關於此酒 :
德國Pfalz 區乾紅，以 Becker 家族祖先 Guillaume 命名，主要混合 Cabernet、Merlot、Pinot Grigio、Dornfelder 手摘葡萄，一半葡萄田位處德國 Pfalz區，而另一半位處法國 Alsace 阿爾薩斯區，12-30 年老樹滕，12-14個月橡木桶，中等濃度，深寶石紅酒色，紅莓、黑莓、櫻桃、香料、雨後森林酒香，入口充滿豐富黑莓果味，略帶烘焙、橡木、黑朱古力、綠茶，單寧細膩，餘味悠長。
About this wine :
Friedrich Becker "Cuvee Guillaume" was named after his ancestor, Wilhelm Becker. He was listed in the Alsace land registers as Guillaume (French for William) Becker. Exactly half of the grapes come from the Alsatian part of the estate, the other half from Germany. Thanks to special rights, this wine is marketed as a Palatinate red wine cuvée. The vineyards are located on deep loam and clay soils. However, red wine grapes from calcareous soils are also used. The cuvée is made from Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, and Dornfelder. The vines are between 12 and 30 years old. It also sometimes features Pinot Meunier and Blauer Portugieser (a red grape variety planted mostly in Germany, Austria and also in Portugal, under the name “Português Azul”). The exact recipe for this Cuvee changes from vintage to vintage.
The grapes of the four different red grape varieties are hand-selected on the vine. The red wine grapes are then destemmed and fermented separately on the skins. The must is gently fermented in wooden vats and barrels for two to three weeks and then juiced. The wines are then aged in small and large oak barrels for a further 12 to 14 months. Bottled without filtration or fining and then sold.
The wine shines with a rich ruby red color with dark reflections in the red wine glass. The bouquet of this red wine from the Palatinate region is reminiscent of red and black berries with cherry notes. Spices are also detectable, and the aftertaste even smells like forest floor after a downpour. This is juicy, with fruit leaning toward blackberries. Perceptible but integrated oak with dark roasted nuances, medium-fine tannins, a hint of dark chocolate and green tea on the palate, and a good finish. The alcohol is strong but not excessive. The Guillaume is fully fermented and has a dry (0.5g/l) flavor.
關於 WEINGUT FRIEDRICH BECKER 酒莊 :
德國 FRIEDRICH BECKER 狐狸酒莊位於 Pfalz 酒區，自2000年起成為德國VDP會員 (只有德國最優秀酒莊才能加入的協會)，連續8年獲得 Gault Millau 德國No. 1 Pinot Noir 名銜，各地酒評高度評價，酒評人 Robert Parker 表示「Becker 多年以來已是德國最享負盛名的釀酒商之一」，深受 Burgundy 布艮地愛好者追捧。
位於德國 Pfalz 最南端、毗鄰法國 Alsace 的 Schweigen，多年來一直是德國最頂尖的黑皮諾（Pinot Noir）產區之一，而 Weingut Friedrich Becker 正是其中的佼佼者。其最佳的黑皮諾作品足以與勃根地（Burgundy）的頂級酒款相媲美。
1973年，Fritz Becker Sr. 從父親手中接管酒莊後，便停止將葡萄賣給當地合作社，轉而自行裝瓶銷售。他同時是最早嘗試使用橡木桶（barriques）釀造黑皮諾的德國釀酒師之一。起初，他感到相當沮喪，因為正如他所言，成功地「將大自然的饋贈轉化為精緻葡萄酒」並非易事，而他的法國同行早已得心應手。
2005年，Fritz Becker Jr. 接手酒莊的釀酒工作，而父親則繼續負責葡萄園田間管理。2007年，Becker 家族開始調整釀酒理念，逐步放棄以往超過 100 °Oe（萊氏糖度）以上的高糖度採收，改以 92–98 °Oe 的較低範圍。他們了解到，生理成熟的果實比起更多的糖分，更需要保有良好的酸度。
約七成的 Becker 葡萄園分布於 Alsace。他們的頂級園（Grosses Gewächs）黑皮諾來自兩個名園：其一是 Kammerberg，這是一座陡峭的單一園，由 Fritz Becker Sr. 於1966年重獲。葡萄園內主要為德國克隆品系，夾雜部分法國克隆，種植於深厚的泥灰質石灰土中，能釀造出既有力量又兼具礦物感與精緻度的黑皮諾（這裡的「風土」決定一切！）。另一塊則是 Sankt Paul，早在14世紀由維森堡的熙篤會（Cistercians）開墾。後來土地逐漸荒廢，直到2000年代初，Becker家族重新清理灌木與樹木，並種下第戎（Dijon）克隆與德國馬里恩菲爾德（Marienfelder）克隆的黑皮諾。2004 年首次釀得收成時，酒款早已展現明顯的果香（來自第戎克隆），同時具有細膩與優雅的特質。
Sankt Paul 的黑皮諾需陳釀兩年才上市，Kammerberg 則需三年。Becker 家族同時也在 Sonnenberg 以貧瘠的石灰質土壤種植黑皮諾，釀造出格外輕盈優雅的頂級園 Riesling (Grosses Gewächs）。此外，他們還生產一系列極佳的 Pinot Blanc，受惠於大量石灰岩土壤）。
Heydendreich 是他們標誌性的頂級黑皮諾之一，展現出複雜的香料氣息與完美的平衡，具有優雅且豐富的結構。Hommage 被視為酒莊的巔峰之作，風味極具表現力，融合甜櫻桃、花香及黑巧克力的層次，口感深厚且細膩，是釀酒師的極致呈現。而La Belle Vue 則較為輕盈，帶有迷人的甜櫻桃與黑森林櫻桃的香氣，口感細膩且結構優雅，適合喜歡精緻風味的品酒者。這三款酒不僅在德國國內贏得高度評價，且在國際市場上相較於勃艮第頂級黑皮諾，更具競爭力和性價比，彰顯出 Weingut Friedrich Becker 酒莊在德國頂尖黑皮諾釀造領域的地位與實力。
About WEINGUT FRIEDRICH BECKER :
For many years now, the Becker estate located in Schweigen, very far south of the Pfalz on the border of Alsace, has been one of the top Pinot Noir producers in Germany. The best Becker Pinot Noirs compare favorably with the best Burgundy has to offer.
In 1973 when Fritz Sr. took over the estate from his father, he stopped selling grapes to the local co-op and started bottling and selling his own wines. He was also one of the first that independently, but in parallel with Dr. Heger, Fürst and Meyer-Näkel, started using barriques for his Pinots. In the beginning he was very frustrated trying to successfully in his words “transferring the gift of nature into fine wine”, as his colleagues in France had been doing for many years.
In 2005 Fritz Jr. took over the winemaking at the estate and his father continued to oversee the outside vineyard work. In 2007, the Beckers started to work with lower must weights more in the range from 92-98 Öchsle rather than previously with 100 Öchsle or more. They learned that physiologically ripe fruit needs acid more than additional sugar.
Almost 70% of their vineyards are located in Alsace. The fruit for their Grosses Gewächs Pinot Noirs comes from two great sites: the Kammerberg, a steep single vineyard near Wissembourg was recovered by Fritz Sr. in 1966. The old vines with mostly German clones and some French grow on deep marl lime soils that produce powerful but also refined, mineral driven Pinot Noirs (it is all about the dirt here!); the other Grand Cru is the St. Paul cultivated in the 14th century by the Cistercians of Wissembourg. The site had since become overgrown but the Beckers uprooted trees and bushes in early 2000 and planted a mix of Pinot clones from Dijon and the German Marienfelder clone. The first vintage was harvested in 2004 and even then the Pinots were very fruit driven (the Dijon clones) but with lots of finesse and refinement.
St. Paul Pinots are released two years and the Kammerberg three years after the vintage. The Beckers also produce a Riesling Grosses Gewächs from the Sonnenberg with “poor” limestone soils that brings a surprisingly light and elegant wine. In addition a series of very good Pinot Blancs (a lot of limestone here!).
Heydendreich is one of their signature top-tier Pinot Noirs, showcasing complex spicy aromas and perfect balance, with an elegant and rich structure. Hommage is regarded as the pinnacle wine of the estate, highly expressive with layers of sweet cherry, floral notes, and dark chocolate, delivering a deeply textured and refined palate, representing the winemaker's ultimate expression. La Belle Vue is lighter and more delicate, with charming aromas of sweet cherry and black forest cherry, a refined and elegant structure, suitable for those who appreciate more delicate flavors. These three wines are highly acclaimed not only within Germany but also internationally, offering strong competitiveness and value compared to top Burgundy Pinot Noirs, highlighting Weingut Friedrich Becker's position and strength as a leading producer of premium Pinot Noir in Germany.
