| Producer | Ao Yun - The World Class Wine Of China |
| Country | China |
| Region | Yunnan |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Sku | 8175382833 |
| Size | 750ml |
Ao Yun is the first premium Chinese wine produced by the luxury group LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) in China. Amongst others they also own the super premium wineries Cheval Blanc and Chateau d’Yquem.
Below is an excerp from an article from Bloomberg News:
Year In Review - The 10 Most Memorable Wines That I Drank This Year
By Elin McCoy, December 23, 2021,
I was all-in on an exclusive personal tasting at Moët Hennessy’s lavish, glass-walled downtown New York tasting space on the 36th floor of 7 World Trade Center, with views of the Hudson River. On a giant screen, winemaker Maxence Dulou beamed in from China with a backdrop of snow-covered peaks. The occasion? I was sampling the first five vintages of a Chinese cabernet-based blend, Ao Yun, with a chance to compare the 2016 with the same vintage of Chãteau Lafite-Rothschild and Opus One.
Ao Yun is one of the best reds in China, and the 2016 struck me as the vintage where it found its style. More Bordeaux than Napa, it’s bright and fresh and elegant, with a leafy, savory character. Yes, the Lafite was deeper, richer, and more complex, but the tasting showed that Ao Yun has grown up.
A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 4% Syrah and 2% Petit Verdot.
After four years of searching across China to find the ideal terroir to produce a red wine worthy of comparison with the world’s greatest wines, the perfect site was found in the north of the Yunnan province. Situated on the banks of the Mekong River, the region harbors fabulous potential for producing wine, a remote little corner of paradise nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, not far from the legendary city of Shangri-La. Located in the villages of Adong, Xidang, Sinong and Shuori at the foot of the sacred Meili mountain, Ao Yun vineyards range in altitude from 2,200 to 2,600 meters, enabling the cabernet sauvignon grape to express the full refinement of this unique terroir. Local farmers have worked these lands for centuries, adapting their farming techniques to the steep mountainsides. To respect time-honored local tradition, the grape harvest and winemaking are done entirely by hand. The Ao Yun terroir enjoys exceptional climatic conditions, with temperatures similar to those of Bordeaux. Ao Yun means “flying above the clouds”, a reference to the clouds that cap the summits of the surrounding mountain chains.
A very pure red with currants, blackberries and fresh leaves. Mushrooms and wet earth. Some tobacco. Cigars. Charcoal. Medium-to full-bodied with fine, silky tannins and an intense, flavorful finish. It grows on the palate with chewy yet polished tannins. Delicious. Turns to currants. Needs two or three years to soften. Better after 2023.
This deep garnet colored wine is dense and perfumed on the nose, offering aromas of cassis, thyme and violet. It is bright at first sip, quickly followed by luxurious tannins that settle in quickly and back off, allowing bold acidity to reign. Lush fruit flavors of black cherry and dark plum are joined by notes of oregano, rosemary, lavender and thyme with a strong vein of minerality. Drink through 2034. Mike Desimone, 7/1/2021.
This is a new blend for Ao Yun, with the 2016 vintage composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 4% Syrah and 2% Petit Verdot. It is deep ruby in color and has lifted herbaceous bramble and red and black plum fruit with subtle toasted new oak notes. There is significant concentration with robust alcohol but lifting acidity and ripe, fine-grained tannins. Very juicy, vinous and young! The 2016 Ao Yun doesn’t have the immediate generosity of the 2015 vintage and will undoubtedly need time to develop in bottle. It will be more approachable from 2021. That said, if decanted in advance, it can already give pleasure. Notably, this was the first vintage winemaker Maxence Dulou decided to blend at sea-level, given that few consumers of Ao Yun will appreciate the wine at 2,600 meters in altitude. It will be fascinating to see how the 2016 evolves alongside the more voluptuous 2015 vintage. Edward Ragg, 12/10/2020.
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