2006春遊8:Artesa的Pinot Noir初體驗

比起走古典風格的Domaine Carneros,同樣位在Carneros區的Artesa卻相當摩登。座落在偏遠的小山丘上,Artesa的建築走的是現代風格。 我們在這家酒莊並沒有逗留太久,我試了他們的黑皮諾Pinot Noir,以前喝過的紅酒多半是Cabernet Sauvignon或Merlot,黑皮諾可能還是第一次嘗試。第一口覺得不太好入口,但慢慢地莓果與橡木桶的香氣配上淡淡單寧的澀味,在口中散化開來。 這讓我想到在電影「尋找心方向」Sideways裡,男主角Miles對於他為何獨鐘Pinot Noir的註解:Um, it’s a hard grape to grow, as you know. Right? It’s uh, it’s thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It’s, you know, it’s not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it’s neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they’re just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and… ancient on the planet. 黑皮諾是一種很難照顧的葡萄,它不像Cabernet哪裡都可以生長,它只愛涼爽的地方。它皮薄而早熟,需要持續而耐心地照顧,也因此黑皮諾的品質很難維持一貫,容易大起大落。 我不像Miles那樣有張挑剔的嘴,有這麼細膩的表達和譬喻能力,把黑皮諾講得那麼生動卻又根本是自己的自唉自憐,我只知道這隻黑皮諾好喝,這樣或許就足夠了。 Artesa Winery網站:http://www.artesawinery.com/index1.html 這天我們在Carneros Inn打尖,這間resort實在不好找,我們在Old Sonoma Highway上來來回回幾次都找不到,只有打電話去問他們到底怎麼走。好不容易check-in之後,飯店員工開著高爾夫球車領我們到我們預定的Garden Cottage。果然是漂亮的房間啊,雖然小花園的圍牆有點鐵皮屋的味道,但光是有上中下三個噴頭的淋浴間、超大浴缸和加熱地板就大大加分。老公則喜歡他們室外的淋浴間,這種房間最適合度蜜月的新婚夫妻吧。 The Carneros Inn網站:http://www.thecarnerosinn.com

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