- Category
- Spirit
- Style
- Grape brandy, XO
- Distillery
- Changyu
- Age
- 10 years
- ABV
- 40%
- Raw materials
- Ugni Blanc grapes from Yantai
Aromas
- grapes
- nuts
- chocolate
- violets
- oak
Overview
The 10-year-old XO from Chateau Koya, which Changyu opened in Yantai in 2019 as China’s first dedicated brandy estate. Made from Ugni Blanc grown on the Shandong Peninsula and distilled in Charentais alembics, in the Cognac tradition. Changyu’s brandy history goes back to a gold medal in San Francisco in 1915.
Tasting
- Nose
- Grape, nut and chocolate, with violets.
- Palate
- Refined and elegant, without caramel heaviness.
Production
- Type
- Grape brandy, XO
- Fermentation
- Temperature-controlled double yeast fermentation, a method protected by a Chinese national patent; distilled in alambic charentais stills
- Ageing vessel
- Oak barrels
- Ageing time
- 10 years
- Volume
- 700 ml
Serving
- Temperature
- Room temperature
- Glass
- Tulip or snifter
Pairing
- Dark chocolate
- Roasted nuts
- Mooncakes
An after-dinner brandy: chocolate, nuts and the rich pastries of the Mid-Autumn Festival suit it well.
Sources
- Chinese brandy producer eyes pole position — China Daily, 2019
- Made in China: Koya brings brandies from Shandong (Trinkprotokoll) — Changyu
- Koya 10 Year Old X.O. Chinese Brandy — Harvey Nichols