China saw good conditions throughout the growing season this year, with cooler temperatures towards the end of the season allowing slower maturation.
This vintage is particularly expressive with fantastic fruit purity.
“As the region matures, and vineyard and winery practices continue to improve in China, quality is getting better every year,” says Bibendum buyer for China Jamie Avenell.
Ningxia
“In a string of three consecutive great vintages I rate 2017 the best,” says winemaker Lenz Moser. “Cabernet Sauvignon gave us the most elegant and fresh wines ever this year. The typically-small berries are extremely concentrated – a lovely expression of Ningxia fruit. Ningxia is so dry that the berries develop a thicker skin than usual and don’t grow too big, resulting in a unique concentration of flavours and tannins once mature. The 2017 grapes were the best I have ever seen.
“Alcohol levels are down by 1 - 1.5 degrees this year due to careful harvesting, making the wines more harmonious, balanced, and easier to enjoy. This year we are using a new ageing regime, using less new French oak and more used barrels.”
For more on the 2017 harvest across the Northern Hemisphere see our full report.
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Jessica Broadbent
Jess cut her teeth in the drinks industry throwing muddlers around behind the bar at Be At One. After a brief stint as an education journalist she found her way back to booze in the rather more sophisticated arena of wine, and was shown the ropes by the very best wine educators at Bibendum.