Kanaan Winery

A boutique winery built by Fang Wang, obtaining its prestige in very short time. Kanaan Winery Riesling 2021 was tense and austere on the taste. Kanaan Winery Pretty Pony 2020 was slightly ripe and dense on the nose that had a floral background. Kanaan Winery Black Beauty 2018 was quite toasty and spicy. Kanaan Winery Crazy Fang 2019 made in approximately 4000 bottles is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. This super flagship stays 12 months in 100% new French oak barrels. A beauty of lucidness, austerity and aromaticity. The wine unwound in the glass with a lavender-suffused perfume intertwined with…(for all the details, please subscribe)…that showed decent depth and concentration. As usual, it's an exceptionally promising effort with superb aging potential so at least some patience required.

Kanaan Winery Riesling	2021	91
Kanaan Winery Pretty Pony	2020	92
Kanaan Winery Crazy Fang	2019	95

Helan Qingxue Vineyard

Helan Qingxue Vineyard Jia Bei Lan Chardonnay 2020 was freshly stony on the nose with a hint of creamy citrus and spices notes. The style of Helan Qingxue Vineyard has changed greatly since the 2014, the estate made a move towards fresher, more elegant, more floral wines and away from those ripe, concentrated wines of old. The flagship Jia Bei Lan Reserve crafted by the co-owner/winemaker Jing Zhang is a straight Cabernet Sauvignon for most of the vintages. Aging 17 months in 70% new (the use of the new oak is decreasing year by year) French barriques. As usual, it’s a classical and riveting beauty of exoticism, completeness and delicateness. On the nose of Helan Qingxue Vineyard Jia Bei Lan Reserve 2018, the keystones were the hallmark…(for all the details, please subscribe)…underscored by the stone-like austerity. This beauty should offer at least 20 years of drinking pleasure. In Ningxia, the 2018 is arguably the worst vintage over the last decade due to the too much rainfall during the veraison and the harvest. Consequently, most of the wines (from that vintage) are light in color and lean. However, Jing Zhang has achieved incredible success from such a difficult vintage. Helan Qingxue Vineyard Jia Bei Lan Grand Reserve 2016, Helan Qingxue Vineyard Jia Bei Lan Grand Reserve 2017 and Helan Qingxue Vineyard Jia Bei Lan Grand Reserve 2018 were reductive during the tasting.

Helan Qingxue Vineyard Jia Bei Lan Chardonnay	2020	91
Helan Qingxue Vineyard Jia Bei Lan Reserve	2018	95

Legacy Peak Estate

Legacy Peak Estate has been the source of the fruits for a couple of fine wine producers in the region for a long while. Legacy Peak Estate Mei Yu Merlot 2019 was tightly spicy on the earthy and chocolaty bouquet. Legacy Peak Estate Lan Yu Marselan 2021 was juicy, vivid and smooth. Legacy Peak Estate Kalavinka Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2018 was aromatically fresh yet earthy. Legacy Peak Estate Family Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 came with high expectation--as did the vintage. Pouring from the bottle with a deep magenta color. Made from the 'vintage of the century' so that the nose of the 2019 Family Heritage was extraordinarily lucid and bewitchingly gorgeous without surprise, where the keystone was…(for all the details, please subscribe)…as well as perceptible tension that suggested plenty of longevity (at least 35 years should be no problem). An electrifying opus of classicism that would appeal to true connoisseurs of the estate.

Legacy Peak Estate Mei Yu Merlot	2019	90
Legacy Peak Estate Lan Yu Marselan	2021	92
Legacy Peak Estate Kalavinka Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot	2018	91
Legacy Peak Estate Family Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon	2019	95

Jade Vineyard

Jade Vineyard Aria Reserve Chardonnay 2019 had an alluring and layered yet lucid and elegant bouquet of…(for all the details, please subscribe)…was supported by linear acidity. Straightforward and fruited Jade Vineyard Hyacinth 2018 was light on its feet while tannic on the finish. Jade Vineyard Messenger Reserve 2016 was tightly mineral-driven on the nose with an earthy background.

Jade Vineyard Aria Reserve Chardonnay	2019	94
Jade Vineyard Hyacinth	2018	90
Jade Vineyard Messenger Reserve	2016	91

Fei Tswei

Fei Tswei Joyous 2019 was dense and firm on the mid-palate. Fei Tswei Reserve Pinot Noir 2019 was perfumed and fleshy on the aroma that was filled with wild rose and sweet spices (cinnamon, red liquorice) interwoven with citrus peel, red fruits (cranberry, raspberry) and white chocolate. The aromaticity and fleshiness repeated on the palate that was supported by the powdery tannin and juicy acid. Fei Tswei Reserve Syrah 2019 was fragrantly floral on the aroma where the background…(for all the details, please subscribe)…that was also vivid and acidic. Fei Tswei Proprietor Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 was completely differ from the barrel tasting--lacking the purity and modernness.

Fei Tswei Joyous	2019	91
Fei Tswei Reserve Pinot Noir	2019	92
Fei Tswei Reserve Syrah	2019	94

Charme

Charme Viognier 2020 was mineral-driven on the fresh and clean nose where the lovely background was made up of honeysuckle, apple and cucumber. Surprising for Charme Marselan 2020 though Charme Marselan 2019 was still somewhat more graceful. Charme Marselan 2019 was dense yet lucid and stunning…(for all the details, please subscribe)…The structure was outstanding for a straight Marselan due to the 'terroir' of Jinshan. Dried flower, herb, blackberry, black liquorice and cocoa made up the dark bouquet of Charme Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Powdery and sturdy yet detailed tannin filled the saline taste of Charme Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 while the background was dominated by dark fruitiness. Charme Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 was an old-fashioned wine.

Charme Viognier	2020	92
Charme Marselan	2019	94
Charme Marselan	2020	93
Charme Selection Cabernet Sauvignon	2019	91
Charme Classic Cabernet Sauvignon	2020	93
Charme Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon	2019	92

Silver Height

Cashew, citrus, stone and mushroom appeared on the faintly reductive yet austerely clean aroma of Silver Height Family Reserve Chardonnay 2020. Silver Height Jia Yuan Marselan 2020 was intense yet elegant on both nose and palate. Silver Height The Summit 2019 was faintly herbal on the dense and deep bouquet with a tint of violet and spices. Silver Height The Summit 2020 was rounded and dense on the finish. Silver Height Emma's Reserve 2017 was rather woody. Silver Height Emma's Reserve 2019 was deep on the scent that also showed lots of ripe (black) fruits. Silver Height Emma's Reserve 2020 was candied and juicy.

Silver Height Family Reserve Chardonnay	2020	93
Silver Height Jia Yuan Marselan	2020	93

Chateau Haiyue Renhe

Restrained, delicate and elegant Chateau Haiyue Renhe Mountain Wave Reserve Malbec 2019 was perfumed on the satiny palate with lovely juiciness that culminated in a saline finish. Unexpectedly, the faintly exotic aroma of Chateau Haiyue Renhe Mountain Wave Reserve Malbec 2020 was expressivel floral (mostly violet), with sweet spices, blackberry-like black fruits, black chocolate, earth and menthol. Fine-grained tannin enhanced the layer of the fruitiness; beautifully acidic on the mineral-inflected and vivid finish that showed admirable ethereality.

Chateau Haiyue Renhe Mountain Wave Reserve Malbec	2019	93
Chateau Haiyue Renhe Mountain Wave Reserve Malbec	2020	93

Chandon

The quality of Chardonnay in Chandon's vineyards has improved a lot over the past few years. Chandon Methode Traditionnelle Sparkling Brut NV was bright, pure and fresh on the floral nose that was somewhat yeasty. Delicate and mineral-driven on the slightly saline palate.

Chandon Methode Traditionnelle Sparkling Brut

NV

93

Que Ying

Que Ying Marselan 2019 was graceful and smooth. Que Ying Syrah 2019 displayed refreshingly clean aromas of blueberry, blackberry and blue flowers, with a background touch of spices. Supple, rounded and juicy.

Que Ying Marselan	2019	92
Que Ying Syrah	2019	93

Sweet Dew Vineyard

Sweet Dew Vineyard Feng Limited Edition Syrah 2017 was much better than that bottle I've tasted 2 years ago in the winery. Dried violet, spices, black cherry, candied raspberry and stone made up the somewhat serious and classical yet elegant aroma. The austerity repeated on the very smooth palate with linear acidity and subtle salinity. Reductive Sweet Dew Vineyard Feng Limited Edition Syrah 2019 was full-bodied and firm.

Sweet Dew Vineyard Feng Limited Edition Syrah

2017

93

Chateau Mihope

Like a top Alsace Riesling. Flinty and citrusy on the lucid aroma of Chateau Mihope Riesling 2019. Slightly saline on the textured palate that had fresh succulence that culminated in a polished end. A hint of gardenia and herb notes added subtle freshness to the very intense, dense and rich bouquet of Chateau Mihope Reserve 2019 that was dominated by anise-like spices.

Chateau Mihope Riesling	2019	93
Chateau Mihope Reserve	2019	92

Domaine des Aromes

Now, it's probably the perfect time to drink the 2013. Les Aromes Blanc 2013 possessed a delicate and elegant palate with a creamy finish. Les Aromes 2013 was aromatically fresh and floral (blue flowers) on the nose. Showing lovely silkiness and defined minerality. Domaine des Aromes 2013 was somewhat underperformed.

Les Aromes Blanc	2013	92
Les Aromes	2013	93

Lanshu Vineyard

Lanshu Vineyard Yue Ji Treasured Marselan 2019 was a restrained and bright yet detailed and polished Marselan with subtle florality and airy fruitiness that enhanced the sappy freshness.

Lanshu Vineyard Yue Ji Treasured Marselan

2019

93

Li's

Melon, citrus, stone and spices filled the bright, fresh and clean sniff of Li's Sissi Italian Riesling Off-Dry 2021 that had a hint of aromaticity. Li's Family Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 was more oaky than my last experience at the winery.

Li's Sissi Italian Riesling Off-Dry

2021

92

Chateau Lansai

Chateau Lansai Ying Chuan Hong Pinot Noir 2020 reminded me of a Volnay 1er cru (Santenots?). Chateau Lansai Marselan 2019 was aromatically fresh and elegantly savoury. The opulently woody notes faded after two hours' aeration, showing more freshness on the sniff of Chateau Lansai Mo Cheng Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 such as raspberry and stone instead. Chateau Lansai Mo Cheng Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 was reductive.

Chateau Lansai Ying Chuan Hong Pinot Noir	2020	92
Chateau Lansai Marselan	2019	91
Chateau Lansai Mo Cheng Cabernet Sauvignon	2017	91

Domine Monluxe

The subtle succulence offset the tightness on the thick finish of Domine Monluxe Hua Ying Marselan 2021. Domine Monluxe Dry Red Wine No.2 2018 was freshly minty and saline.

Domine Monluxe Hua Ying Marselan

2021

92

United Winery

United Winery Summer Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 revealed fine-grained tannins led to the detailed texture, with fresh juiciness that culminated in a full-bodied and intense finish. United Winery Summer Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 was lush and woody.

United Winery Summer Cabernet Sauvignon

2019

91

Stone&Moon Winey

Stone&Moon Winey Viognier 2021 was spicy and stony on the clean and perfumed nose that had loads of yellow fruits.

Xige Estate

Xige Estate Jade Dove Single Vineyard Cabernet Gernischt 2018 was more woody than my last experience at the winery.