(English Translation Below)
有650多年歷史的Schloss Schönborn是由一個家族私人擁有的德國葡萄酒莊園。現在雖有多間傳統酒莊都是由各大百貨經營，但Schloss Schönborn經過18代守業至今，實在難得。
我們於10月17日在一星Michelin餐廳 – 桃花源舉辦Schloss Schönborn酒宴，並邀請了Herr Marcel Von den Benken到香港參與是次晚宴。餐廳雖沒華麗的裝飾，但客人可於舒適的環境享受佳餚美酒。
Rheingau Riesling QbA, Schloss Schönborn 2009作為第一隻佳釀展開了晚宴的序幕。 清新、有活力、非常充足的白色的果性。
以Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Kabinett, Schloss Schönborn 2003 和 Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Spatlese，Schloss Schönborn 2007配上三小碟的手拍青瓜、醬油滷豆腐和脆皮燒腩仔。前者幹身、清爽、很多礦物氣息及少許辛辣香料。後者是單一果園Marcobrunn，果性非常，而有足夠的酸來平衡酒質，甜美悠揚。
主菜方面，以玻璃明蝦球、椒鹽炸原隻鮮蟹鉗及西芹炒海青斑球等海鮮為主，遂以4種Riesling配襯。Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Spatlese, Schloss Schönborn 2008 – medium intensity、不太重身、少甜、還有點dry-finish；Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Spatlese Lothar Franz Schloss Schonborn 2001 – 非常complex、黃梅、濃，還有汽油礦物的味道，以致由基本至陳年複雜變化的味道；Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling Auslese Schloss Schonborn 2006 – 濃郁圓潤、淡黃色、少許礦物和乾果；Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Auslese, Schloss Schönborn 1989 – 金黃色、成熟、乾果、咸檸檬、淡焦糖及以蜜糖作完結。
最後不可缺少的當然是甜品芒果布甸，以甜度較濃的Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Beerenauslese Schloss Schönborn 1995 花香，開放，有點辛辣，礦物和幹杏，活潑，充滿活力和Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Schloss Schönborn 2003 豐富的熱帶水果 (芒果和菠蘿) 、焦糖，清爽的口感，令人驚嘆的平衡。
Herr Marcel Von den Benken讓我們知道2010年份是多麼難得和困難，2010的TBA僅釀約400瓶。好的葡萄酒，好的食物，我們享受著一個美好的夜晚。
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English Translation:
Schloss Schönborn is a privately-owned German wine estate with 650 years of history. Nowadays, many traditional wineries are operated by major companies. It is rare to have a winery running the business for 18 generations like Schloss Schönborn.
The Schloss Schönborn tasting dinner was held on October 17th in a One Michelin Star restaurant – Tim’s Kitchen. We were both honoured and excited to have Mr. Marcel von den Benken in Hong Kong to host this exclusive dinner. Even though the event was in a restaurant with simple decoration, the guests enjoyed delicious food and wine in a fun and comfortable environment. The first wine of the evening was Rheingau Riesling QbA, Schloss Schönborn 2009. It’s fresh, dynamic, and abundant in stone fruits.
Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Kabinett, Schloss Schönborn 2003 and Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Spatlese, Schloss Schönborn 2007 were tasted next with the starters: Chilled Tossed Cucumber, Chiu Chow Soya Bean Curd, Frog’s legs and Roasted Crispy Baby Pork Belly. The Kabinett is dry, crisp, and minerally with a hint of spice. The Spatlese is from a single vineyard Marcobrunn, with lots of fruit character, good acid balance, sweet and long finish.
We then chose 4 Riesling wines to be served with the seafood main courses (Crystal King Prawn, Deep-fried Whole Fresh Crab Claw with Peppercorn Salt and Sautéed Fresh Sliced Garoupa Fillet with Celery). Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Spatlese, Schloss Schönborn 2008 has a medium intensity, it’s not too heavy, less sweetness and with a dry finish; Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Spatlese Lothar Franz Schloss Schönborn 2001 gives a very complex, concentrated taste, like apricot with mineral tones, resulting in a combination of primary and tertiary character; Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling Auslese Schloss Schönborn 2006 has a light golden yellow outlook, rich mellow, slightly mineral with a touch of dried fruits; Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Auslese, Schloss Schönborn 1989 is golden yellow, and tastes like ripe pineapple, light caramel and honey. Delicious!
The choice for dessert was mango pudding, accompanied with Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese. Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Beerenauslese Schloss Schönborn 1995 gives floral, open, lively energetic, mineral and dried apricot flavour with a hint of spice. Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Schloss Schönborn 2003 provides a fresh amazing balance of rich tropical fruits (mango and pineapple) with a hint of caramel.
Mr. Marcel Von den Benken told us how difficult and rare it is to obtain 2010 vintage, with only about 400 bottles of TBA produced, so we were counting ourselves very lucky. The combination of great wine and food made for a fabulous evening.