2018 Ao Yun
The Collective Review
Chinese wine? Is that really a thing?
It’s a common question asked of wine professionals. All we can answer is, yes. Yes, it most certainly is. But today’s offer is anything but a common wine. In fact Ao Yun Shangri-La is fast being recognized as the greatest wine to come out of the country. With an extremely limited allocation of just 36 bottles this is one you will not want to miss.
Now, China is a large place, so where exactly are we? Who is making this wine? Well, Moet Hennessey is behind the project, undertaking a four year journey to discover the best possible site in the country for premium, French-style winemaking. They found their site in Deqin County in northern Yunnan, itself in south-west China. Here vineyards run from the tops of the mountains to deep valleys. It’s a place where the name Ao Yun ‘To fly above clouds’, rings true.
Maxence Dulou heads up wine-making here, drawn to the region due to the largely explored possibilities for premium grape-growing. With time spent in South Africa, Chile, and of course Bordeaux (Château Quinault), the project is in great hands.
The results show. The wine itself is close to a classic Bordeaux blend, seeing 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% merlot, 7% syrah and the remainder petit verdot
More recently, in July 2020, a similar event, known as The Judgement of Hong Kong took place, this time with Chinese Wines against the French. You probably already know that Ao Yun was the overall winner.
I loved the depth and complexity of the nose that brings you deeply down into the wine, showing blackberry, ink, tar, earth, incense, cloves and black licorice. Thyme, too. And the purity of fruit with cassis is the real thing. This is full-bodied but it remains so fresh and vertical on the palate. A blend of 60 percent cabernet sauvignon, 19 percent cabernet franc, 10 percent merlot, 7 percent syrah and 4 percent petit verdot, it still needs three or four years to come together in the bottle before opening. Read more
Critic Reviews
I loved the depth and complexity of the nose that brings you deeply down into the wine, showing blackberry, ink, tar, earth, incense, cloves and black licorice. Thyme, too. And the purity of fruit with cassis is the real thing. This is full-bodied but it remains so fresh and vertical on the palate. A blend of 60 percent cabernet sauvignon, 19 percent cabernet franc, 10 percent merlot, 7 percent syrah and 4 percent petit verdot, it still needs three or four years to come together in the bottle before opening.
Gorgeously seductive nose, this is rich and abundant, aromas bursting out the glass, smells sweet and spicy, five spice fragrance with sweet blackcurrant and black cherry aromas. Mouthcoating and invigorating on the palate, totally harmonious and balanced with the salinity and wet stone nuances coming through backed by ripe, but so well defined, fruit flavors. Such purity on both the nose and palate. This is seriously refined, aromatics are preserved, balancing power with excellent acidity, so you get these bright and energetic flavours but still with structure. Seductive but this also has a sense of classicism. Lovely saline elements and cooling touch at the end with all the flavours lingering long in the mouth. Will be interesting to see how it ages.
Technical Attributes
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![Producer]()
Producer: Ao Yun
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![Varietal]()
Varietal: Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
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![Region]()
Region: Yunnan
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![Alcohol]()
Alcohol: 15.0%
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![Net volume]()
Net volume: 750ml
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![Vintage]()
Vintage: 2018
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![Cellar to]()
Cellar until 2045
Producer: Ao Yun
Varietal: Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Region: Yunnan
Alcohol: 15.0%
Net volume: 750ml
Vintage: 2018
Cellar until 2045
Tasting Notes
Gorgeously seductive nose, this is rich and abundant, aromas bursting out the glass, smells sweet and spicy, five spice fragrance with sweet blackcurrant and black cherry aromas. Mouthcoating and invigorating on the palate, totally harmonious and balanced with the salinity and wet stone nuances coming through backed by ripe, but so well defined, fruit flavors. Such purity on both the nose and palate.
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