Le Petite Mouton De Mouton Rothschild 2004

生產國：法國
產地：波爾多
法定產區：Pauillac AOC
釀酒廠：Le Petite Mouton De Mouton Rothschild (Chateau Mouton Rothschild 的二級酒).
年份：2004
種類：紅酒 (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot)
價格及出處：324NT/30ml (4,500NT/瓶)
品酒日：2008-03-15

Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: Pauillac AOC

Winery: Le Petite Mouton De Mouton Rothschild (2nd wine of Chateau Mouton Rothschild).
Vintage: 2004
Wine Style: Red (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot)
Price and Point of Purchase: 324NT/30ml tasting at Whisky and Wine (4,500NT/Bottle)
Date of Tasting: Mar. 15, 2008

Mouton Rothschild 是1855年之後，在波爾多地區唯一被重新分級的酒莊。因為不高興他的表親 -- Château Lafitte-Rothschild -- 獲頒為特級酒莊，自己卻只是二級酒莊，酒堡的菲力普男爵 (Baron Phillipe de Rothschild) 努力不懈地試圖要讓Mouton重新列級。經過了與法國政府的50年的交戰，Mouton Rothschild終於在1973年列級為特級酒莊之ㄧ。男爵終究是在有生之年親眼目睹了他成功地改變了家徽。在1973年之前，家徽是這麼寫的：「既不能成為第一，更不願屈居第二；我是Mouton。」現在，Château Mouton Rothschild的格言是這麼寫的：「曾經屈居第二，現在終成第一，我是Mouton，始終如一。」怎樣，挺酷的吧？

二軍酒使用的葡萄，是酒莊裡無法符合特級酒的嚴格標準打下來的葡萄。特級酒莊生產的二軍酒，通常有著他們特級酒莊的光環，但卻是相似品質中，比較負擔的起的酒款。

Mouton Rothschild is the only bordeaux to have been reclassified after 1855. Annoyed that his cousin's wine, Château Lafitte-Rothschild, received premier cru recognition, while Mouton Rothschild was relegated to the top level of the 2ème cru, Baron Phillipe de Rothschild tirelessly promoted the status of Mouton. After a 50 year battle with the French government Mouton Rothschild was finally promoted to premier cru status in 1973. The Baron lived to see the revision and celebrated by changing his family crest. Before 1973 it had read: “First, I cannot be; second, I do not deign to be; Mouton, I am.” Now the motto of Château Mouton Rothschild is: “First, I am; second, I was; Mouton does not change.” Pretty interesting stuff, huh?

Second wines are where châteaux place grapes that did not meet the very stringent quality qualifications for their premier wines. The second wines for premier cru classé châteaux represent great quality at a fraction of the price of their more famous siblings.

Darren 的品酒日記 / Darren's Tasting Notes-

色澤：豐富的血紅色配上流速很慢的淚滴，淚滴裡還包含了一些紅色。
Color: An opulent blood red with slow rich tears that hold a bit of redness in them.

氣味： 令人陶醉的氣味，展現的複雜的香料香氣，散發出一股肉桂、香菜仔與大茴香的香味旋繞不去。我喜歡這杯酒的氣味！
Nose: A very entrancing nose, displaying a complex range of herbal aromas, with a lingering sweetness evocative of cinnamon, caraway seeds and anise. I love the smell of this wine!

口感： 年輕且性急。這杯酒還在她青澀與單寧的青春期，但是性格結構已經顯現出來了。她的口味因為極佳的香味讓飲者的期望值飆的太高，導致口味的性格在比較之下顯的不如預期。但是如果在讓她躺個5到8年，我相信這瓶酒應該會發展成型，並把優點完全散發出來。我期待她的豐滿口感以及口感所激發出來的香料性格。
Taste: Young and brash, this wine is in the midst of its tight and tannic adolescence, but shows good structure. The taste suffered in comparison with the expectations raised by the beautiful nose, but after being laid down for 5-8 years the wine should open up and live up to its potential. I expect a solid meaty red with a lot of intriguing herbal characteristics.

評定等級：15.5 ()。
Rating: 15.5 (Good +).

Venus 的品酒日記 / Venus's Tasting Notes-

色澤：層次很分明，很美很清的層次。前端的部份是接近櫻桃汁液的顏色，後端是黑櫻桃的顏色。但再這裡我可能又要用一個很不專業的形容詞：看著她我聯想到的是Darren煎牛排的時候,，從牛排流出來的血。杯緣的淚滴很慢很濃，流過的地方在杯緣都留下了淡淡的紅色印子。沒見過這樣的酒，真是令人興奮。
Color: The gradation of color in the wine is very clear and pretty. The edge of the wine is a color close to cherry juice, and when looking through the deeper part of the glass, the color resembles black cherries. Here I’ll be unprofessional：Looking at the wine I associated the color to a steak Darren fried. The color is like blood leaking from a tenderloin. The tears circling the glass are very thick, very slow, and leave red ink wherever they go. I’ve never seen this kind of wine. I am very excited.

氣味：嗯。果然不錯，香氣很美很濃，但不刺鼻，是清新的香料的味道，有點像岩蘭草。聞到這種味道真是舒服，像是一個絕世美女，為了赴宴上了不算淡的妝，但卻不顯俗麗。身上擦的香水相當清新且出眾，不僅讓她的裝扮加分，也讓人一聞到這樣的味道就知道是他來了。
Nose: Hum. It is indeed good. The smell is very beautiful and complex, yet it's not prickling. There is a herbal smell – something like citronella. It is such a nice smell. It gives me the image of a gorgeous beauty all made up for a party, while never degenerating into gaudiness. Her perfume is fresh and distinctive. The smell not only adds points to her style but also leaves an impression on all who smell her – just like this wine.

口感：我覺得我期待太高了，還太年輕了。應該再等幾年，單寧酸還是太重，蓋過她應該有的味道。喝到嘴裡的finish倒是不錯，橡木的味道特濃，我可以想像她在過幾年之後的韻味。Darren曾說，希望早點認識我，我說早幾年我還太菜、太嫩，不好 — 我想這是一樣的道理。
Taste: Maybe my expectations were too high. The tannins are too strong and overpower the taste. The wine is too young and needs a bit of age. The finish is good though, with a very strong oakiness. I can really picture the beautiful flavor of this wine in a few years. Darren once told me that he wishes that he had met me earlier, and I told him that a few years ago I was still too young and too immature -- I think the same applies to wine too.

(或是含太小口了！30ml？！酒鬼要喝大口一點才能真的嚐味道！專業品酒師只需要一小口的酒來判定其好壞，但是真正的酒鬼必需喝到一整瓶！ 當你看到一個絕世美女，你會幻想牽牽她、親親她、抱抱她，如果只是禮貌性的像打招呼那樣的親親臉頰，你可能會沒什麼感覺，或是想要更多。(Or perhaps 30ml is just too small a sip! A dedicated wino needs to drink more to really taste the essence of the wine! True a professional wine-taster merely needs the smallest of sips to do a complete profile, but we require the entire bottle. It's like when you see a real beauty you want to touch, kiss, and hug. But, if you get just a kiss on the cheek, it will not excite you, and leaves you wanting more!)

Darren Haughn & Venus Chen (c) 2008-04-02