Ao Yun 2019 is, without a doubt, one of the great oenological treasures of the world. A unique red wine crafted in the remote region of Tibet (China) from a meticulous selection of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, syrah, and petit verdot, from vineyards cultivated in a natural environment that the locals call ‘the virtuous circle’: the high terraces of the Tibetan mountains, nestled at an altitude of 2600 meters. The unparalleled characteristics of this terroir and the mastery of the Chinese winery have resulted in an elegant and complex red wine with great concentration and freshness, smooth and dense tannins, and a mineral, long, and salty finish. A wine that has captivated the guru Robert Parker, who awarded it 96 points in his magazine The Wine Advocate.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
4% Petit Verdot, 7% Syrah, 19% Cabernet Franc, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
Type of barrel
5 months in Chinese clay amphorae and wooden barrels, plus 10 months in new oak barrels
Type of bottle
Bordeaux Bottle
Barrel aging time
10 months
Capacity (cl)
75
General Information
Ao Yun 2019 is a wine that combines Chinese winemaking tradition with the elegance and sophistication of great international red wines. Its distinctive character and the imprint of the extreme natural environment where the grapes are grown make it a unique red wine, with all the qualities to captivate both the public and specialized critics.
Each of the 314 plots that the Ao Yun winery has distributed among the four villages of the Tibet region has its own peculiarities. The winery features more than 20 different types of terroir. Each plot is harvested in 2 or 3 rounds, ensuring that the grapes are picked at their optimal ripeness, and they are vinified separately.
The Ao Yun winery, which means “a walk in the clouds,” began its journey in 2008 under the guidance of LVMH Wine & Spirits, owner of wines like Cheval Blanc, Chateau d’Yquem, Möet Chandon, or Dom Perignon, and Australian winemaker Tony Jordan. The goal of Domaine Ao Yun was clear: to explore new frontiers to create world-class wines in enigmatic China. They scoured the vast Asian country until they found the ideal location with exceptional terroir. The chosen place was in the Yunnan region, located in the Himalayas, at the foot of the Meili mountain, with two villages on each side of the Mekong River at different altitudes. There, you will find the 27.7 hectares of vineyards cultivated on different soil types, sun exposures, and microclimates.
For the production of the exclusive red wine Ao Yun 2019, after a traditional alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperature, malolactic fermentation was initiated in barrels and earthen jars permeable to oxygen. After careful vinification, the wine underwent an aging process of 5 months in Chinese clay jars and wooden barrels, followed by another 10 months in new oak barrels. The result is an impeccable high-expression red wine distinguished by its freshness, subtlety, and immense complexity, making it ideal to pair with all kinds of red meats, game dishes, aged cheeses, and Asian cuisine.
Tasting notes
On the nose, the red wine Ao Yun expresses the freshness of the Himalayas with elegance, purity, and complexity. It unfolds aromas of black fruit sorbet intertwined with a herbaceous character and subtle, well-integrated wood. Notes of toasted bread, cold fireplace, tea leaves, thyme, and coffee. Sweet and fresh.
On the palate, it offers a fine and dense texture. A wine full of freshness and silkiness, with a perfect balance between creaminess and tension, and an extremely long finish with a pleasant saline touch.