2013 Ao Yun – My First Chinese Wine

2013 Ao Yun – My First Chinese Wine

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Tonight was a first for me... wine from China. From the Yunnan province in Southern China on the edge of Himalayas, this Cabernet is grown at an elevation of 7000-8000 ft and was a pleasure to explore as I let it evolve in my glass.

 

Tonight was a first for me… wine from China. From the Yunnan province in Southern China on the edge of Himalayas, this Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend is grown at an elevation of 7000-8000 ft and was a pleasure to explore as I let it evolve in my glass.

2013 is the first vintage produced by Ao Yun, with Moët Hennessy backing the winemaking and property. The wine is produced from 314 plots totally almost 75 acres, with plenty of sun to ripen grapes, but high elevation to keep them lean and fresh.

My take? Well made. There is no expense spared in the production of this wine. Definitely lean, definitely fresh, but definitely green for my taste. They are hoping Aa Yun to be the first of many luxury wines to come out of China, and it’s definitely reflected in the price point, but I think we need a little more time to see what these wines really are, how they age, and what story the terroir will tell in the vintages and years to come. Will be keeping my eyes out for more wines from China to try, but it isn’t on my list of wine to seek out, not yet, anyway.