SILVER HEIGHTS, NINGXIA
Of the numerous fatherdaughter pairs that have established wineries in Ningxia, native of the region Gao Lin and his daughter Emma Gao Yuan are the OGS, having founded their boutique winery in 2007. Emma trained in Bordeaux and honed her winemaking skills at the renowned Château Calon-ségur before returning to China in 2005 with her husband Thierry Courtade (of Calonségur) and their daughter Emma. “Little Emma” heads to university this year to study oenology in preparation for her future role as third-generation owner of Silver Heights.
The wines have been farmed organically from the beginning. A 2012 purchase of 70 hectares has allowed the winery to estate grow all its production since 2015 and now it has converted to biodynamics. Their low-sulphur Jiayuan range and experimental sparkling pet-nats of skinfermented white grapes and rice are Gen-z-ready, but in export markets Silver Heights is most known for its Bordeaux-style fine wines: The Summit and Emma’s Reserve.
THE SUMMIT 2018
Nose starts off with tea roses, cedar and dried herbs but the palate is rich, toothsome and structured with dark plums and a meaty, umami glaze. A luscious texture yields to a warming finish.
Blend: 92% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot EMMA’S RESERVE 2017
This spends one year more in French oak (100% new here) than The Summit, marking the ambition of the cuvée; an opulent floral and amber nose is brightened with pine and green cardamom; the palate is concentrated and fruit-packed, with cacao nib, cassis and black cherry shading into a fragrant sandalwood finish.