The patience of perfection: Domaine de Long Dai is dedicated to crafting exceptional Chinese wine.
“THE HEAVENS HAVE THEIR SEASONS, and humans have their governance.” This ancient maxim, drawn from Xunzi’s “On Heaven,” resonates deeply with the ethos of Domaine de Long Dai, a remarkable winery nestled in the Qiushan Valley of Penglai, Shandong. This venture, a cherished project of the DBR Lafite Group, embodies a harmonious blend of time-honoured traditions and innovative practices, establishing itself as a beacon of excellence in the burgeoning Chinese wine landscape.
East meets West
Domaine de Long Dai stands apart within the DBR Lafite Group’s global portfolio as a deeply personal endeavor. The winery began with careful site selection and a deep exploration of the terroir. It also focused on building strong relationships with local communities. This long-term dedication laid a solid foundation. As a result, Long Dai enjoys a rare creative freedom and has developed its own unique style, free from strict traditional rules.
The winery’s architectural design is a captivating fusion of Chinese and Western aesthetics. The elegant interplay of blue bricks and gray tiles, coupled with the intricate craftsmanship of mortise and tenon structures, evokes the timeless charm of traditional Chinese architecture. Simultaneously, the overall design embraces a sense of Western simplicity, creating a harmonious visual dialogue. The cellar pays tribute to Château Lafite Rothschild’s iconic octagonal design. It features eight striking red pillars that represent the Taoist Eight Trigrams. This reflects a deep respect for and connection with local cultural traditions.
Knowing one’s terroir
Domaine de Long Dai’s vineyards, stretching across more than 40 hectares and encompassing nearly 600 meticulously arranged terraces, benefit from a diverse soil composition. The sandy clay, and silty clay soils, resting upon a foundation of granite bedrock, provide an ideal environment for grape cultivation. The winery’s collaborative partnership with local farmers from Mulan Gou Village is central to its success. This synergy between the farmers’ traditional knowledge and the DBR Lafite team’s expertise ensures the production of high-quality wines while honouring local agricultural practices.
The Shandong region’s monsoon climate, characterised by its fluctuating rainfall, necessitates a sophisticated approach to winemaking. Blending plays a pivotal role in achieving the desired balance and complexity in Long Dai’s wines. The winery meticulously manages the proportions of its grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (39%), Marselan (27%), Cabernet Franc (19%), and Merlot (9%). The blending strategy has evolved over time, shifting from an initial emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon to a greater focus on Marselan and Cabernet Franc, reflecting the winery’s pursuit of wines with unique character and harmonious balance.
Domaine de Long Dai’s approach to oak ageing is equally innovative and refined. While initially employing a higher percentage of new oak barrels, the winery now carefully limits new oak to a maximum of 30%, complementing it with one-year-old and stainless-steel barrels. Since 2018, the winery has taken the bold step of introducing barrels from other esteemed producers, further enhancing the complexity and nuance of its ageing process. This meticulous and forward-thinking approach has garnered praise from critics, underscoring the winery’s unwavering commitment to quality.
Tasting
A comprehensive tasting of vintages spanning from 2017 to 2021 provided a compelling narrative of the winery’s evolution and the distinct character of each year. The 2021 vintage highlighted the vibrant energy and exceptional balance of Marselan, while the 2020 vintage showcased a captivating bouquet of blueberries, spices, and menthol, harmoniously integrated with pleasant acidity and savoury minerality. The 2019 vintage, with its notes of licorice, dark chocolate, and cedar, displayed firm tannins reminiscent of the powerful winemaking traditions of Pauillac.
The 2018 vintage, marking the debut of the “Hu Yue” wine, exuded an aura of elegance and strength. However, it was the 2017 vintage that truly captivated, revealing the winery’s tenacity and wisdom.This vintage blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Marselan. The richness of Marselan is perfectly balanced by the structure of the Cabernet varieties. A high proportion of Cabernet Franc brings exceptional finesse. Marselan adds floral elegance, alongside subtle earthy and leathery notes.
Domaine de Long Dai’s journey is one of constant exploration. It follows the natural rhythms of the land while shaping its own unique style. Though a new creation, it draws from a long and respected winemaking tradition. Long Dai reflects both creative freedom and a relentless drive for quality. Each vintage is proof of this commitment. The wines continue to earn recognition, placing Long Dai among the brightest names in tDomaine de Long Dai’s journey is one of constant exploration. It follows the natural rhythms of the land while shaping its own unique style. Though a new creation, it draws from a long and respected winemaking tradition. Long Dai reflects both creative freedom and a relentless drive for quality. Each vintage is proof of this commitment. The wines continue to earn recognition, placing Long Dai among the brightest names in the Chinese wine constellation .
