Domaine Ao Yun - Shangri-La
96 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
Domaine Ao Yun - Shangri-La
96 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
Regular price€415.20
€415.20
/
- In stock
- Inventory on the way
The 2019 Ao Yun is the best vintage to date and the highest-scoring Chinese wine I have reviewed. This exceptional wine is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 10% Syrah, and 6% Petit Verdot, sourced from Sinong.
In appearance, it features an intensely deep purple color. The nose reveals powerful dark fruit aromatics of cassis, black cherry, bramble, blackberry, and blueberry, along with subtle herbal notes like sage and green bell pepper, combined with well-integrated oak aromas of vanilla and clove. Ao Yun ages using about 35% new French barriques, with the rest in stoneware and old oak.
On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet vibrant, boasting ripe, finely polished tannins. This vintage marks the first use of a gravity-fed process in the winemaking facility, leading to gentler crushing and refined tannin integration.
With a complex core of fruit and harmoniously integrated oak, the 2019 Ao Yun has a long finish. While it can be appreciated now, it will reach its peak around 2023 and will continue to develop beautifully over the next 15 years. This vintage represents the pinnacle of Ao Yun’s aspirations for achieving the best blend from its diverse vineyard sites.
The 2018 Ao Yun is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 7% Syrah, and 4% Petit Verdot. This vintage marks an increased proportion of Merlot, reflecting both vintage conditions and Ao Yun's growing interest in the variety, observed in the new Merlot vines planted in Sinong in May 2021.
With its deep purple color, the 2018 Ao Yun showcases the emerging "Ao Yun style," featuring perfumed notes of crushed blackberry, cassis, and black cherry, along with hints of green bell pepper, toasted oak, smoke, and clove. The wine is full-bodied with fine-grained tannins, balanced acidity, and a robust 14.5% alcohol content, making it structurally akin to Mendoza Cabernet.
This vintage represents a "cooler" expression compared to the solar 2015, with abundant fruit achieved through careful selection and optimal ripeness from the intense UV light in the region. Upon tasting it at high altitude in May 2021 and later in Beijing, the quality appeared comparable to the 2017 and 2015 vintages but with added promise.
Though still youthful, the 2018 Ao Yun has a vibrant core of fruit complemented by herbaceous notes and subtle oak nuances. Its long finish and concentration make it approachable like some Napa Cabernets while retaining its unique identity from valued vineyard sites. Slightly ahead in quality compared to 2017 and 2015, it will be interesting to see how it evolves with time.
Type: |
Red |
Country: |
China |
Region: |
Yunnan |
Producer: |
Domaine Ao Yun |
Grapes/Blend: |
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot |
Serving temp: |
16° - 18° C |
ABV: |
14.5% |
Pairing Sugesstions: |
Beef, Lamb, Duck, Game Birds, Grilled Vegetables, Truffles, Hard Cheeses |
Local Delivery
We have a fleet of vans that deliver throughout the French and Italian Riviera, rates calculated based on distance at cart stage. Option to book time and date.
For deliveries further afield, please call for a quote: +33 4 65 84 99 51
France / Monaco
1 - 2 working days delivery in France, for orders placed before 2pm.
Options for couriers and drop off points available at checkout.
EU - Mainland
1 - 3 day delivery throughout mainland EU, for orders placed before 2pm. Allow an extra day for islands.
Options for couriers and drop off points available at checkout.
Rest of the World
Please call for a quote: +33 4 65 84 99 51
