瓏岱酒庄(Long Dai Estate)坐落于山东蓬莱的丘山山谷(Qiu Shan Valley)产区,与拉菲古堡(Château Lafite Rothschild)同属拉菲罗斯柴尔德男爵酒业公司〔Barons de Rothschild Estates (Lafite)〕旗下。
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Meticulously crafted to pay tribute to the holy mountain
The word "Longdai" carries the hope of the Rothschild family, implying that the wines produced by the winery are a combination of people's careful cultivation and natural excellence, a fusion of Chinese tradition and modern civilization, and a perfect combination of ancestral experience and avant-garde spirit. As a representative of Chinese civilization, Shandong Taishan aims to pay tribute to the glorious history of the land of Qilu with the name of "Dai", and vividly interprets the ideal concept contained in this holy mountain.
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The opening chapter, the year of learning
"Lafite is embarking on a long and varied journey in China, and the Longdai vintage is the beginning. ”
——赛斯吉娅·罗斯柴尔德(Saskia de Rothschild)
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In 2008, Baron de Rothschild Lafite conducted research in several regions of China and finally decided to choose the site in the Qiushan Valley. In 2011, the first vines were planted at Château Longdai. In 2019, the winery released its first vintage. In 2023, Longdai has gone through 15 years. Inspired by the phrase "I am determined to learn" in the Analects of Politics, the winery calls this year "the year of learning" – just like a young man who has matured, Longdai Winery is based in the hills and valleys, constantly exploring the local terroir and winemaking techniques, and learning endlessly.
In such a special year, Château Long Dai grandly launched its fifth vintage wine, Domaine de Long Dai Red Wine 2021 (Qiu Shan Valley, China).
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Year details
2021 was a relatively cool year. The spring was cool and rainy, slowing vine growth and exposing them to early disease risk. Fortunately, at the beginning of June, the vines flowered smoothly due to persistent fine weather, in July the vines were healthy and the growth process was stable and uniform due to rising temperatures, in August the rainfall was scarce and brought a welcome phenomenon of "water stress", which caused the grapes to be more concentrated due to a lack of moisture, and in September, the belated monsoon brought several rains that threatened the ripening and harvesting of the grapes, forcing the winery to start the harvest early. According to the grape variety and plot zoning, the harvest team of more than 100 people quickly and rigorously harvests the grapes to ensure that the grapes are harvested with good ripeness and balanced flavors. The harvest began on 14 September and ended on 3 October.
Image source: www.lafite.com
Brewing process
The production of Château Longdai's red wines follows the traditional Bordeaux winemaking method. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, with a tailor-made process for each of the grape varieties, depending on the characteristics of the grape variety, and the fermentation process lasts between 20 and 26 days, ensuring that the tannins and colours are extracted in depth. In order to strike a balance between richness and freshness, the brewing team moderately shortened the maceration time in Marselan. After a malolactic fermentation, the team blends the finest parts and the wines are aged for 18 months in oak barrels from Baron de Rothschild de Rothschild's Bordeaux cooperage.
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Celebrity reviews
帕克团队（Robert Parker Team） 94/100
The 2021 Château Longdai red wine is made with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Marselan and 19% Cabernet Franc, a blend that reflects the cool weather of the 2021 vintage. Deep, purplish-red in colour, this wine is rich and bright, with aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, mulberry and blueberry, revealing a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Marselan. Fruity notes are interspersed with hints of herbaceous plants, accompanied by aromas of vanilla, cloves, toast and smoke that develop from oak barrel aging. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied, with finely crafted tannins and lively acidity, with fruity, oaky and just the right hints of ripe black fruit intertwined with an impressive interplay of pyrazine, with a rich, lingering finish. The wine is now approachable and has excellent ageing potential.
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詹姆斯·萨克林（James Suckling） 95/100
The 2021 Château Longdai red wine performed impressively, perhaps due to the high proportion of Marselan, which is a refreshing hop – notes of violet, lavender and fruity dark fruits such as blueberries, interspersed with hints of sandalwood, cedar and minerals, in a compact structure, medium to full-bodied, supple and delicate tannins, and a long and elegant finish. Excellent tannins and the exoticism of Marselan are the finishing touches, which together give the wine a full-bodied mouthfeel, a silky structure and an intense aroma.