Ao Yun 2019

Ao Yun 2019 is widely regarded as the most accomplished vintage of this pioneering Chinese red to date, and one of the highest‑scoring wines ever produced in China. Sourced from dramatic, high‑altitude vineyards in Yunnan’s Himalayan foothills, it brings a Bordeaux-inspired blend into a truly unique mountain terroir. The 2019 is composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 10% Syrah and 6% Petit Verdot, with only the finest 53% of the harvest selected for the grand vin, underlining its rarity and precision.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Ao Yun 2019 shows a deep, opaque ruby core with a vibrant, youthful rim that hints at its long life ahead. The nose is intensely perfumed yet refined, opening with layers of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum, lifted by violet, rose petals and mountain herbs. Subtle notes of graphite, cedar, black tea, star anise and warm spice unfurl with air, reflecting both its Cabernet core and the complexity of its high‑altitude origins. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied but beautifully poised, with a dense, velvety texture and finely layered tannins that feel both abundant and polished. Dark berry and cassis fruit dominate at first, followed by redcurrant, cocoa nibs, tobacco leaf and a mineral, almost saline edge that gives great tension and length. The warm, healthy 2019 growing season has endowed the wine with generosity and depth, balanced by fresh, mountain-cool acidity. This is a vintage built for the long haul: it is already impressive in its youth, but will gain in nuance and harmony over 12–20+ years, with peak drinking likely from the late 2020s onward.

Production
Ao Yun’s vineyards are scattered across four remote villages—Xidang, Sinong, Shuori and Adong—perched between roughly 2,200 and 2,600 meters above sea level in the Yunnan region, near the Mekong River in the Himalayan foothills. The 2019 vintage followed a relatively cool, wet winter that allowed the vines to build good reserves, followed by a drier, warmer-than-expected spring, which required careful irrigation around budbreak and flowering. The growing season was warm and healthy overall, with a moderately warm autumn and the lowest yields to date at around 16 hl/ha (versus a usual 20–22 hl/ha). Harvest began in Xidang on 9 September and concluded in Adong on 21 November, reflecting the wide altitude range and long ripening window. Fruit selection was exceptionally strict: only 53% of the harvest made it into the grand vin, with a small portion diverted to the Village Cru reds and a Chardonnay, and 33% not used for Ao Yun at all. The wine was vinified in a precision, parcel-by-parcel approach, then matured (typically in a mix of French oak barrels and larger vessels) to preserve the purity of fruit, highlight the distinctive mountain terroir and refine the tannic structure.

Food & Serving
Ao Yun 2019 is a natural partner for refined, flavourful cuisine. It shines alongside dishes such as roast or grilled lamb, dry-aged ribeye, braised beef short ribs, Peking duck, or rich game birds like pigeon or guinea fowl. Mushroom-based dishes, black truffle risotto, and deeply flavoured sauces—whether red wine, soy-based, or infused with five spice—also echo its complexity. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. Decanting is strongly recommended: allow at least 1–2 hours in a large decanter in its youth to soften the tannins and unlock the layered aromatics; mature bottles will need a gentler, shorter decant, mainly to remove sediment.

Producer
Ao Yun, created under the stewardship of LVMH, is one of the flagship projects that has put Chinese fine wine on the global map. Established in the early 2010s, the estate set out to explore the extraordinary potential of Yunnan’s high‑altitude vineyards near Shangri‑La, working hand in hand with local farming communities in the villages of Xidang, Sinong, Shuori and Adong. The name “Ao Yun” translates loosely as “flying above the clouds,” a reference to the vineyards’ elevation and the clouds that often sit below them. Through meticulous viticulture, tiny yields and a rigorous selection philosophy, Ao Yun has rapidly become a reference point for Chinese premium wine, earning international critical acclaim and demonstrating that world‑class, ageworthy reds can emerge from this dramatic corner of the Himalayas.

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