Ao Yun wines: luxury Chinese red wines from Shangri-La | Clos19 Germany

The Maison

Ao Yun

Ao Yun has created a true rarity with its first vintage – its 2013 cuvée, a Bordeaux blend – which it released in 2016. A dark and powerful combination of 90% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc, the wine is a confluence of East and West, and New and Old Worlds.

Heritage

Revitalising the land

Jesuit missionaries first planted vines in northwestern Yunnan province in the 19th century, but it was not until 2009 that Ao Yun’s founders traversed the vast Chinese landscape and settled on a location, under the shadow of the majestic Meili mountain.

Winemaking

Merging old with new

On Ao Yun’s 300 plots, all the work is done by hand. During vinification of the 2013 blend, techniques inspired by the location were used, including storage in earthenware jars native to the region. The wine was matured in new oak for six months to avoid overwhelming its flavours.

A slow, intense growing cycle

The estate’s mountainous terroir is unlike any other, with the vineyard located at altitudes of 2,200-2,600 metres. Vines are grown in ancient soil ideal for cabernet sauvignon, and a longer growing cycle produces grapes with greater intensity and silky tannins.