The 2019 Ao Yun Proprietary Blend is a standout wine from Yunnan, China, produced by Ao Yun. This red wine, composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 10% Syrah, and 6% Petit Verdot, has garnered excellent reviews from various professional reviewers.

Decanter awarded the wine a score of 96, praising its vivid dark purple color and a "riot of aromas" including damsons, plums, spiced blackcurrant, and more. The reviewer highlighted the wine's "supple and full" mouthfeel with firm tannins, complemented by "blueberries, blackcurrants, and black cherries on the palate." They noted the wine's "beautifully integrated structure" and its "clean and precise" finish, applauding its "great aging potential."

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate also rated the wine 96, calling it "the best vintage of Ao Yun to date" and the highest-scoring Chinese wine reviewed by the publication. The review detailed the growing conditions of the 2019 vintage, which included a cooler and wetter winter followed by a drier and warmer spring. This created an optimal environment for the vines, resulting in low yields of around 16 hectoliters per hectare. The reviewer emphasized the wine’s blend and the absence of Merlot, attributing this to the developmental stage of the Merlot vines.

James Suckling gave the 2019 Ao Yun an impressive 98 score. He described it as "very scented, complex and layered" with a "classy nose full of ripe currants, smoke, and sweet tobacco leaves." The wine was noted for its "fine, silky tannins" and "juicy, precise and lengthy finish," with a hint of black truffle and tapenade. Suckling suggested that the wine is "already drinkable now, but should hold until 2026."

Vinous, also rating the wine 96, found the 2019 Ao Yun "seriously impressive." The review highlighted its "bright, fresh and vibrant" character with aromas of crushed red berry fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon, cedar, and sweet pipe tobacco. The reviewer pointed out the wine’s fine balance and the influence of Technical Director Maxence Dulou, who brought his extensive experience from prestigious Bordeaux châteaux to this ambitious project in China.

In summary, the 2019 Ao Yun Proprietary Blend is a highly acclaimed wine, noted for its complex aromas, well-integrated structure, and excellent aging potential. The unanimous high scores from Decanter, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, James Suckling, and Vinous reflect its exceptional quality and the meticulous care taken in its production.