2017 Long Dai — Qiu Shan Valley, China on OpenSea
Domaine de Long Dai nestles at the heart of the Qiu Shan Valley in the Shandong Province in the Northeastern part of China. It is owned and operated by the Domaines Baron de Rothschild.
Grape Varieties:
Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Marselan and Cabernet Franc.
Length Of Ageing:
18 months in French oak barrels made by the Tonnellerie des Domaines
Average Annual Production:
Around 2 500 cases
Tasting Notes (At Bottling)
Initially, the nose is subtly imbued with black fruit such as blueberry, quickly giving way to spicy notes like nutmeg and licorice. On aeration, it reveals floral scents of hawthorn and violet, emblematic of Marselan on the Long Dai terroir.
The palate is dominated by black fruit, with blueberry and blackberry followed by roasted and cocoa notes. It is finely structured by rich and elegant tannins supporting good length on the palate.
Information:
The vines, planted in 2011 on terraces built in the granite soils from the foothills of the Qiu Shan Valley, benefit from Shandong’s beautiful late-season growing grapes that can be harvested at full maturity, by hand, through successive pickings.
The 420 terraces we have planted each require specific care because of the difference in terms of terroir and how they influence the development of the vines.
They adapt their actions throughout the growing season to determine the optimal harvest date so that the grapes reach perfect maturity.
History:
After ten years of learning to care for the Qiu Shan terroir, DBR (Lafite) revealed the first vintage of its Chinese Grand Cru.
The choice for the name Long Dai came from the family’s wish to find an identity that could show how this wine is the perfect balance between nature and the care of men and women who have helped it reveal its best potential.
It was essential to the family to find a name that showed tribute to Shandong’s remarkable local history. Inspired by the Taishan sacred mountain in Shandong, Long Dai represents an idealized mountain that rose through the power of nature and was then carefully chiseled by human hands.
The wine estate developed by the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) can now count on 25 hectares of vines in total production (among 30 planted). The conditions are optimal for the development of grapes, benefiting from Shandong’s beautiful late-season, allowing them to reach their full maturity. Harvesting is performed by hand in successive pickings.
Drawing from a blend of terroirs, Long Dai reflects the distinct qualities of each of these terraces, giving the wine its unique complexity. The wine is aged 18 months in French oak barrels, produced by the Tonnelerie des Domaines, near Château Lafite.
Terroir & Vintage Notes:
The 30 hectares of vineyards are spread across 360 terraces, as per the traditional agriculture in the region, and aims to preserve the landscape and the soil structure. Disbudding and green harvesting naturally reduce yields and allow the grapes to reach their phenolic maturation.
Winemaking & Ageing:
The wine is made according to the traditional Bordeaux method. The fermentation is started immediately, with gentle pumping-over to ensure gentle extraction of the tannins. Total maceration time lasts between 18 and 20 days. After malolactic fermentation, the wines are blended before aging in oak barrels.
Extras:
- Critics have scored this as the best available Shandong wine: Falstaff Magazine gave the 2017 vintage a score of 95.
- This is Shandong’s most famous wine and has been getting more popular over the past year.
- This is the highest-priced wine made from Rare Red Blend in China.
Discussion on Marselan Grapes: https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/chinese-wine-grape-signature-variety-305630/
