Ao Yun Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (750ML)

94 JS / 93 WE / 91 WA / 16.5+ JR

The cabernet sauvignon character is shining through in this second edition of what has quickly become China's best wine. It's full-bodied, structured and chewy with polished tannins and beautiful length and intensity. A super-structured red that needs two or three years to soften completely. Try in 2020. - James Suckling

Inky garnet in the glass, this wine from the foothills of the Himalayas offers a bouquet of dark plum, cassis and pipe tobacco. It opens on the palate with bright flavors of blackberry, black cherry and blood orange that slowly back off to reveal sophisticated notes of cacao, anise and shaved truffle. As firm tannins fade, bold fruit returns to the palate for a finish that is marked by a touch of eucalyptus. Drink now through 2028. Cellar Selection. - MD, Wine Enthusiast

The 2014 Ao Yun is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. With its deep ruby appearance, the 2014 Ao Yun shows dark, brooding cassis and leafy bramble fruit overlaid by marked toasted new oak and a touch of development, now at around five years of evolution in a vintage that looks as though it will evolve more readily than the more robust 2015 and 2016 wines. That said, on the palate, the 2014 is still relatively youthful with a ripe core of dark fruit, distinct new-oak notes of clove, smoke, vanilla and toast, ripe chewy tannins and some uplifting acidity. This seems more savory in style overall than either the 2015 or 2016 vintages and a step up in quality from the inaugural 2013 Ao Yun. Still needs time, if approachable now. - Wine Advocate

Straight from the bottle: This was the earliest vintage of the three first. All grapes were picked by the end of October! A warm, dry year with a small crop – although this was the first year they deliberately started to lower yields. Slightly paler rim than the 2013. A bit edgy and bony – all elbows.
Double decanted two hours earlier: Much smoother and more settled. Refined but a bit tight. The malo was done in tank and resulted in a bit of reduction. - Jancis Robinson