Domaine Ao Yun - Shangri-La

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.