IWSC 2024 Wine Judging in China: medal results revealed
Last week, our team of international judges headed to Xinjiang for the IWSC’s first Wine Judging in China, in partnership with the Xinjiang Tianshan Mountains North region.
The IWSC brought to China a team of international judges overseen by our Judging Committee Member Susie Barrie MW. Susie was joined by a squad of on-trade and off-trade wine professionals from both the UK and China: Isa Bal MS, Antony Moss MW, Beth Kelly MW, Igor Sotric, Will Hill, Dror Nativ MW, Natalie Wang, Demei Li and Derek Li.
Over several days of judging, our experts tasted nearly 300 wines from across the country. The judges described the tasting experience as “invigorating” and “educational” noting that many entries showed high quality and skilful winemaking. Almost 200 medals were awarded, including 15 gold, over 50 silver and more than 120 bronze (several more medals were awarded to Chinese wines judged in London earlier this year).
Cabernet Sauvignon, one of China’s most planted grapes, truly shone at the tasting, earning 4 gold medals and many more silver and bronze awards. Five more golds went to Cabernet-dominant blends.
According to the judges, Cabernet Sauvignon flights demonstrated varietal typicity and age-worthiness. Helan Mountain (Ningxia), Tianshan Northern Foothills (Xinjiang) and Penglai (Shandong) were the standout regions. One of the highlights was the gold-winning NIYA Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Wine 2019 (Citic Niya Wine). This Xinjiang entry impressed our judges with its “rather refined nose, with cherries and dark berries. Pleasant notes of figs, dark flowers, violets, pepper. Well-integrated oak on the nose. Juicy palate, ripe tannins, good structure and tannin backbone.”
As for blends, “Ningxia stood out for Bordeaux blends in terms of ageability and elegance, as well as a tannic structure,” revealed the judges. One of the gold-winning blends from Ningxia, Chateau Mihope Reserve Dry Red Wine 2019 (Mihope vineyards) scored as high as 96 points. The panel described it as “robust yet firm showing spicy and black fruit flavours, soft admirable tannins and integrated structure. Sophisticated wine with tones of personality.”
The judges were delighted to taste some high-quality examples of Marselan, China’s trademark grape variety. The standout wine was Renyiyuan.He 2022 by Ningxia Helan Mountain Renyiyuan Winery. The wine earned a gold, with the judges being impressed by its complex nose of “rosemary and roasted sage over sweet mulling spices. Lovely palate, strong peppery and cloves but nice blackcurrant and cherries. Very enjoyable.”
Amongst the other highlights of the judging were some outstanding examples of ice wines made from the Vidal grape. The top-scoring Vidal was Nabaifu Vidal Icewine Reserva 2018 by Xuzhou Hanxiang Liquor - 96 points from our judges who praised its bouquet of “honey, white peach, poached pear, caramel, toffee and candied fig. Nice softer style but great intensity, especially from the spices and orangey notes.”
Another gold went to Huaigu Vidal Ice Wine 2021 by Huaigu Winery: “Orangey, apricots, saffron and ginger, hints of mango and banana too. Well-rounded with intense apricots, saffron, orange rind and pineapple. Very complex and intense.”
Overall, these were a fantastic several days of judging with some great results showcasing the potential of Chinese winemaking, shared our experts. Congratulations to all winners! Full medal results for China can be viewed here.
Gold-winning wines from China
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