Ao Yun Yunnan 2016

Grilled cedar, laced with fennel and aniseed, chewy tannins, tight structure, touches of raspberry leaf alongside savoury cassis and blueberry fruits, Cabernet Sauvignon dominant in its fruit expression. Tasted again after 24 hours of opening, and it remained closed up, suggesting it will benefit from another three or four years in bottle. Shows the ageing capacity of Ao Yun, and is an excellent quality wine from a late harvest, low yield (21hl/h) vintage. This was the first vintage with a touch of Syrah and Petit Verdot, and lower new oak down to 32% (with malolactic in terracotta pots). This was also the first vintage where the blend was done at sea level in Hong Kong rather than up at altitude in Shangri-La, to avoid any issues with flavour perception.