Cizhong Xiaoling 2019

Lot presentation

Cizhong Xiaoling 2019

The wine

The grapes of this wine are grown in the Himalayas, and it is made under the auspices of Sylvain Pitiot, former Chief Executive of Clos du Tart. Xiaoling refers to the peaks in the clouds, but this is an elegant wine with a complex nose. The wine is vinified in traditional terracotta pots and is matured in barrels. Its aroma has a certain freshness to it with notes of menthol, as well as light scents of candied fruit. Its attack is frank and powerful, being a wine of great substance. The tannins are delicate. The finish is persistent with spiced notes. This is what China does best.

About the Producer XiaoLing

The domain was created in 2014 on the hillsides of Haut-Mékong with the aim of continuing in the tradition brought by Catholic missionaries to Tibet in the 19th century. The 9.5 hectare domain lies at between 2,000 and 2,400 metres of altitude. The vines are made up of a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon (more than 90%), a little Carménère and some Merlot. The work in the vines is carried out by partner Tibetan winegrowers. The domain's objective is to gain in precision and thus produce wines which best express this magical terroir. The yields are low at only 15hl/ha. Sylvain Pitiot of Clos de Tart has advised the domain since 2017 and the domain's enologist is Mu Chao, a Chinese enologist who learnt from the best at Clos de Tart, then Jean-Louis Chave then Clos des Fées. In 2015, production was limited to 3,750 bottles and you won't be able to find the 2016 vintage as the entire production that year was lost. Chardonnay was also recently planted at the domain; vintages to come look promising.

Detailed characteristics