飲用的買家，是性價比極高的選擇。

[Soul Hook] A youthful Napa hillside wine that delivers concentrated depth and a powdery tannin frame — a glimpse of great estates in training.

[Why choose it?]
1) Distinct hillside fruit -> Enjoy concentrated, structured flavors usually found in top estates but at a more accessible price point.
2) Crafted from younger blocks of renowned sites -> A fresh, energetic expression with the pedigree of elite vineyards.
3) Thoughtful oak maturation -> Adds texture and subtle spice without masking primary fruit.

[Sommelier's Private Note]
This 2018 presents brooding dark fruit, a black-tea undercurrent and hints of herbal/eucalyptus notes. The mid-palate is satisfying and dense, while powdery tannins give grip but resolve gently, revealing an energetic, detailed finish. Best decanted for an hour to open the layers.

[Occasion / Pairing]
Perfect for an upscale home barbecue, a weekend roast with friends, or a Cantonese-style rib dinner. Matches rich red meats, game and mature cheeses — great for shared plates and conversations that linger.

[Competitive Edge]
Compared with big-name Napa bottlings, this offers direct lineage to famous estates (BOND, Harlan, Promontory) at a fraction of the price — collectible interest without the sticker shock.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 14.5%
• Decant Time: 60 minutes
• Taste: dark fruit, black tea, herbal, eucalyptus, dark chocolate, powdery tannins, earthy, dense mid-palate, vivid finish
• Food Matching: Grilled ribeye or beef ribs, Braised veal cheek, Pork spare ribs with Chinese five-spice, Seared venison, Aged Gouda or hard sheep cheese
• Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon : 100.0%,

Winery

The Mascot 是一個起於家族與釀酒團隊之間的小型計畫，特別選取山坡地塊上新植不久的藤蔓果實，出自與多個頂級莊園相鄰的地塊。酒莊以抓取年輕而充滿潛力的果味為主，釀造上採用適度橡木與人工挑選，讓酒既有結構也保有果實鮮明度。

The Mascot began as a small family-and-friends project that gathers fruit from distinct hillside blocks—notably the younger vines of estate names synonymous with Napa’s top tier. The program focuses on capturing youthful energy and the evolutionary glimpse of its parent estates, combining careful vineyard selection with measured oak aging and traditional cellar practices.