Chinese Wine: Noble Dragon Shandong Red 2005
Posted on November 6th, 2007
Saved in Red wine, Sour Grapes recommends, Under €10, Wine
Un vin chinois? Vraiment? Encroyable! Many a wine snob would rather drink two day old Guinness with a cigarette butt infusion than try a wine from China. China’s known for a lot of things, but wine isn’t one of them.
I’m a total sucker for trying new stuff, and it rarely works so when I spotted Noble Dragon Shandong Red in Fresh, Smithfield, my curiosity had to be satisfied. At €9.99, I thought it was a tenner down the swaney, it was a bit of a punt, just like the Grand National.
Details on the Shandong Red
- 12.5% ABV
- Grapes used: Cabernet Sauvigon, Syrah, Dragon’s Eye (also called Longyan)
- Where I bought it: Fresh, Smithfield, Dublin 7
More details from the label
“A long time journey starts with the first step” from the wisdom book “Daodejing” by Lao Zi, Chinese Philosopher, 6BC
Chinese entrepreneur Chang Bishi took this wisdom to heart when he founded China’s first winery in 1892. With Noble Dragon, his journey takes yet another step; with Austrian winemaker Laurenz Moser, whose family’s winemaking tradition also dates back to the early 1800′s.
Noble Dragon Shandong Red blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and China’s unique varietal Dragon’s Eye. This trio of international and native grapes produce a wine that is smooth and round, full bodies with a well balanced structure.
Verdict on Noble Dragon Shandong Red
Unexpectedly brilliant. I’d seek it out. For €10 you could do a lot worse. Besides you’ll have the smug feeling of being able to tell your friends that after trying the Noble Dragon, you think China’s where it’s at.
Unexpectedly brilliant!!?? Brilliant? That’s a big compliment for a 10euro bottle of wine, much less a chinese one. I’ll have to give it a go. Let’s hope you’re not being too loose with your adjectives!
I tried this wine at the Maze Grill in London. After browsing through Italian and French wine it was great suprise to see a wine from China. The wine was smooth not over powering flavour like Shiraz and had a dryness to it, would recommend trying a bottle.
Maze Grill cost £25