The winemaker of the winery has taken all samples of this tasting to our studio in Shanghai. A rising star! Belongs to Jindong group which monopolizes almost all the vineyards of Yunnan, Shangri-La Estate is one of the three producers in region that have its own bottling line so far. Like the Aussie flagships, this icon wine is a double selection of the best plots and the finest barrels. The fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks; pumping over and saignee; aging in completely new French oak barrels for 12 months. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon since the first vintage 2016. All the wines have been decanted for more than one hour and a half. Floral and saline Shangri-La Sacred Land 2016 was the deepest and the most herbaceous one of the lineup. Shangri-La Sacred Land 2017 was elegantly spicy on the dense yet precise aroma with a floral, herbal and stony background. Subtle density repeated on the beautifully textured mouthfeel that possessed defined minerality enlarged by juicy acid, all concluding in a delicate and vivid finish. Like a top Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Shangri-La Sacred Land 2018 was somewhat rich, thick, dense and sweet but it retained fresh, precise and solemn. On the sniff, the predominant elements were flowers (nectar, wild violet) and nectarine intermixed with sweet spices (nutmeg, black liquorice), blackberry, candied cherry, savoury-mineral, menthol, iodine, underbrush and black chocolate. The intensity was incredible. Differ from Shangri-La Sacred Land 2019, it's rather full-bodied on the palate where the keystone was the silky tannins that gave a polished sense to the fresh finish that was packed with lovely fruitiness underlined by always liner and keen acidity. Remarkable aging potential. Expressive florality (mainly dried rose) suffused the austere yet limpid and graceful sniff of Shangri-La Sacred Land 2019 where the deep and complicated backdrop was composed of…(for all the details, please subscribe)…a satiny and mineral-inflected finale that revealed terrific vibrancy and persistent flavours. The plentiful tension suggested the beauty would age very well for decades. Surprisingly, there was hardly any baby fat or density as such a youthful Sacred Land. Shangri-La Sacred Land 2020 was very stony and floral (mostly dried violet) on the serious and clean sniff with a suggestion of black tea, blackberry, iodine, earth and spices. Youthfully tight on the savoury end.