Ao Yun 2018

Ao Yun 2018 is a remarkable high‑altitude red from the remote Yunnan region of China, crafted in partnership with local villages on the slopes of the Himalayas. This vintage showcases a Bordeaux-inspired blend with a distinctly mountain character, combining incredible purity of fruit with finely etched structure. It’s a wine that not only illustrates the potential of China’s new fine‑wine frontier, but also defines Ao Yun’s emerging, unmistakable house style.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Ao Yun 2018 is an opaque, deep purple with an almost inky core, hinting at both concentration and youth. The nose is lifted and perfumed, very much Cabernet-driven, with intense aromas of crushed blackberries, blackcurrants and black cherries, layered with ripe green bell pepper, subtle pyrazine notes, and beautifully integrated new oak giving nuances of smoke, clove and fine spice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet poised, with a cool, mountain freshness. Dark berry and cassis flavors are wrapped around a core of graphite, tobacco leaf and gentle herbal complexity, supported by refined, ripe tannins and vibrant acidity. The finish is long, compact and savory, suggesting many years of positive evolution ahead. While already impressive with some aeration, Ao Yun 2018 is built for aging and should continue to develop for 10–20 years, gaining tertiary notes of cedar, leather and truffle over time.

Production
Ao Yun 2018 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 4% Petit Verdot, sourced from terraced, high‑altitude vineyards in Yunnan, often likened to an amphitheater carved into the Himalayan foothills. These sites benefit from intense sunlight, cool nights and well‑drained mountain soils, contributing both ripeness and precision. Grapes are typically harvested by hand in small parcels to respect the steep terrain and preserve berry integrity. In the cellar, vinification follows a carefully tailored, parcel-by-parcel approach, with gentle extraction to maintain aromatic purity and fine tannin texture. Aging in a significant proportion of new French oak adds structure and complexity without overshadowing the distinctive mountain fruit profile.

Food & Serving
Ao Yun 2018 is a natural partner for richly flavored dishes such as grilled or roasted lamb, dry‑aged ribeye, braised short ribs or Peking duck. It also pairs beautifully with dishes that feature earthy or smoky elements, like mushroom ragout, truffle-infused dishes, or slow-cooked beef with star anise and soy-based glazes. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight the wine’s aromatic lift and structural finesse. Decanting for 1–2 hours is strongly recommended in its youth to allow the tight, Cabernet-driven profile to open and reveal its full spectrum of dark fruit and spice.

Producer
Ao Yun is one of China’s most ambitious fine‑wine projects, created in the early 2010s under the ownership of LVMH with the goal of producing a world‑class, age‑worthy red from the foothills of the Himalayas in Yunnan. Working closely with local farming communities in villages such as Adong and Sinong, the estate has pioneered high‑altitude viticulture in this remote region, establishing terraced vineyards between roughly 2,200 and 2,600 meters above sea level. Since its debut vintage, Ao Yun has attracted significant international attention and critical acclaim, playing a key role in putting Chinese fine wine on the global map. The increasing incorporation of Merlot and careful refinement of the blend, as seen in the 2018 vintage, reflect the estate’s constant drive to express the uniqueness of its terroir while standing alongside the great Cabernet-based wines of the world.

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