AO YUN 2018

The year 2017 opened with a dry and warm winter, followed by a cool spring which delayed the grapes’ ripening process. Fortunately, the beginning of autumn offered a window of higher-than-normal temperatures, allowing the grapes to reach full maturity. The harvests in the 4 villages were particularly late this year, up to 22 November, setting a new record for late harvests in the northern hemisphere. This vintage offered berries with a beautiful aromatic concentration, all while preserving their tannins and aromas. Thus, the 2017 Ao Yun is wonderfully imbued with the freshness of the Himalayas and offers an excellent ageing potential.

During the fermentation process, the tannins are extracted even more gently than usual due to the heterogeneity of the ripeness of the skin and the seeds of the tannins. This process is necessary as, otherwise, a negative impact on the texture of the wine would be felt. This year, only 57% of the year’s wines were selected so as to ensure the finest and most complex final blend. Furthermore, during malolactic fermentation and ageing in barrels, natural micro-oxygenation is increased compared to previous vintages to soften the typical powerful texture of Ao Yun wines. The wine then ages for 14 months in 36% new barrels and 64% older barrels.