With two distinctive river banks at varying altitudes, Ao Yun’s vineyards enjoy varied soil types, sun exposure and microclimates

True to its core mission of publishing regionally focused reports since it was founded in 1978, Robert Parker Wine Advocate has released its long-awaited comprehensive China Wine Report 2020, which joins the growing international coverage of wine regions reported by the review team.

The Robert Parker Wine Advocate report format includes an in-depth introduction and vintage reports that are the reviewer’s expert opinions on the vintage, d predominately on their tastings and taking into consideration their regional visits and interviews with winemakers / viticulturalists. The China Report 2020 is helmed by China reviewer Edward Ragg, Master of Wine (MW), who has been actively tasting Chinese wines since moving to Beijing in 2007 with his wife Fongyee Walker MW.

Edward Ragg’s introduction takes the opportunity to highlight the increasing variety of wine grapes introduced to China, even as Cabernet Sauvignon remains the top planted grape for wine production. He explains, “Grace Vineyard (Shanxi) was among the first to go beyond the Bordelais approach, in recent years producing compelling traditional method sparkling as well as wines from alternative varieties including Aglianico and Marselan. Marselan is undoubtedly playing an increased role across China as the fungally-resistant crossing of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache that adds generous colour to Chinese reds and some much-needed fruitiness. Chateau Nine Peaks in Shandong’s Qingdao is, similarly, experimenting more with Petit Verdot and Alibernet: a crossing of Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon which, similar to Marselan, adds fruit and colour to blends.”

For those who want to know which quality names to collect, Ragg names a few: “From Ao Yun and Long Dai to long-term veterans of the smaller family operations such as Grace, Silver Heights and Puchang, Chinese fine wine will hopefully continue to be defined by the drive for quality in the vineyard and cellar these producers demonstrate.” Ragg has included vintage tasting notes for the debut 2017 and 2018 releases of Long Dai, and its second wine Hu Yue.

He is also excited that the thirst for invention has extended to natural wines produced by tiny producer Ian Dai in Ningxia; and sparkling and orange wines at Silver Heights, which under winemaker Emma Gao is working on biodynamic wine methods.  

Ragg concludes, “Whilst there are some inevitable exclusions to this first report, I’ve tried to cover the country’s very best wines and those most likely to whet the appetites of Robert Parker Wine Advocate subscribers. That said, I look forward to covering an even wider range of Chinese fine wines in future. Chinese wine is, indeed, just coming of age.”

The top 10 scoring wines from Robert Parker Wine Advocate’s China Wine Report 2020 are:

• 2014 Canaan Winery Reserve Merlot, Huailai, Hebei (RP 94 points)
  2014 年迦南酒庄珍藏梅洛，河北怀来 
• 2014 Domaine Franco Chinois Petit Manseng, Huailai, Hebei (RP 93 points)
  2014年中法庄园小忙森，河北怀来 
• 2015 Ao Yun, Di Qing, Yunnan (RP 94 points)
  2015年敖云，云南迪庆州 
• 2018 Domaine de Long Dai, Penglai, Shandong (RP 93 points)
  2018年珑岱，山东蓬莱 
• 2018 Chateau Nine Peaks Qi Chardonnay, Qingdao, Shandong (RP 94 points)
  2018年九顶庄园”气”霞多丽，山东青岛 
• 2015 Jade Vineyard Messenger Reserve, Helan Shan, Ningxia (RP 94 points)
  2015年嘉地信使珍藏，宁夏贺兰山 
• 2017 Silver Heights Emma’s Reserve, Helan Shan, Ningxia (RP 94 points)
  2017年银色高地爱玛私家收藏，宁夏贺兰山 
• 2017 Xige Estate First Label, Ningxia (RP 94 points)
  2017年西鸽酒庄正牌，宁夏 
• 2018 Grace Vineyard Interval (Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon), Ningxia (RP 93 points)
  2018年怡园酒庄留白（西拉/赤霞珠），宁夏 
• 2014 Puchang Vineyard Reserve Saperavi, Turpan (RP 94 points)
  2014年蒲昌酒庄珍藏晚红蜜，吐鲁番 

The full report is available on https://bit.ly/RPWAChinaReport2020.