14.09.2011 - Vinexpo news selection
For the first time in the history of the Decanter World Wine Awards a Chinese wine has won at the highest level.
Winery He Lan Qing Xue’s Jia Bei Lan 2009 Cabernet blend has won the Red Bordeaux Varietal Over £10 International Trophy.
The
award was given out at the Decanter World Wine Awards presentation
dinner at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden the 8 September.
Judges said the wine was ‘supple, graceful and ripe but not flashy’ and praised its ‘excellent length and four-square tannins’.
Only
25 International trophies are awarded at the Decanter World Wine
Awards, chosen out of more than 12,000 wines entered. In the final
judging category, He Lan Qing Xue was tasted against Regional trophy
winners including St Emilion Grand Cru Chateau Boutisse and Catena
Zapata’s Appellation Cabernet Franc, and wines from Australia, South
Africa, California and other premium regions specialising in Bordeaux
blends.
Jia Bei Lan is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
Cabernet Gernicht – which is believed to be related to Cabernet Franc or
Carmenere – is sold only in China at present, retailing for around £13.
It is produced in Ningxia province in Northern China, in quantities of about 20,000 bottles. (Decanter – 8 September 2011)