陆江香格里拉葡萄酒产区行

图文:陆江 | 葡萄酒在线

 

香格里拉葡萄酒产区,几年前曾试过一些当地出的小产区葡萄酒,有一两款水准可以是在中国最高品质的葡萄酒之列。 再加上我跟踪好些年的,国际奢侈品巨鳄LVMH在香格里拉投的酒庄项目,其出产的敖云也成为最具国际化的中国葡萄酒第一贵酒。

我对香格里拉产区有着极大的好奇,甚至觉得神秘,可一直无缘走访。 香格里拉产区在我心里有很多符号,高海拔,茶马古道,入云的雪山,藏区,美丽的卓玛,很长的生长季,传说中的圣地,莫名的酒庄,世界最高海拔之一的葡萄园,网上图片里美得令人窒息的景色,条件艰苦……除了最后一条,其它都让我神往。

终于……惊喜降临,我和另外几位熟识的媒体好友,应邀去走访这个传说中的产区,特别感谢香格里拉酒庄。正值5月春末夏初,气候适宜的季节。

从北京过去,根据酒庄、葡萄园和机场分布位置,优化的葡萄酒旅游路线是,从北京直飞丽江,在当地逛一下古镇,驱车一路往北,到位于香格里拉开发区的酒庄,然后参观在不同村落小产区的葡萄园,葡萄园分布较广,所以中间会在德钦停留,然后最终到达香格里拉。最后从香格里拉搭飞机从昆明转机回京。行程共三晚。

因为有了诱惑,我也不太艰难地接受了早起,于是顺利搭上8点起飞的航班,11点30降落丽江。

 

束河古镇

从丽江机场到束河古镇不到一小时,在农家乐畅快地吃了一顿,初尝了琵琶肉等地方特色菜肴。

还有两小时逛逛束河古镇,虽然商业化也无可避免地在此蔓延,餐厅酒吧店铺已是偏多,不过幸好现在还不是旅游最旺季,游人倒是不多,春夏带来满眼的繁花绿叶,穿插着小桥流水,还有应季的粉嫩樱桃(奇怪,这樱桃入口真的很柔嫩),一切还是感觉美好。

然后神奇的老天出场表演,于是20多分钟内体会了东边日出西边雨,冰雹,急雨,阴天,多云更替。就近避雨,在一家土特产店里,还看到本地食材腊排骨的原貌。

 

小镇里溜达,时不时还有就业机会。

最后小困小累之际,阅人间无数的翔大师,通过女店主的眼神和肢体语言,很快判断出一家靠谱茶铺,我们在这家有自家茶园的茶铺,品茗闲聊,居然还尝到到两款水准不错的红茶和生普。不过遗憾的是,女老板提到要结业关店,一是要照顾孩子,二是隔壁开了家重庆火锅,她怕茶味被染麻辣味道。

 

束河古镇还真蛮适合那些喜欢红尘人气,又怀揣情怀的饮食男女。

雨又起,该去香格里拉酒庄品酒。

 

香格里拉酒庄

直奔位于香格里拉开发区的香格里拉酒庄。作为国内酒水巨头金东集团(前华泽集团)旗下的精品酒酒庄,香格里拉酒庄正蓄势待发。

他们和国际奢侈品第一巨头LVMH(路易威登母公司)合资的酒庄,发布的敖云葡萄酒,现在已是国际市场上中国精品葡萄酒的代表之一,也是具有国际声誉的中国葡萄酒的第一高价酒(300美金左右一瓶)。

敖云的葡萄园就是从香格里拉酒庄的葡萄园中精选出的一小部分。

在酒庄我们学习了香格里拉酒庄所在产区的概况介绍,更细节地了解到这个产区的风土特质:低纬度高海拔(海拔范围两三千米),处于“三江并流”的核心地带,金沙江、澜沧江和怒江在不同岁月带来不同的沉积质,形成极为复杂的地物地貌土壤构成,丰富不同的小气候,极长生长季(180-200天),较少病虫害,全年日照达2500小时以上,降雨量200-600毫米(主要在转色期前),不用埋土……。所有特质,造就了世界上独一无二的极富多样性的难得产区。

 

现在我才真正理解精品葡萄酒超级巨头LVMH,为什么会扎根于此,那么艰苦的又极富潜力的神奇产区。

在酒庄还见到了专职负责葡萄园管理的团队和酿造团队,没想到技术人员们都是已经安心在这个艰苦产区积累了数年到十多年。难能可贵!

从与团队的交流和酒庄介绍,我们了解到,香格里拉酒庄从2000年建立,至今已探索积累了不少,在各个村庄产区里小地块的风土资料,以及尝试摸索了不少葡萄品种在当地小地块的表现特点……还有建立了酵母选用,叶幕管理,病虫害的生态防止等一整套管理体系。

媒体团和部分酒庄工作人员

我深深地感到,假以时日,香格里拉酒庄的出品会在国际精品葡萄酒领域可以搞出大事。

当然最终还是要看酒庄作品的实力,我们品鉴了基础款和实验款,有霞多丽干白,梅洛,赤霞珠。还有西拉干红,要特别提一下这西拉,是典型冷气候西拉,黑胡椒黑色水果为主的气息,单宁成熟细致,酚类和糖分双成熟,不错的集中度和清新感,西拉在此应该很有潜力,可以成为特色风土出品之一。 最后两款是威代尔品种的贵腐甜白酒,蛮干净的;晚收霞多丽,香气猛一闻有百香果等主导气息,很像长相思,有趣。

入夜就近入住酒店,晚餐试到不少当地美食,尤其喜欢当地特色包浆豆腐。

 

正值香格里拉酒庄,即将要进入基酒调配阶段。酒庄来自于澳洲雅拉谷的顾问Marc,带我们去酒窖做桶边品鉴,因为橡木桶里的酒,就是会用来调配的基酒。

我们尝试了东水村斜坡高处F地块的赤霞珠2016,中重酒体,单宁成熟中强,细腻雅致风格。东水村平坦地块的赤霞珠2016,果味和黑巧克力气息充沛,单宁强,重酒体,中段稍空。

还有斯农村的碎石地块2016年份赤霞珠和砾石土壤地块2016年份赤霞珠,明显砾石地块的单宁更为厚实。

斯农村碎石地块2017年份赤霞珠和砾石地块的2017年份赤霞珠,感受2017有比2016更结实成熟的单宁,砾石地块赤霞珠结构庞大完整,能感受到有强大的陈年潜力。

酒庄这几款不同村出产培养出来的基酒,各自反应当地的风土,完全可以调配出很高水准的葡萄酒,整体实力超过我的预期。

从酒庄出来,去宾馆,路遇哈巴雪山观景台。不过机缘未至,不得见。

 

四个单一葡萄园

令人期待的产区走访开始了,因为香格里拉酒庄“圣域”葡萄酒来自四个单一葡萄园,分别位于东水村、斯农村、西当村和阿东村这四个村落,垂直分布于高山河谷之中,立体气候差异显著。所以根据时间,我们会去走访其中部分村落葡萄园。

 

东水村葡萄园

我们首先特意走访了路途险峻,极为独特的东水村葡萄园,听同行的郭校长提起,我们运气不错,去年不少路段都是土路,今年明显水泥路段要多了不少。一路行车,能看到山体频繁滑坡和落石,是这边盘山道路的常态。

山路崎岖,车道旁又是深渊,我被吓得紧抓翔大师的胳膊,也顾不得男男授受不亲了。

 

东水村位于金沙江沿岸,三面环山,属于干热河谷气候,海拔2350米。此葡萄园面积最小,占地4公顷,以砾石土壤为主,主要种植赤霞珠及少量西拉。为了保证葡萄优良品质,亩产均控制在300到400公斤。

东水村葡萄园从制高点俯看,像世外桃源般的谷地。雪山融雪顺着水道滋养着这片葡萄园。

 

东水村葡萄园管理员培布是位藏族帅小伙,淳朴热情专业,七年来扎根于此,指导乡亲们种植,日复一日地观察记录着葡萄长势变化。

我(陆江)和培布(右一)

我们还去培布住的藏民家里参观,喝了房东煮的地道酥油茶,还有家常茶点。哦,对了,这边藏区也盛产核桃,很多核桃老树,很粗壮,我一个人环抱都围不住。

核桃老树

 

德钦的高原反应

入住德钦,让我人生有了第一次高原反应的体会,在我们的宾馆,我测了海拔,3363米,一晚上的头痛欲裂,一早无力起床,有点作呕。连预想的极为难得的日照金山盛景,都没法去窗台拍。仅用手机在窗帘夹缝里捏了一张。据说有很多游客在当地耗了很久,来了好几次都没有看到日照金山的壮观。我倒是运气有了,可没想到高反会那么强烈。

想想作为世界上最高海拔的葡萄酒产区之一,酒庄当地工作人员真是大不易。

 

圣地梅里雪山的最高峰卡瓦格博峰

虽然德钦的高原反应让我萎靡,不过见到世界最美雪山梅里雪山的最高峰卡瓦格博峰(尚未被人类登顶,海拔6740米,也是藏传佛教的朝觐之地),还是让我振奋一下,下意识又吸了两口氧气。观景台有位大叔等了一周才遇到神山露脸,我们又是人品爆发。

西当村葡萄园

位于澜沧江沿岸的西当村,也属冷凉河谷气候,海拔2200米,葡萄园占地6.7公顷,以沙质土和砾质褐土为主,主要种植赤霞珠品种。葡萄园的管理员李达,对这片葡萄园非常熟悉,每个地块的气候特点都了如指掌。

到达西当村,负责香格里拉酒庄种植的王总陪同我们,为我们介绍每片目力所及的葡萄园种植管理,以及和当地藏区果农们的沟通协调安排工作的概况。 据说后者一直是敖云酒庄那边外方管理人员最棘手的难点。

 

王总在这产区已经深耕十多年,在他脑子里每个地块的风土特点,葡萄品种特质如数家珍。还有厉害的是,在葡萄园管理中各个村的藏民果农的技术培训和工作安排,都被他兼顾多方要求和利益,灵活安排得相得益彰,一路上无论当地村官和地里果农,都很尊敬他。我蛮佩服像王总这样情商和智商双高的大才。

王总(左)和我(陆江)

 

在西当村也“顺便”看了看中国第一国际化贵酒敖云的部分葡萄园,正好在施药防治病害,葡萄园景观很美,当然也了解了一些他们面临的问题和挑战。不过不惜成本做好酒的理念还是其它酒庄没法效仿的。

敖云的葡萄园之一

 

斯农村葡萄园

下一站就是我挺感兴趣的斯农村,斯农村位于澜沧江沿岸,属于冷凉河谷气候,海拔2300米,葡萄园占地27.7公顷,是最大的单一园。葡萄园以褐土为主,土质疏松,通透性好,葡萄品种以赤霞珠为主,亩产同样控制在300到400公斤。管理员是陈建华。

斯农村村委会

 

 

斯农村,是我个人在品鉴后觉得,具有出顶尖水准葡萄酒的葡萄园。现场看到葡萄园里不同小地块的多样风土,务实的架型管理等,潜力值得期待。

王总在指导藏民乡亲如何剪枝

 

就近我们还去了茶马古道的旧址,澜沧江上古道的铁索桥还依旧可用,我走得战战兢兢,也算感受了一下古道行走的不易。

 

最后一个单一葡萄园是阿东村,位于澜沧江沿岸,两面靠山,海拔高达2600米,在四个村落中属最高。葡萄园面积20公顷,以褐土、黏土为主,主要种植红葡萄赤霞珠,同时也种植白葡萄品种霞多丽,亩产量控制在500到600公斤。

可惜时间问题,我们就没去走访。

综合这三个走访过的单一葡萄园村落,以及这几天接触到的香格里拉酒庄,踏实做事、已有颇多积淀的员工们,我可以说香格里拉酒庄已经具备出产国际高水准葡萄酒的实力。虽然最终出品还有很多影响因素,不过我还是挺期待的。

 

返程

是夜,入住香格里拉,因为也是海拔3000多米,高原反应依旧,我抱了两个氧气管才熬过一晚。一早直奔香格里拉机场。苦捱到登机,一直到昆明转机,我简直有大病初愈的感觉。

特别夸一下昆明机场的美食,种类多,价格合理,一顿午餐,我满血复活了。

到京,行程的美好,继续回味中。下次再有机会去高过3000米海拔的城市过夜,绝不能高估自己的高反耐受力,买药还是必须的。

陆江(Maxime LU)

– 曾为Decanter亚洲葡萄酒大赛(Decanter Asia Wine Awards),意大利南部葡萄酒大赛(Puglia)、葡萄牙葡萄酒挑战大赛-Wines of Portugal Challenge(Lisboa)等国际国内葡萄酒大赛专家评委;美食美酒旅游类撰稿人,《葡萄酒在线》专栏撰稿人、《Decanter中文版-醇鉴中国》撰稿人,葡萄酒行业咨询顾问,万欧兰葡萄酒教育首席讲师,资深葡萄酒收藏顾问和买手。

Interview on Winemaker of Aoyun, the most expensive Chinese Wine

Jiang LU (Maxime LU)

 

Speaking of the most expensive and most international wine now made in China, the first on the list should be Aoyun wine (AOYUN) produced in Yunnan Shangri-La by the world’s top luxury group LVMH. Many other domestic wines claimed to be the same,but we know they are just good at amusing themselves and access to only some special channels, even much more expensive than AOYUN.  While AOYUN is different,it has been tested by the consumers from London to New York fine wine market,approved by many international wine experts and specialists,accepted by the strongest wine merchants including BBR and Live-ex,and finally entered into Chinese market. Nonetheless,we have to admit its price is high(more than 2000RMB,300 euros around),that’s why it arouse so much controversy in domestic and international wine market.`

aoyun6

 

I have been following LVMH Aoyun winery since 2014. LVMH Group has always been a fine wine industry giant, owning such as Chateau Cheval Blanc、Chateau d’Yquem 、Domaine des Lambrays、Krug and many other super top wine brands. This time LVMH also plans to create a luxury boutique wine,which actually could benifit all Chinese wines by enhancing their international reputations。

aoyun9

 

Simple background information about Aoyun
It took LVMH four years to find a perfect vineyard. Finally they chose the site in Shangri-La, near Meili Snow Mountain (6800 meters above sea level), and beside the Mekong River.
The daylight hours in the mountains is only 8-9,less than that is in Bordeaux。It results in a long growing season, giving enough time for phenols,acids and sugars to ripe. The flowering period in Bordeaux is generally 100-120 days, while in Aoyun vineyard it could be up to 140-160 days.

The pruning and managing work is all done by hand。Traffic is a disaster。The vineyard,with a total area of around 28 hectares,2200-2600m above sea levels,is distributed in four villages and divided into 320 little plots(one plot covers an area of 1.3 acres on average)。Every hector requires about 3500 hours of manpower to manage。People who work in the field are mainly local Tibetans who have their own cultures and habits。It’s very difficult to communicate with them。

aoyun5

 

As mentioned earlier, at present the way Aoyun priced its products remains controversial. I wouldn’t judge it, but leave it to the consumers. What I will do is to share with you my experience of a serious Aoyun tasting. Besides, it’s so lucky for me to get a chance to interview Maxence Dulou, the chief winemaker of the winery.

Chief winemaker Maxence Dulou,live in Yunnan and work with the team since 2012,now is in charge of all the viticultural and winemaking work.

aoyun1

 

What do you think of other wine regions in China?

I’ve been to Shandong, and Ningxia twice in the past two years, where I had many quality red wines and do feel its big improvement. Nonetheless each of them has their own problems. In Shandong, there is too much rain, the weather is so wet that the grapes cannot achieve desired maturity, but with some green flavor. It would be difficult to develop organic there. While Ningxia is always sunny, the grapes are able to accumulate enough sugar in the harvest season,but lack acidity,and their tannins cannot ripe enough. It is very cold in the winter, so grapes need to be buried to keep warm. But overall it seems fairly comforting.

 

In your opinion,what technologies can be used to make up for the inadequacy caused by the weather?

It is the same to all the regions that if there is a real dizaster, the winemaker could do nothing but learn to be strong. The weather varies considerably from June to August in Yunnan。But when it comes to the harvest season, generally from mid-September to the end of October, everyday is sunny and dry, and the grapes can achieve satisfying maturity.

This kind of cliamte is suitable for the implementation of organic management, so that’s what we do there: use Bordeaux mixture and yak manure only in the vineyard; try to minimize human intervention as possible as we can so that the grapes can gradually adapt themselves to the environment and be able to cope up with all the harsh weathers.

Currently we have only three years cultivation experience and four years operation experience there. We need much more time to master all the micro-climate changes discipline in the production area.

 

Your vineyard is 2000m high above sea level, thus sunlight would be very strong in the summer. Do you have any special vineyard management techniques (framing, pruning, etc.)?

We use VSP model, which keeps the leaves all through the growing season and cuts some in the veraison period. The leaves facing southwest will always be kept to protect grapes from strong sunlight. The climate varies every year, so pruning work must be done depending on conditions. For example, this June is cloudy, which means we don’t need to cut too much. Unlike France, thick clouds will weaken the sunlight but will not block it,nor have any impact on the growth of the grapes. It is because we are in such a high altitude. The clouds are sometimes only 100 meters above our heads(and sometimes even below us). Sunlight can always find a way to penetrate the clouds into the vineyard to ripen the grapes.

aoyun4

What are the plans for the future development of the winery?
We’ll make new technical attempts such as cultivate more grape varieties, improve the pruning and grass planting work, use Chinese pottery in the fermentation and so on.

 

It is said the Chinese pottery you just mentioned have been used in making 2013 vintage of Aoyun Wine. Does it work well?

We had 40 days maceration(including fermentation), and then moved into second fermentation ( malo-lactic fermentation). 40% new french oak is used at this stage. The rest used old barrels as we normally do. But it is impossible for us to bring in barrels from France due to the inconvenient transportation. Nor could we purchase any old ones from nearby production areas, as different yeast may carry bad bacteria and cause contamination. Thus we chose to use a nuetral container, which could not add any floavor to the wine but will not add any bad effect either. The pottery was by far a satisfying choice. They are brand new,and use to hold local spirits.

 

Does Auyun use manual irrigation?

In California and Australia,the grape roots are bout 50cm long, people use drip irrigation, which means, you give grapes the exact amount what it needs. But drip irrigation will make the surface soil too hard. While in Ao Yun, the grape roots are up to 3 meters, so they can absorb more water from soil and need no irrigation. Natural rainfall is enough for them. In dry winter, we do small range of flood irrigation from time to time. In this way, we can both offer waters to the vine and avoid soil hardening.

 

3 meters’ roots? I thought Ao yun had only young vines? How do you control the quality of the grapes? (By Lu Jiang)

We call five or six years old vines young vines. But vines used to make this bottle are already 15 years old. There are many local farmers who planted grapes in this area far before we purchase the estate. At the first two years, we did a lot of research and finally planted some grapes in the last year (2015). These baby vines need time to produce qualified grapes for wine. However, the wine in front of us is made by grapes from 15 years old vine with 3 meters’ roots. 15 years old vine took half of the area of our current vineyard.

In the past, farmers sell grapes to the winery by weight. So you can imagine, the only thing they care about is yields. After we came, we tell the villagers how to work through an interpreter, stay in complete control of quality and rationalize ourselves. We did a lot work here, for example we introduced rootstock grafting. Fisrt, this can improve grape quality. Second, it can prevent Phylloxera——no signs of it now, but once it occurs,it would be a disaster. We analyze the composition and structure of the soil and chose the most suitable rootstock. If the rootstocks do improve the quality, we’ll replant all the old vines.

 

So actually you have studied the vineyards since long ago?
Yes,we started to plant grapes in 2015,but begun to communicate with local government since 2012,and have been studying the field since 2008,8 years ago.

aoyun3

 

Currently how many varieties are planted in the vineyards?
Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot,Petit Verdot and some tested verities. Besides that, we planned to try Shira and Malbec, but stays undecided.

Does Domaine Chandon Ningxia purchase from COFCO Corporation Grape Seedling Base too?( By Lu Jiang)

yes!

 

How do you determine the time for Aoyun to come into the market officailly?
Its quality has been repeatedly confirmed that it can meet our strict requirements. Its performance is always stable. It is widely praised by all the international heavyweights in wine industry whom we sent the wine to. They all recognize it as a unique and great Cab, and the best wine in China. At this point, we thought we are ready to bring it to the market.

 

Could you describe Aoyun from your point of view?

It’s the new interpretation of Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep color, with both fresh fruit and ripe fruit characteristics. Freshness and lively acidity is from the unique terroir. Many people would think of Pauillac the first time they smell it,with similar aroma like cigar, tabacco and cedar. While someone find it more like California wines, very fruity, delicious, full-bodied. For me it’s somewhere in between. The tannin is as elegant and structured as I expected. In a word, we don’t want to cater to a growing demand fo strong wines, but a sophisticated and graceful wine, the wine that can represent the sacred mountain and its terroir.

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AOYUN 2013  Tasting note (By Maxime LU)

Intense with ripe black fruit flavors, violets and western spices, revealing a trace of smoke and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and crisp, fruity-forward, with strong and converged tannins and delicate texture. Balanced, in the last part you can feel it slight alcoholic. Tobacco and spices can be found in the long finish, Alc.=15%, Ph=3.55

You can still tell that it’s from new world, but indeed elegant. I must say it’s good. As for the price, you can listen to either LVMH ( because of the high cost, more than Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau D’yquem) or some critics(almost as expensive as Chateau Cheval Blanc and Opus one, so unreasonable), or just keep quiet, wait and see how it will behave in the market.

Maxime LU

最贵国产酒敖云之酿酒师访谈

文:陆江(Maxime LU)

说到中国最贵的,也是最国际化的国产精品酒,世界第一奢侈品集团LVMH集团旗下的云南香格里拉出产的敖云葡萄酒(AOYUN),现阶段是名至实归的。它和某些国产酒厂的走特定渠道的自嗨型高价酒不同,敖云葡萄酒已经在伦敦和纽约等国际精品酒主力市场直面消费者,已经历了不少国际著名酒评人,大师的品鉴考验,也进入了包括BBR在内的一线酒商渠道,以及Liv-Ex伦敦葡萄酒交易所,也在中国市场开始推广和零售。当然由于其高昂的销售价格(人民币两千多元,约合300欧元的国内零售价),在国际国内葡萄酒市场引发了较大争议。

Speaking of the most expensive and most international wine now made in China, the first on the list should be Aoyun wine (AOYUN) produced in Yunnan Shangri-La by the world’s top luxury group LVMH. Many other domestic wines claimed to be the same,but we know they are just good at amusing themselves and access to only some special channels。While AOYUN is different,it has been tested by the consumers from London to New York fine wine market,approved by many international wine experts and specialists,accepted by the strongest wine merchants including BBR and Live-ex,and finally entered into Chinese market. Nonetheless,we have to admit its price is high(more than 2000RMB,300 euros around),that’s why it arouse so much controversy in domestic and international wine market。`

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我从2014年就开始关注LVMH的敖云酒庄这一项目。LVMH集团本来就也是精品酒业巨头,有白马、滴金、Domaine des Lambrays、Krug、香槟王等大牌顶级精品庄,种植酿酒实力强悍,推广和渠道资源也是无与伦比的。LVMH做这款酒的目标就是打造成奢侈品级的精品酒,这对提升中国葡萄酒在国际上的声誉是有颇多好处。

I have been following LVMH Aoyun winery since 2014. LVMH Group has always been a fine wine industry giant, owning such as Chateau Cheval Blanc、Chateau d’Yquem 、Domaine des Lambrays、Krug and many other super top wine brands. This time LVMH also plans to create a luxury boutique wine,which actually could benifit all Chinese wines by enhancing their international reputations。

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简单介绍一点敖云酒庄信息:

LVMH为了寻找合适的葡萄园就探索了4年,最终确定在香格里拉,梅里雪山(6800米海拔)附近,湄公河边。

酒庄葡萄园的日照条件由于地势阻挡,每天8-9小时,和波尔多相比是偏少的,不过导致了有很长的生长季,使酚类物质,酸度和糖份能较好地实现同步成熟。波尔多从开花到收获一般是100-120天,而敖云这边的葡萄园可达140-160天。

葡萄园完全是靠手工剪枝管理,总面积约28公顷,分布在4个村子,交通极为不方便。海拔高度约为2200-2600米,土壤和微气候有很好的多样性。葡萄园被分为320个小地块,平均面积约1.3亩,每年每公顷约需要3500工时来管理维护。当地以藏民劳力为主,语言和文化差异会是沟通的很大障碍。

Simple background information about Aoyun
It took LVMH four years to find a perfect vineyard. Finally they chose the site in Shangri-La, near Meili Snow Mountain (6800 meters above sea level), and beside the Mekong River.
The daylight hours in the mountains is only 8-9,less than that is in Bordeaux。It results in a long growing season, giving enough time for phenols,acids and sugars to ripe. The flowering period in Bordeaux is generally 100-120 days, while in Aoyun vineyard it could be up to 140-160 days.

The pruning and managing work is all done by hand。Traffic is a disaster。The vineyard,with a total area of around 28 hectares,2200-2600m above sea levels,is distributed in four villages and divided into 320 little plots(one plot covers an area of 1.3 acres on average)。Every hector requires about 3500 hours of manpower to manage。People who work in the field are mainly local Tibetans who have their own cultures and habits。It’s very difficult to communicate with them。

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就像前面提到,现在国内外市场上关于敖云葡萄酒的价格争议很大,我在此也无意评说价格是否合理,毕竟消费者会用手中货币进行投票。我这次有幸采访了酒庄的首席酿酒师Maxence Dulou,并且尝到了这款风云之酒,下面分享一下采访内容和我对这款酒的酒评词和评价。

As mentioned earlier, at present the way Aoyun priced its products remains controversial. I wouldn’t judge it, but leave it to the consumers. What I will do is to share with you my experience of a serious Auyun tasting. Besides, it’s so lucky for me to get a chance to interview Maxence Dulou, the chief winemaker of the winery.

首席酿酒师Maxence Dulou2013年搬到云南加入团队,现在全面负责酒庄种植和酿造。  

Chief winemaker Maxence Dulou,live in Yunnan and work with the team since 2012,now is in charge of all the viticultural and winemaking work.

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您对中国其他葡萄酒产区有何评价?

我去过山东,这两年还曾去过两次宁夏,在那里喝到过一些非常不错的红葡萄酒,并感受到品质较之以往有很大提升。他们也各自存在着一些问题,山东夏季降雨多,太潮湿,葡萄很难达到理想的成熟度,会有一些生青的味道,发展有机种植难度会很高。宁夏日照充足,糖分成熟度比较好,但是单宁成熟度和酸度上会有一些欠缺,且冬天太冷,葡萄藤需要埋土,不过整体水准上已经很出色了。 

What do you think of other wine regions in China?

I’ve been to Shandon, and Ningxia twice in the past two years, where I had many quality red wines and do feel its big improvement. Nonetheless each of them has their own problems. In Shandong, there is too much rain, the weather is so wet that the grapes cannot achieve desired maturity, but with some green flavor. It would be difficult to develop organic there. While Ningxia is always sunny, the grapes are able to accumulate enough sugar in the harvest season,but lack acidity,and their tannins cannot ripe enough. It is very cold in the winter, so grapes need to be buried to keep warm. But overall it seems fairly comforting.

您觉得气候原因造成酒体的不足之处,可以用哪些技术来弥补呢?

对所有的产区来说都是一样,如果真的有天灾来临,那酿酒师也并没有太多办法,只能坚强以对。云南这边的气候,六月到八月变化比较大,但每一年从九月中旬到十月末的收获季总是阳光充足且十分干燥,葡萄能达到良好的成熟度。

这样的气候适合施行有机管理,所以我们采取有机种植方式,尽量减少人为干预,让葡萄自己逐渐适应并培养出应对恶劣自然气候的能力。因为采用有机管理,葡萄园管理中主要用到波尔多液和牦牛粪。

我们目前在当地还只有三年的种植经验,四年的酿酒管理经验,如想要完全掌握产区的微气候变化,需要更多时间和工作。

In your opinion,what technologies can be used to make up for the inadequacy caused by the weather?

It is the same to all the regions that if there is a real dizaster, the winemaker could do nothing but learn to be strong. The weather varies considerably from June to August in Yunnan。But when it comes to the harvest season, generally from mid-September to the end of October, everyday is sunny and dry, and the grapes can achieve satisfying maturity.

This kind of cliamte is suitable for the implementation of organic management, so that’s what we do there: use Bordeaux mixture and yak manure only in the vineyard; try to minimize human intervention as possible as we can so that the grapes can gradually adapt themselves to the environment and be able to cope up with all the harsh weathers.

Currently we have only three years cultivation experience and four years operation experience there. We need much more time to master all the micro-climate changes discipline in the production area.

你们的葡萄园位于海拔高度两千多米的地方,夏天光照应该会非常强,你们会有特别的葡萄园管理技术(架型、修剪等)

我们采用VSP架型,在整个葡萄的生长季节都会保留叶子,在转色期间会将朝向东面的叶子剪掉一些,朝向西面的叶子则由于下午光照太强烈,为避免伤害葡萄而保留。 但每一年的气候都不一样,还是要根据实际天气采取具体的疏叶措施。比如今年六月多云,就不用剪那么多,也减少了我们的园内工作量。当然,和法国不同,厚云层虽然会有一些阻挡阳光的作用,但对葡萄成长并不会产生显著影响——因为我们海拔太高了,云层有时在我们头顶只有100米左右(有时甚至还会在我们下方),总有阳光能穿透云层洒进葡萄园,所以葡萄还是能达到非常好的成熟度。

Your vineyard is 2000m high above sea level, thus sunlight would be very strong in the summer. Do you have any special vineyard management techniques (framing, pruning, etc.)?

We use VSP model, which keeps the leaves all through the growing season and cuts some in the veraison period. The leaves facing southwest will always be kept to protect grapes from strong sunlight. The climate varies every year, so pruning work must be done depending on conditions. For example, this June is cloudy, which means we don’t need to cut too much. Unlike France, thick clouds will weaken the sunlight but will not block it,nor have any impact on the growth of the grapes. It is because we are in such a high altitude. The clouds are sometimes only 100 meters above our heads(and sometimes even below us). Sunlight can always find a way to penetrate the clouds into the vineyard to ripen the grapes.

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关于酒庄未来发展,有何计划?

技术层面来说会进行不同方向上的尝试,比如种植更多葡萄品种、比如葡萄园内一些修剪、植草工作的调整以及尝试使用中国的陶罐进行发酵等等。

What are the plans for the future development of the winery?
We’ll make new technical attempts such as cultivate more grape varieties, improve the pruning and grass planting work, use Chinese pottery in the fermentation and so on.

听说2013年份敖云葡萄酒就使用了您刚才提到的这种陶罐效果如何呢?

我们首先有大约40天的浸皮(包括酒精发酵)。随后要进行二次发酵(苹果酸乳酸发酵)时,我们40%的酒会使用法国新橡木桶,剩余部分按照常规,会使用旧橡木桶,但从法国引进的话,因为交通不便等原因并不可行,若从中国临近产区采购旧橡木桶,由于所使用的酵母不同,而且会有可能的不良细菌携带,会对酒造成污染,所以找一种比较中性的,不会为酒添加任何风味但也没有坏影响的陶罐做代替,是个很好的选择。从现在看结果还是令人满意的。这些陶罐是全新的,是当地用来盛装中国白酒的陶土罐。

It is said the Chinese pottery you just mentioned have been used in making 2013 vintage of Aoyun Wine. Does it work well?

We had 40 days maceration(including fermentation), and then moved into second fermentation ( malo-lactic fermentation). 40% new french oak is used at this stage. The rest used old barrels as we normally do. But it is impossible for us to bring in barrels from France due to the inconvenient transportation. Nor could we purchase any old ones from nearby production areas, as different yeast may carry bad bacteria and cause contamination. Thus we chose to use a nuetral container, which could not add any floavor to the wine but will not add any bad effect either. The pottery was by far a satisfying choice. They are brand new,and use to hold local spirits.

敖云是否会进行人工灌溉?

加州和澳大利亚会使用滴灌,葡萄需要多少水,就给它多少水,葡萄的根系在50公分左右,但这样会造成地表土壤过硬。敖云没有采用滴管,敖云的葡萄根系可以扎到很深,长达3米左右,这样就能从地下吸取更多水分。所以在生长季节可以完全依赖自然降水来补足水分,不需要人为灌溉。在干燥的冬天有时会进行小范围的漫灌,既达到灌溉效果,又能避免大范围的土壤板结问题。

Does Auyun use manual irrigation?

In California and Australia,the grape roots are bout 50cm long, people use drip irrigation, which means, you give grapes the exact amount what it needs. But drip irrigation will make the surface soil too hard. While in Ao Yun, the grape roots are up to 3 meters, so they can absorb more water from soil and need no irrigation. Natural rainfall is enough for them. In dry winter, we do small range of flood irrigation from time to time. In this way, we can both offer waters to the vine and avoid soil hardening.

哦?能达到3米的根系,敖云不完全是用年轻藤吗?你们是怎样控制葡萄出产品质的?(陆江)

我们把五、六年的葡萄藤叫做年轻的葡萄藤。但是酿这瓶酒的葡萄已经十五年的藤龄了,在我们买下这里之前,已经有当地的农民在这里种下了葡萄。前两年我们做了很多研究,并在去年(2015年)种下了一些葡萄,这些葡萄苗还需要一些时间才能正常出产。但是我们面前的这瓶酒,是用根系深达3米的十五年藤上长出的葡萄酿的。我们现有的葡萄园里,有一半面积都是十五年以上的葡萄藤。(葡萄酒在线)

过去农民是采收葡萄后按重量卖给当地酒庄,你可想而知,他们唯一重视的就是产量。我们来了以后,通过翻译,指导村民进行耕种工作。对葡萄产量和品质进行完全控制。之前老葡萄藤是没有经过砧木嫁接的,我们新种下的葡萄则有做嫁接,一是为了更适应当地土壤,提高葡萄品质;二是为了预防根瘤蚜虫。虽然目前还没有虫害出现,但如果出现,后果不可想象。目前酒庄还处于探索期,我们分析土壤成分、结构、土质……,并选择最适合的砧木。另外如果嫁接后品质确实有明显提升,我们将会对老藤部分进行重新替换种植。

3 meters’ roots? I thought Ao yun had only young vines? How do you control the quality of the grapes? (By Lu Jiang)

We call five or six years old vines young vines. But vines used to make this bottle are already 15 years old. There are many local farmers who planted grapes in this area far before we purchase the estate. At the first two years, we did a lot of research and finally planted some grapes in the last year (2015). These baby vines need time to produce qualified grapes for wine. However, the wine in front of us is made by grapes from 15 years old vine with 3 meters’ roots. 15 years old vine took half of the area of our current vineyard.

In the past, farmers sell grapes to the winery by weight. So you can imagine, the only thing they care about is yields. After we came, we tell the villagers how to work through an interpreter, stay in complete control of quality and rationalize ourselves. We did a lot work here, for example we introduced rootstock grafting. Fisrt, this can improve grape quality. Second, it can prevent Phylloxera——no signs of it now, but once it occurs,it would be a disaster. We analyze the composition and structure of the soil and chose the most suitable rootstock. If the rootstocks do improve the quality, we’ll replant all the old vines.

所以你们其实从很久之前就已经研究这里的葡萄园

是的,虽然我们2015年开始种植葡萄。但其实自2012年我们就已开始与政府进行沟通工作,2008年就在开始研究这片土地了,至今已8年。

So actually you have studied the vineyards since long ago?
Yes,we started to plant grapes in 2015,but begun to communicate with local government since 2012,and have been studying the field since 2008,8 years ago.

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目前葡萄园中都栽种了哪些品种呢?

主要是赤霞珠、品丽珠、梅乐、小维多,和少量试验中的品种。此外也有计划尝试栽种更多品种,比如西拉和马尔贝克,具体还未确定。

我(陆江)追问一句:“葡萄苗和宁夏的夏桐(LVMH在华另一酒庄)一样,也是从中粮集团的葡萄苗木基地采购?”。 “是的!”。

Currently how many varieties are planted in the vineyards?
Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot,Petit Verdot and some tested verities. Besides that, we planned to try Shira and Malbec, but stays undecided.

Does Domaine Chandon Ningxia purchase from COFCO Corporation Grape Seedling Base too?( By Lu Jiang)

yes!

在敖云进入市场之前,你们都做了那些考量?

在发行上市之前,我们首先反复确认酒的品质达到了我们理想的状态,表现稳定,也送给许多国际重量级的酒评人品尝。他们回馈确认这是他们喝过具有独特个性和辨识度的赤霞珠,也是中国最好的葡萄酒。至此我们才决定将它推向市场。

How do you determine the time for Aoyun to come into the market officailly?
Its quality has been repeatedly confirmed that it can meet our strict requirements. Its performance is always stable. It is widely praised by all the international heavyweights in wine industry whom we sent the wine to. They all recognize it as a unique and great Cab, and the best wine in China. At this point, we thought we are ready to bring it to the market.

从您的角度来说说敖云的特点。

对于赤霞珠的全新演绎,酒色深邃,兼具新鲜水果和成熟水果的香气特质。当地的风土气候赋予它新鲜感和活跃酸度。很多人第一次闻到果香的时候会想到波尔多的波亚克,相似的雪茄、烟草和雪松。但也有人觉得像是来自加州,果味充沛,酒体饱满。对于我来说,它介于它们二者之间,单宁传达出我所期待的结构感和优雅度。总之,我们想要的不是一款迎合市场的,强壮有力的酒,而是一款复杂精致,能够忠实传达风土,代表这神圣山区的酒。

Could you describe Aoyun from your point of view?

It’s the new interpretation of Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep color, with both fresh fruit and ripe fruit characteristics. Freshness and lively acidity is from the unique terroir. Many people would think of Pauillac the first time they smell it,with similar aroma like cigar, tabacco and cedar. While someone find it more like California wines, very fruity, delicious, full-bodied. For me it’s somewhere in between. The tannin is as elegant and structured as I expected. In a word, we don’t want to cater to a growing demand fo strong wines, but a sophisticated and graceful wine, the wine that can represent the sacred mountain and its terroir.

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敖云葡萄酒品鉴词(陆江):

敖云AOYUN 2013

黑色成熟水果的果味充沛,还有紫罗兰和西方香料味道,透出一丝烟熏和黑巧克力气息;重酒体,酸度活跃,果味主导,单宁强且有明显收敛感,但质地成熟很细致,口中整体平衡,有不错的集中度和长度,后段收尾能感到微微的酒精感,余味长,有烟叶,香料气息。15度的酒精,Ph值是3.55。

口中感觉还是新世界酒,不过的确是细致风格。平心而论,品质不错。至于价格是否合适,无论是LVMH的解释:“成本极高,超过了白马和滴金。”,还是一些评论人士:“价格已经赶上白马,Opus one等,太不合理”,还是看市场表现吧。

Tasting (By LU JIANG)

Intense with ripe black fruit flavors, violets and western spices, revealing a trace of smoke and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and crisp, fruity-forward, with strong and converged tannins and delicate texture. Balanced, in the last part you can feel it slight alcoholic. Tobacco and spices can be found in the long finish, Alc.=15%, Ph=3.55

You can still tell that it’s from new world, but indeed elegant. I must say it’s good. As for the price, you can listen to either LVMH ( because of the high cost, more than Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau D’yquem) or some critics(almost as expensive as Chateau Cheval Blanc and Opus one, so unreasonable), or just keep quiet, wait and see how it will behave in the market.

采访撰稿人陆江(Maxime LU):

– 曾任Decanter亚洲葡萄酒大赛(Decanter Asia Wine Awards),意大利南部葡萄酒大赛(Puglia)、葡萄牙葡萄酒挑战大赛-Wines of Portugal Challenge(Lisboa)等国际国内葡萄酒大赛专家评委;

-《葡萄酒在线-WINEONLINE.CN》创始人和专栏撰稿人;

– Decanter中文版, Prowein中文版等主流业内网站和媒体专栏专题撰稿人;

– 资深葡萄酒收藏顾问;葡萄酒行业咨询顾问。

 

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夏花初开时,把酒话桑麻

文:王智慧 | 葡萄酒在线

立夏刚过一周,白昼见长,日头杀伤力暴涨。5月17日,北京798凹空间——高达7米的通透空间里,尼雅“夏日微醺的餐桌时光”开场,给即将全面无死角占领京城的夏天定下清凉甜蜜基调。女主人,中信国安葡萄酒业副总经理董侠,对现场客人讲,我希望你们不要把今天当成来参加一场餐桌设计展和新品发布,而是来和身边人共度悠闲喝酒,随意聊聊的微醺餐桌时光。虽然喝的是酒,但这是一场偷闲的下午茶派对,是我们对美酒、美食、艺术和生活的致敬。

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一款清风桃红,一款清凉甜白。两款酒标上秀美的水墨工笔和漂亮的毛笔小篆画来自于著名水墨画家林曦(林糊糊)。一款一树浅碧轻红,如见暖日晴云;和另一款几枝疏淡懒散的白花,如沐夏日绿荫。清凉甜美,是夏日葡萄酒应该有的味道。一抹淡雅古韵,正是夏日葡萄酒最合宜的样子。

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甜白的葡萄品种是原产自法国西南,非常适合酿造甜酒的小芒森(Petit Manseng)。丰富的芒果、菠萝等热带水果的味道,加上一些熟透的桃子、温雅的槐花还有一些水果糖。入口表现出一定的浓郁度和集中感,酸度适宜,收尾干净。甜美指数和颜值成正比。此处不得不赞一下现场准备工作,酒冰的刚刚好。温饮未免扫兴。

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桃红的葡萄品种则是国际主流的西拉。覆盆子、草莓等红色水果香气充沛,淡淡花香,还有一些香甜的香草冰激凌气味。酒色明艳如日落,温柔如日影,口中表现柔顺驯服,清爽酸度冲刷口腔,如骤至的初夏雨水。回味中依然是甘甜果汁香气。是一款简单愉悦,惹人怜爱,佐餐最佳的桃红葡萄酒。

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需要补充的是小编现场了解到这两款限量供应这个夏天的小清新葡萄酒,目前还无法在超市等实体店找到,然而可以通过电商渠道去买买买,动手打造专属自己的夏天的小美好。

此外现场另有一款精致的雷司令干白,还有为搭配这三款酒量身定制的玫瑰三文鱼、青瓜黑蒜小排、树莓拿破仑、青艾笞藓蛋糕、和樱桃坚果挞——下午茶派对范本一样的精美小食。下图为董侠用几样简单的应季新鲜水果搭配尼雅的桃红和甜白,做成了经典款的西班牙鸡尾酒Sangria。

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会场三类代表夏季不同时光的餐桌环绕排列,“初夏晨光”还原了一个周末上午的brunch,“盛夏芬芳”的午餐和“夏夜静思”的晚餐用到了正式与非正式餐桌中的礼仪文化知识。而最有夏日气息的当属picnic野餐,一曲“夏日狂欢”将山林间、田野里的闺蜜趴展现得淋漓尽致。

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餐桌布置艺术家曾焱冰也出现在现场,并进行了简单的餐桌布置教学。你也许看过她的畅销书,《爱就是在一起,吃好多好多顿饭》,这名字散发着面包新烤出炉的温暖香气。餐桌布置的背后是一个职业女性平衡家庭事业朋友生活的超凡力量,精致细腻的让人眼馋。这也同样是尼雅和它的酒所传达的态度,岁月漫长,大千世界最后都退缩成你我围坐的餐桌。爱生活,才能全力以赴的生活。

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捧一手珠玉玛瑙般的大颗红樱桃,堆进色调温柔的蓝花磁盘,托起两朵红艳欲滴的玫瑰。或是随手剪一支新开的粉嫩芍药,随意安在透明玻璃酒杯里。“就是这么随意,可谁知道你的花不是早上六点在花卉市场买的呢。”艺术家狡猾的补充,厨艺差点儿不是事儿,把自己吃饭的环境打扮得漂漂亮亮的才是要紧。
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每天过着忙成狗的生活,很难追求传说中的慢节奏。然而总会有那么一点时间可以抓住让自己静下来,慢一点。比如像尼雅这样夏日微醺愉悦谈天的午后,如一只大猫静悄悄懒洋洋跳进怀里,如在喜欢的餐厅靠窗位置喝着酒翻着杂志等上菜,如酒液在阳光下的杯子里旋出畅快漂亮的弧度,是人生某刻需要用力感受的小确幸。

 
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