Ao Yun : Ao Yun 2022

Tasting Notes and Serving Recommendations for Ao Yun 2022

Tasting

Appearance
Bright garnet ruby color.

Nose
Refined and charming nose combining morello cherry, raspberry, cocoa, eucalyptus, and a hint of floral notes.

Palate
The palate séduces with its delicate fruit, silky tannins, and lovely freshness, offering an elegant balance between intensity and finesse. The long, mouthwatering finish reveals slightly saline notes that irresistibly invite another glass.

Serving and Cellaring

For optimal tasting, serve at 16°C after decanting for about one hour. This wine can be cellared until around 2052.

The elegance and richness of an exceptional Chinese wine

The estate

LVMH, an iconic luxury group, has embarked on a winemaking venture in China, near the mythical Shangri-La, on the foothills of the Himalayas. Ao Yun, whose name means “flying above the clouds,” was created in 2013. Sourced from several vineyards located between 2,200 and 2,600 meters in altitude and produced in very limited quantities, it stands as one of the pioneers of high-end Chinese wines.

The vineyard

Ao Yun 2022 comes from 773 micro-parcels spread across 31 hectares, leased from 131 families in 4 villages of the Upper Mekong: Xidang, Sinong, Shuori, and Adong. Between 2,100 and 2,600 meters in altitude, the exposure of the parcels and the diversity of soils give each village its own identity, contributing to the richness and complexity of this Chinese wine.

The vintage

2022 is a very high-quality vintage, thanks to well-distributed rainfall and particularly favorable sunshine. 62% of the harvest was dedicated to Ao Yun, the highest proportion since the estate’s creation.

Winemaking and aging

Managed according to regenerative and organic farming principles, the vineyard is entirely worked by hand, with a level of precision and rigor exceeding traditional practices. Each parcel was vinified separately, with gentle extraction. The wines are first tasted at sea level, then blended in the winery located at 2,600 meters in altitude, in a low-oxygen environment. That year, more frequent but lighter manual pump-overs favored a delicate infusion approach.

The aging process lasted 10 months in sandstone jars and glass vats (60%), as well as in barrels (40%), followed by an additional 10 months in tank before bottling.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (55%)
Cabernet Franc (14%)
Merlot (17%)
Syrah (7%)
Petit Verdot (7%).