I haven’t tried any Chinese wines, but I am definitely curious because I know China is investing a lot into their vineyards. Have any of you ever tried Chinese wines? How do they compare to other new worlds or even old world wines?
What other areas not really known for wine do you think are producing great or at least interesting wines? What have you tried?
https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2650465#p2650465
My one experience with a Chinese wine. Pictures in the post right below my TN.
It was that good huh?
I tried Ao Yun, can’t remember which vintage. It was interesting, tasted like a high altitude mountain cab, but not worth the price.
What? No-one has tried a Benfolds?
a fairly brazen fraud that was operating in China
Ningxia Xige Estate Co. Ltd. fm Ningxia PRC produces some above average single vine yard cab and a single vine yard cab gernischt. Old vines, by Chinese standards, ie. 20 years. 2017 is drinking beautifully. I have had this vintage on multiple occasions and it was consistently performing well.
I’m glad you mentioned Ningxia because it’s one i’ve always wanted to try. Did you have to special order it or do you know any sites from distros in the USA that have it? Whenever I try and find Chinese wine in general, it is extremely difficult. I am just super curious about trying it.
It’s imported to Switzerland (the importer escapes me as it’s a company that I had never heard of before) and an excellent Chinese restaurant near my club has it on the list at CHF 70 for the Cab and around CHF 90 for the CGarnischt. They’ve marked it up only CHF 10-20 from the importer’s price in the restaurant otherwise it would be a difficult sale. I thought that this vintage’s is an extraordinary success. I contrary to my initial reaction, I haven’t ordered any from the importer yet. Probably because I had never heard of them and old habits die hard.
There are now a white and rose sparkling Chandon rose from India. I’d be curious to hear if anyone had tried either of them.
Like I said in the note, if you paid $10 for it as a white dessert wine, it would be decent quality and value.
I have no idea what it costs there – my dad wouldn’t have spent very much for something like that, but someone may have given it to him or something.
I’ve had the white bubblers from Chandon India and China (and Australia). They all seemed to be pretty similar, not expecting anything mind blowing but they do what they do. The bigger problem for me with wine in some of these countries is the storage, particularly India.
I wouldn’t say that I’ve had a lot, but a fair few.
The one standout tasting from a few years ago, we had 8 wines, 1 was old world and the rest from China. The collective group only caught on to the old world at bottle 5. So there is some compelling stuff. Ones I recall from back then were Silver Heights and Leirenshou (I think both Ningxia).
They certainly are not my go-to, but if offered at a tasting or brought to a dinner they are fun to try.
Another area that is showing up more around here is Thailand. The better known one which is pretty interesting called Granmonte. Worth an explore if it isn’t too much.
Had some Chinese, Indian and Thai wines plus probably a hundred Japanese wines.
In short, it’s quite a minefield.
what were the varietals? Did you feel like they were all just trying to copy well know wines or did they use obscure grapes that theoretically take well to their soil?
Grace Winery in Japan makes a couple of white wines from the native Koshu grape which are excellent. I’ve poured them in blind tastings and they are very well received - very elegant, understated, complex.
I don’t know if any wine shops in the USA carry them, but I’ve sometimes found them in the wine aisle of Japanese supermarkets in Orange County. Not in the last few years unfortunately.
Syrah, Colombard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Koshu, Muscat Bailey A, Adiron, Black Queen, Delaware, Chardonnay, Kyohō, Niagara, Bailey Alicante, Bijou Noir, Petit Manseng, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Shoukoushi, Steuben, Aglianico and Marselan.
Did you feel like they were all just trying to copy well know wines or did they use obscure grapes that theoretically take well to their soil?
Yes.
For fun to add some color… I see Japanese wines more often (also lived there for many years so of course easier to get there). Never loved them in Japan, I think they’ve gotten a lot better over the years, or maybe I’ve just looked harder.
One of the cult-y ones, Beau Paysage. This one is Merlot, Cab Sauv and Cab Franc. People seem to love them, usually a little unripe and green for me, but fine. They are from Yamanashi which I guess is the more famous of the regions (a couple hours drive from Tokyo to the west)
Grace was mentioned - probably the more well known. I get them here and there, they also show up for various dinners. First time for me to see the sparkling blanc de blanc a few months ago, that was neat and pretty tasty.
Last week we got this - a Kerner from Hokkaido. Quite wobbly as a blind, came off Gewurtz-ish, but with some acid. Nice.
Grape Republic is more along the natural side, from Yamagata which is in Tohoku (north of Tokyo). They use various grapes, the Shinden one lists as Delaware, Niagara, Shine Muscat, Neo Muscat, Red Niagara, Rosario Bianco, Muscat Bailey A…
