Helan Qingxue Jia Bei Lan Reserve 2017 is a focused and elegant 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Ningxia, China. It reveals complex aromas of cedar, cocoa, blackcurrant, and subtle herbaceous notes, layered with new oak spice. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and balanced acidity, it offers a rich core of dark fruit and a smooth texture. This wine shows great aging potential, best enjoyed from 2022 to 2027, reflecting the winery’s commitment to crafting terroir-driven, refined wines.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 93
Published: Nov 19, 2020

Complex, focused and classy nose. Cedar, cocoa powder and fresh blackcurrant, on a nice layer of tree bark and tomato leaf, connecting freshness with fine ripeness. The smooth, firm tannin structure gives a nicely chewy texture that props up the mid-palate concentration. Medium to full body with real restraint! Good potential. 100% cabernet sauvignon. This is beautiful now, but will shine after 2 to 3 years' aging. It might even close down for a time before that future date. So drink now or wait until 2023.

The Wine Advocate | RP 91
Published: Jan 13, 2022
Drink: 2022-2027

Helan Qingxue’s 2017 Jiabeilan Reserve is, as in other vintages, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and has a deep ruby appearance. On the nose, there is plenty of dark, somewhat brooding, black fruit—cassis, bramble, black cherry—with some leafy herbaceous character and distinct new oak notes of clove, toast, smoke and vanilla (the 2017 saw 14 months in small-format new French oak). On the palate, the 2017 Jiabeilan Reserve is full-bodied with notable 14.5% alcohol—although this is better integrated here than in the 2016 vintage—with some supporting acidity and marked chewy and coating tannins. The core of fruit is better defined in the 2017 as well, complemented by distinct new oak and some leafiness. With its moderate length, the 2017 is approachable but should show even more promisingly from 2022 onward. 

Decantershanghai.com

Helan Qingxue Vineyard, the first demonstration vineyard in Ningxia, is located at the foot of Helan mountain at an altitude of 1,138 metres. With a 2.6-hectare vineyard of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Marselan, Malbec among other varieties, the winery produces 60,000 bottles of wines per year.

In 2005, two legendary figures in the local wine industry, Rong Jian and Wang Fengyu, accompanied by a young winemaker, Zhang Jing, founded the winery, inviting Professor Li Demei to be their wine consultant.

The well-known Jia Bei Lan series of wines have won many awards in China and abroad, and in 2011, Jia Bei Lan Grand Reserve 2009 won an International Trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), the highest honour in the competition.

Helan Qingxue Vineyard shows full respect to nature and the soil and is regarded as one of China’s great wineries. Helan Qingxue and its people are committed to producing wines of great distinction, with a sense of place.