GRACE VINEYARDS, SHANXI PROVINCE

In Hong Kong wine circles, Grace Vineyards and its proprietors Judy Chan and her father CK Chan need no introduction, having bought their Shanxi vineyard in 1997 with the support of French wine scholar and “Apostle of Cabernet Sauvignon” Dr Denis Boubals. Famously, Judy took control of the company in 2002 at the age of 24, leading it through its 2018 listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and ramping up production to several

million bottles a year.

Chairman’s Reserve is a tribute to the family patriarch. Decades ago, CK Chan ran a coal-mining business in Shanxi; part of his decision to locate the vineyard there, despite concerns about air pollution, was a deep sense of responsibility towards the local environment, as well as the discovery that its well-drained soils mimic those of Bordeaux.

GRACE VINEYARDS CHAIRMAN’S RESERVE 2018

Very dark and plumpfruited, showing blackberry and cassis with nuances of cacao, mushroom, incense, citronella and cedar. Fresh acidity and clicking tannins gradually spread, leaving a velvety swaddle over the palate.

Blend: 82% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 3% cabernet franc