Witcher's Atelier

《The Supreme of Wine: The Glorious Legend of Lafite》

When it comes to "Lafite", many people's first reaction will be to associate it with the year 1970. Everyone is sure that Lafite 1970 is a guarantee of quality and a symbol of status. Those who can own and taste it are either rich or noble. So, why is Lafite 1970 so precious?

Let's start with the history of Lafite's birthplace, the Corleone Estate. This vineyard, located in the south of Beauclair, on the shore of Lake Sidi Liga, is known as the supreme wine. It was first established by the Hortense family.

There are many small vineyards in the Principality of Toussaint. They may not even have a family crest, and the wines produced are not particularly highly praised. Hortense was such a place in the past, and the most famous "Sansredo Lost" had just stepped over the threshold of red wine baron.

But unfortunately and fortunately, a natural disaster of centipede invasion caused them to go bankrupt. Speaking of this, there may be wine lovers who secretly thank the centipede in their hearts!

That's right, thank the centipede! It allowed the Corleone family, the "protective umbrella" emblem, the Phantom Troupe that everyone knows, Victor and Angouleme, to take over Hortense in 1270 and officially renamed it Corleone Estate.

The first masterpiece that the two brothers and sisters made after taking over the winery was the classic 1970 Lafite named by Mr. Corleone after his first love! For the sad story of his encounter with his first love at the age of eight, please see my work "My Childhood Sweetheart Can't Be This Delicious: The Past and Present of Lafite".

As we all know, in the auction market or the circulation market, even if it is the same wine, the price of wine from a good year and a bad year can be very different.

For example, the market retail price of Lafite in 1985 is about 10,000 yuan, while the market retail price of Lafite in 1970 will not be less than 1 million yuan. They all come from the Corleone Estate, the same vineyard, the same cultivation method, the same brewing and aging process, why is the price difference so big?

The difference lies in the legendary level. There are three reasons for creating a classic legend!

First, in 1970, due to the rampant centipede infestation and the change of ownership, the grapes of Corleone Winery were picked too late that year, and the over-ripe fruit aroma was unusually strong. Most experts believed that such wines had a short lifespan and were difficult to continue to mature in barrels.

In addition, the new owner of the winery was a witcher who had no experience in winemaking, so almost everyone was not optimistic about what good wines Corleone Manor could make, and they might not even be able to reproduce the past "Sansredo Confusion".

The second is the magical "Count Cresp", who has mixed reviews in history, and there is a lot of indirect evidence that he is very likely not a sincere and down-to-earth operator.

But the magical thing about him is that when no one agreed with him at the time, Cresp only participated in the handover of the manor and had a brief exchange with Mr. Corleone, and he firmly believed in him. And for more than a month before the wine festival, he did his best to run around and wave flags for Lafite, and he cared more about it than his own wine.

Finally, when the 1970 Lafite was still in the oak barrel, spending her first month of aging, Mr. Corleone declared with his lifelong reputation that the 1970 Lafite would be the most legendary wine in the 13th century.

Recalling the wine review he released in advance that year: "My Lafite has a complex and rich flavor, with the aroma of blackcurrant, violet, cedar and rose, mellow taste, smooth tannins and pleasant acidity. Who can not give Lafite a full score? I think this wine is definitely worthy of a red wine viscount."

Today, fifty years later, we look back and everyone must admit that Count Corleone is really a humble man!

The reason why legends are classics is that they cannot be copied, and the wonders and fate of history are also amazing.

──Wine tasting expert. Arno, son of Benaud, wrote in late autumn

……

At the wine tasting party, in front of the wine barrels of the Corleone estate, Angouleme smiled like a weasel who stole a chicken.

Anna. Lady Henrietta closed her eyes in ecstasy. "Cedar, pencil, black currant liqueur, and a little floral scent, interweaving into an unforgettable aroma. This ruby-red wine has a very rich and concentrated taste, and you can feel the layers of black and red fruit aromas.

Oh my God! 'Lafite' is so elegant and complex. The performance of Corleone Manor is shocking. I need more professional advice! Where is my court sommelier!? You, go and find Beno to try this."

Grand Duke Toussaint assigned Knight Milton without hesitation, and her order was quickly implemented. The crowded crowd dispersed a passage for the sommelier to come.

"Hmm... It exudes an extraordinary aroma, sweet licorice, smoke, cedar, ink, black currant and earthy scents. And behind this charming aroma..." Court sommelier Beno, his face changed when he smelled the aroma, smelled it carefully, then sipped it, closed his eyes and experienced it carefully.

The noisy people around all lowered their voices, waiting for Master Beno's most authoritative and professional evaluation!

After a while, he opened his eyes and bowed, "Thank you, Your Highness, this is the most surprising wine tasting I have had in the past three years!... It is a full-bodied, rich, meaty, and low-acid wine.

As expected of an enlightened lady, she discovered this masterpiece of the century. I think this wine will bring a more moving experience after six to eight hours in a sealed decanter! And now is not her best time, it will take at least another five to eight years to reach full maturity. I conservatively estimate that she can be aged for fifty to sixty years.

Here I openly invite the owner of the Corleone Winery, hoping that he can spare some time to have a small exchange with me, give me advice on how to appreciate this complex and profound taste, and sell me a few barrels of Lafite privately. "

"Wow!" The audience exclaimed in amazement, knowing that Master Beno had not praised a certain red wine so highly for a long time.

With Anaieta's three gold coins and Beno's three silver coins in front of them, those who were already queuing couldn't wait, and those who hadn't yet lined up also hurried to join, forming a line of people in front of the wine barrels that surpassed Castel Ravello, queuing up to give money to Lafite.

And not far away, hearing Master Beno's comments, Horace Funes raised his glass, "Congratulations in advance, Mr. Corleone!"

Victor raised his eyebrows, "Should I modestly say that it was just good luck! Or should I be blunt and say that everything is taken for granted?"

"As a newly-minted Lafite lover, I hope everything is taken for granted, and such a wonderful taste should not be short-lived! "After he finished speaking, his smile became a bit gloating, "Just now I saw Count Cresp come to talk to you, how about it, what does he say about the highly promoted Lafite's excellent performance?"

"He hopes to purchase ten barrels of Lafite in advance, at a premium!"

"Ah... it really means peace talks..."

"I guess he wants different things. In the past, he wanted vineyards, but now vineyards are not important, what is precious is the recipe!"

"Not only that, but also the status is different. You are not from Toussaint, so you don't understand. In the past, "Sansredore Misty" was nothing, so he dared to do some tricks to Hortense or you who just took over.

But now you have the hot "Lafite", tut tut tut! He dared to touch the Corleone Manor and try it. The supply of top-quality red wine suddenly stopped. The enlightened lady would definitely send the Principality Guard to confirm the problem, and then he would be in big *trouble!

... So, he wanted to negotiate, how did you answer him? "

Victor spread his hands, "What else can I do? Of course I agreed to him. Harmony brings wealth! At least on the surface, he is the number one supporter of Lafite. I specifically hinted at some winemaking secrets as a reward. Remember to tell your father when you go back that someone will buy the rotten barrels of the coopers' guild recently. "

Hearing the trap in the words, Horace smiled with his gums and dimples, "Ah... I thank you on behalf of the coopers' guild. You are such a bad guy! Mr. Corleone!"

"No, no, Mr. Funes, I still have a lot to learn, and I can't compare to your family's learning. "

In this way, the joyful wine festival lasted until the evening and ended. Of course, the "Lafite" of Corleone Manor won the title of the best of the show.

"The King of Red Wine in 1270", Victor asked Angouleme to accept the praise on behalf of Corleone Manor. On the one hand, he rewarded her for bringing two ladies to taste the wine, and on the other hand, no matter what, in such a large public occasion, humans are more suitable to appear on the viewing platform than witchers.

Anyway, those who are well-informed know that the older brother of the Corleone brothers and sisters is the winemaker. A few days later, at the knighthood ceremony in the palace, it will be Victor's time to appear.

…

At night, the Phantom Troupe returned to the downtown area and had dinner at the Bookish Tavern. Several tables nearby were doing a divination full of festive atmosphere: using a glass of wine and a piece of cheese, the subtle taste of cheese and wine mixed in the mouth can predict the name of the future spouse.

The tavern owner and waitresses hurriedly ran around with red wine and cheese. After work, they did not forget to drink a few sips.

With the white wine produced by Vermentino, Victor bit off a large piece of herb roasted chicken, "… So I should thank you for leaking the important secrets of the troupe, causing me to be laughed at by Miss Tabris?"

Hearing the unfriendly tone of the leader, the situation could develop into a big or small, Angouleme coughed lightly twice, "Sorry, I didn't know it was a secret, I just said it casually, I didn't forget what you said, the allusion of Lafite is the meaning of a small hill.

Besides, who could have expected that you, Wick, would actually tell the story of your first love? Your ever-changing first love was obviously Asuna last time, and it seemed to be Rei the time before that──"

"──Shut up! You, a golden retriever, dare to talk back after doing something wrong! Don't do it again next time! "Victor simply stopped the girl from revealing the secrets. He didn't expect that the nonsense during the chat was remembered firmly and used to fight back against his brother. This kind of sister-type follower who uses the memory in the wrong direction is not good. He needs to find time to teach him a lesson!

Stuck out his tongue and made a face, knowing that he had gotten away with it again, Angouleme happily reached out to grab the herb roast chicken. The dish made by the Bookish Tavern is very good, not much worse than the signature dish of the Pheasant Garden Tavern.

After eating 70% to 80% full, she ordered another plate of cheese.

"What are you doing? Do you also want to predict the name of your future spouse? I strongly suspect that you will have a spouse in the future!" The boy complained unhappily.

The girl blew her nose, "Didn't you say that you will be invincible sooner or later? Will an invincible sister lack good men? "

Pushing aside the bangs that fell from his forehead, Victor had nothing to say, and let Angouleme stuff wine and cheese into his mouth to chew.

At this moment, someone suddenly hurried into the tavern. It was someone he knew - Horace Funes - the deputy captain of the Principality Guard. When he saw him, he waved and gestured to the outside to talk.

Thinking of the things he asked him to do before the end of the festival, Victor knocked on the table twice. Angouleme immediately put down the gold coins to pay the bill and followed him to leave.

The three of them came to an open space outside the tavern to talk, and they didn't expect that someone could hear what they were talking about.

"What's the situation that made you rush to find me? Is there something wrong with the two mercenaries living in the Pheasant Garden Tavern?" The witcher asked first.

Hearing this, Angouleme immediately became alert, after all, she was the first to contact the two mercenaries.

Horace shook his head solemnly, "It's not that there is a problem, but that there is a big problem. The result of arresting and interrogating them is that they are not locals, not even from the province of Nasser, but mercenaries from Temeria - the men of the 'Professor'! Maybe you have heard of this name. Although he has no criminal record in Toussaint, such a notorious person is worth being vigilant no matter where he goes."

Noticing that the expressions of the two people in the Phantom Troupe changed when the name was mentioned, the vice-captain pinched his wrist, "It seems that you know the professor... Then there should be no problem with their confession."

"Oh, what did they confess?"

"Two things, first Monsters are real, and they really want to hire you, but they will deliberately blur the danger to lead you to be killed by the monsters or both sides will be injured. The second thing is more urgent, tonight... They want to attack the Corleone Manor when you are away, but I think it is very contradictory that since they have a grudge against you, why don’t they target you, but choose to attack when you are away? "

Spit, "Who knows what that bastard is thinking, maybe the professor doesn’t dare to face me? Because I killed the wizard who partnered with him to do evil! So he only dared to hurt my men as revenge." Victor guessed casually, made a farewell gesture, and walked towards the stable.

Grabbing the witcher with one hand to prevent him from leaving, Vice Captain Horace's expression was serious, "Don't worry, Wick, this is about Lafite, it's not just your business, the Principality Guards are your backup. I have informed Captain Damien, he is going to the palace to wait for the summons of the enlightened lady!"

Understanding the other party's good intentions, after thinking for a few seconds, Victor pulled Horace's hand away, "It doesn't matter, Angouleme and I can protect ourselves, I want to go back early, I feel very comfortable living in that manor, Alfred is also a very good housekeeper, can't let the bandits ruin it. And this time I don't want to let the professor run away again."

With his right fist clenched to block his mouth, the vice captain's voice sounded muffled, "I know I can't stop you, please help me keep my word and protect yourself, I don't want to be the first vice captain to step down because of Lafite."

"Believe me, you won't! I'll wait for you at the manor."

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