97 points “Another step up in quality from 2016… Very aromatic. Full-bodied and round with creamy ripe tannins and lots of ripe fruit. Yet it remains fresh and vivid… Delicious now but will age nicely.” – James Suckling
94 points “This is undeniably long and polished and has that Ao Yun ‘puissance’ that characterises all vintages to date… will easily age for 15 years or more.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
When the owners of Dom Pérignon Krug Ruinart Château d’Yquem Cheval Blanc Ardbeg Glenmorangie Belvedere Cloudy Bay and a veritable who’s who of fashion cosmetics and jewellery released a red wine from China it was always bound for stardom.
Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy’s Ao Yun comes from Shangri-La in the foothills of the Himalayas. The name means “flying above the clouds” presumably a reference to the dramatic location of the vineyards on the banks of the Mekong River in Yunnan Province which tower at an altitude of over 2 000 metres. Despite this extreme sounding position the temperatures are very similar to Bordeaux. This presumably helps the Estate Manager and Technical Director Maxence Dulou who previously worked at Château Quinault l’Enclos with the team from Saint-Émilion’s iconic Cheval Blanc.
Many are calling Ao Yun 2017 the finest vintage to date and it certainly feels like LVMH grow more confident in this unique Chinese terroir with each passing year. It’s a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon 19% Cabernet Franc 4% Syrah 3% Petit Verdot and for the first time in the wine’s history 2% Merlot. The five grape varieties are harvested from 314 blocks worked by 120 local families spread over four different villages. So as you can imagine it’s some pretty complex stuff. Crème de cassis black cherry brambles prunes blueberry and plum crumble fruit flavours mingle with more savoury notes of ancho chilli tobacco dark chocolate game and smoky oak. There are also verdant nuances of garrigue herbs green bell pepper and blackcurrant leaf which seem to lend the wine a youthfulness and a mouth-watering mountain freshness.
This elegant luxurious and stylish red wine has immense longevity. So although it can be opened and enjoyed today it can also be tucked away in the cellar for a decade or more and then taken out to celebrate Golden Week Lunar New Year or any other special occasion in the future.
SKU No.: 3426899
Style No.: 874244
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon,Cabernet Franc,Syrah
Closure: Cork
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 14.5%
Volume: 750ml
Allergens: Sulphites