Ao Yun Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Ao Yun Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is a 750ml, 15% ABV red wine from the Himalayan foothills of Yunnan Province, China, blending 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Cabernet Franc. This inaugural vintage from LVMH's Shangri-La project earned a 91-point Wine-Searcher Critics Score and introduced the world to serious winemaking at extreme altitude — between 2,200 and 2,600 meters above sea level.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15%  |  Origin: Shangri-La, Yunnan Province, China  |  Vintage: 2013  |  Winery: Ao Yun (LVMH)

Production & Heritage

Ao Yun — meaning "roaming above the clouds" in Mandarin — sources fruit from four villages in the Shangri-La region: Adong, Xidang, Sinong, and Shuori, where vineyards sit at elevations that present roughly 25% lower oxygen levels than sea-level sites. To compensate, the winemaking team increases aeration during maceration, extends maceration time, and conducts malolactic fermentation in both new French oak barrels and porous terracotta baijiu jars that allow micro-oxygenation naturally. This dual-vessel approach, combined with reduced sulfur dioxide usage and entirely hand-harvested, hand-made production, gives the 2013 vintage a character distinct from any other Cabernet-dominant blend in the world.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe blackcurrant and blackberry, followed by cooler tones of graphite and camphor. Deeper layers reveal clove, tobacco leaf, and a subtle earthiness reminiscent of leafy underbrush and mushroom.

Taste: The entry is juicy and suave, led by sweet black and red cherry fruit with concentrated cassis at the core. Mid-palate, peppery spice emerges alongside cumin, juniper, and dark chocolate, while an underlying smokiness and mineral thread carry through to the peak. The body is full, with ultra-fine tannins providing structure without harshness.

Finish: The finish is long and layered, with lingering notes of cassis, tobacco, and a cool graphite minerality. A peppery warmth persists alongside traces of licorice and dark fruit.

How to Drink Ao Yun 2013

This wine is best served slightly below room temperature, around 16–18°C, in a large-bowled glass that allows its aromatic complexity to develop fully. Decanting for at least an hour is recommended to let the tannins soften and the secondary aromas unfold. Given its concentration and structure, Ao Yun 2013 is designed for contemplative drinking rather than cocktail use — treat it as you would a serious classified Bordeaux.

Best For

• Impressing a collector with a rare Chinese fine wine from LVMH's first Himalayan estate
• Pairing with a multi-course dinner built around red meat or game
• Gifting to a Bordeaux enthusiast seeking something genuinely different
• Adding to a cellar as a conversation-starting inaugural vintage

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ao Yun 2013 taste like? Ao Yun 2013 delivers concentrated black and red cherry fruit, cassis, and dark chocolate supported by graphite minerality and peppery spice. Ultra-fine tannins give the wine a full-bodied yet suave texture with a long, smoky finish.

How does Ao Yun 2013 compare to Right Bank Bordeaux? Critics have noted flavor parallels to Right Bank Bordeaux and Sonoma Mountain Cabernet, with similar cassis and graphite notes, but Ao Yun's extreme high-altitude origin and terracotta jar aging introduce a distinctive mineral freshness and spice complexity not typically found in Bordeaux.

Is Ao Yun 2013 good for sipping neat? Ao Yun 2013 is built for thoughtful, unadorned drinking — its layered aromatics and structured tannins reward patient sipping, especially after an hour of decanting.

Where is Ao Yun 2013 made? Ao Yun is produced in the Shangri-La region of Yunnan Province, China, from vineyards in the villages of Adong, Xidang, Sinong, and Shuori, at elevations between 2,200 and 2,600 meters in the Himalayan foothills.

What foods pair well with Ao Yun 2013? Sichuan-peppered beef tenderloin complements the wine's own peppery spice. Braised lamb shank echoes its earthy, tobacco-tinged depth. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese mirrors its full body and fine tannins. Roasted duck with dark cherry sauce amplifies the cassis and red fruit core. Dark chocolate truffles with a pinch of sea salt bridge beautifully to the wine's chocolate and mineral finish.

What sizes does Ao Yun 2013 come in? Ao Yun Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Ao Yun 2013 worth the price? Ao Yun positions squarely in the ultra-premium tier, reflecting its LVMH backing, extreme-altitude viticulture, labor-intensive hand production, and limited availability. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking a pioneering Chinese fine wine with critical acclaim, it represents a credible luxury investment.

Why Ao Yun 2013?

The 2013 vintage is the debut release from one of the most ambitious fine-wine projects of the decade — LVMH's commitment to proving that world-class Cabernet can emerge from Himalayan terroir above 2,200 meters. No other commercially available Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine in the world is made at this altitude, requiring entirely rethought winemaking protocols including terracotta baijiu jar fermentation and adapted oxygenation techniques. With a 91-point Wine-Searcher Critics Score and a CellarTracker community average of 90.7 points across 43 reviews, this inaugural vintage validated the concept. As a first-ever release with finite production, Ao Yun 2013 holds singular importance for anyone interested in the evolution of fine wine beyond its traditional European and New World strongholds.