Changyu Moser XV Blanc de Noir paired with Chinese cuisine

@the_pairing_life“Whole Lotta Rosé (and Food)”Day 9: Wonder of ChinaPairing: Chateau Changyu-Moser XV Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc de Noir v. Assorted Chinese DishesLet me introduce this one-of-kind pink wine. First, the wine is the baby of a long-term cooperation between Changyu, the very first Chinese winery, and 15th generation Austrian winemaker Lenz Moser. Second, it is from Ningxia, China, an emerging wine region gaining a reputation for high-quality wines (mainly red at the moment). There, Cabernet Sauvignon is the star and the most planted variety. Moreover, the“saignée (“bleed”in French) method” used here makes the wine more special: when Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are crushed, the juice is bleeding out with no more than 10 minutes of skin contact. This ensures the finished wine only with a delicate blush even though it comes from the variety usually responsible for bold, powerful and tannic red wines of the world. The smaller berries of Ningxia Cabernet Sauvignon contributes to a higher skin to juice ratio and lends a beautiful rosé hue even when the wine is officially called a“Blanc de Noir” (White wine made from black grapes).The scents and flavours of the wine also indicate Cabernet Sauvignon as its provenance. 2019 vintage opens up with strawberries and raspberries which are followed by ripe plum and red apples. It is so concentrated that my friend commented on the impression of certain sweetness in such a bone-dry wine. The alcohol level is on the higher end yet in harmony with the flavour intensity and lifted citrusy acidity and hint of lovely pithy bitterness.I have tasted 2 vintages so far: 2018 vintages in 2022 at Chinese New Year dinner in Geneva, Switzerland and 2019 vintage at home in London a few months ago. Each time, the wine was served nicely along with authentic Chinese dishes, from Sweet and Sour Ribs and Hong Kong Style Shrimps in Silky Scrambled Eggs to Summer Peas with Pork and Century Eggs on Tofu. The wine was proven versatile (for warmer and colder seasons) and the freshness and evolvement on the palate verified the ageability. Of course, the story around this wine was a nice add-on to the dinner table.