RealWines
  • Home
  • Shop
  • About us
    • About us
    • Contact us
  • Our producers
  • Our specialisms
    • Our wine wheel
    • Bio wines
    • Old vine wines
    • Fine wines
      • Fine wine sourcing and selling
      • Fine wine storage services
      • Fine wine to celebrate special anniversaries
      • Fine wine events
  • Gifting
  • News
    • News
    • Hot off the press
    • Tastings and events
  • Wine Club
    • About
    • Club mailings
    • Club events
    • Club voucher
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Sale!

Ao Yun Himalayas, China – 2018

CHF 275.00 CHF 249.00

Ao Yun is the new fine wine of China! It is a Bordeaux blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes grown at very high altitude (between 2200-2600mts) in the Himalaya mountains of Yunnan province. It is gently spicy, with very fine tannins, richness and lovely depth of ripe blackcurrant fruits and hints of graphite –  certainly the finest red wine I have tasted yet from China!

“The 2018 Ao Yun is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 4% Petit Verdot. 2017 was the first vintage where Merlot was included in the blend, and the higher proportion in the 2018 vintage is partly a reflection of vintage conditions but also a sign of Ao Yun’s increased interest in the variety (I saw new Merlot vines being established in an amphitheater-like vineyard in the village of Sinong in May 2021). The 2018 Ao Yun is very deep purple and very much in the emergent “Ao Yun style” showing lifted, perfumed Cabernet-dominated fruit, here with plenty of crushed blackberry, cassis and black cherry with ripe green bell pepper and other pyrazine notes and some toasted new oak with hints of smoke and clove. Full-bodied with that Ao Yun puissance of coating, fine-grained and chewy tannins, robust but well-integrated 14.5% alcohol and some lively acidity, especially in this cooler vintage (note also that, at this altitude, Ao Yun naturally comes in around pH 3.35-3.45). As such, the wine has an affinity with Mendoza Cabernet, at least structurally speaking. This is indeed much more of a “cooler vintage” expression rather than the more “solar” 2015, but do not think this equates to something like a cooler vintage in Bordeaux. There is abundant fruit achieved through rigorous selection and also picking at optimal ripeness aided by plenty of UV light (intense sunshine here). So, the 2018 has some similarity with the 2017 in terms of weather and fruit expression, and on this first tasting, albeit at high altitude at Ao Yun itself, quality is similar to the 2017 and 2015, but actually even better than those two vintages on this first showing. Note also that this is a baby of a wine that will need tasting again in the future. Supremely youthful, it would be worth waiting a year or so before broaching this. The 2018 will undoubtedly repay long-term cellaring.” 95pts The Wine Advocate

Out of stock

  • Additional information
  • Reviews (0)

Additional information

Size

75cl bottle

Country

China

Region

Himalayas

Colour

Red

Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon

Style

17

Star-Rating

5

When to drink

2022-2032

Popular

5 star wines, Award winners, Bin ends

Press awards

95pts The Wine Advocate

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Ao Yun Himalayas, China – 2018” Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related products

  • Fonplegade OWC-6 St Emilion AC – 2018

    CHF 47.90
    Show Details
  • Scapa 2005-2018: Orkney: 43% Gordon & Macphail: gift box – 2005

    CHF 95.00
    Show Details
  • Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling Eden Valley – 2013

    CHF 39.90 CHF 29.90 Sale!
    Show Details
  • Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Selection de Grains Nobles – half bt – 2017

    CHF 49.00
    Show Details

Join our newsletter

 

Terms & delivery

How to order

Payment

Our warehouse

Real Wines

Strada al Castell 22

6921 Vico Morcote

043 466 08 90

Like us on Facebook or Instagram

© Copyright - Real Wines, Strada al Castell 22, 6921 Vico Morcote, +41 43 466 08 90, office@realwines.ch
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & delivery
De Fargues Sauternes – 37.5cl – 2007 Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling Marlborough – 2021
Scroll to top