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Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
World's Best Cabernet Sauv, According To Decanter World Wine Awards
Tasting a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon with assorted nuts and herbs in the background. getty Four Cabernet Sauvignon wines were awarded Best in Show, and eight received Platinum Medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards. All 12 wines, sourced from around the world, scored 97/100 points. The DWWA is the largest wine competition globally and is considered one of the most prestigious. Over 18,000 wines were entered in the recently completed 2025 judging. Here is a brief overview and tasting note for each of these wines. Located in the fast-growing Helan Mountain East wine region of Ningxia, Dongfang Yuxing is part of China's emerging group of premium wine producers. Their "Geruihong Yeguangbei" series meets international quality standards while highlighting Chinese terroir. The wine offers aromas of black cherry, rose petal, leather, and Chinese five-spice. The palate is full-bodied, with firm yet refined tannins, highlighting flavors of dark plum, licorice, toasted cedar, milk chocolate, and a subtle wet stone minerality. The finish is long and dry, with persistent fruit and cocoa notes. A Sonoma classic, Kenwood's Six Ridges was the top-scoring American Sauvignon wine, earning 97/100 points and winning a Best in Show award. The wine showcases the diverse terrains of Sonoma County. The Alexander Valley Cabernets, in particular, are known for their ripeness and finesse. The wine offers aromas of cassis, vanilla, clove, and cedar pencil shavings. The palate delivers flavors of ripe blackberries, dark chocolate, and hints of anise, supported by a tannic backbone of smooth, well-ripened, and integrated tannins, along with balanced acidity. The finish is long, polished, and velvety, with lingering sweet spice and balanced acidity. Located on the slopes of Simonsberg Mountain, Knorhoek is a historic Stellenbosch estate known for its traditionally styled wines with aging potential. The wine features aromas of black currant, cedar, eucalyptus, earth, and assorted wood spices. It's assertive and dry on the palate, with pronounced, gritty tannins that showcase flavors of cassis, roasted herbs, graphite, and a touch of dry tobacco leaf. The finish is long, structured, and slightly savory, with lingering notes of black fruits and a hint of minerality. Drinkable now, it's an ideal food wine, but it could benefit from some additional aging. Xanadu, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022, Margaret River, Australia, 14% ABV, 750 ml. Xanadu is one of Margaret River's top wineries. The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is its flagship wine, made from the region's best vineyards. The wine offers aromas of blueberry, bay leaf, dark chocolate, and cigar box. It's concentrated and refined on the palate, with smooth, silky tannins and well-integrated acidity, highlighting flavors of blackberry, mint, dark olive, espresso, and milk chocolate. The finish is long and velvety, with lingering notes of black fruit and a subtle maritime salinity. The Xanadu wine estate. Margaret River is the major wine region in southwest Western Australia, with 215 wineries. getty Fermoy, Wilyabrup Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022, Margaret River, Australia, 14% ABV, 750 ml. Fermoy Estate is located in the Wilyabrup subregion. It produces refined, sophisticated Cabernets that emphasize Margaret River's maritime climate. The wine features black fruit aromas of blackberry and mulberry, complemented by dried herbs and hints of sandalwood. It's full-bodied on the palate, with chewy tannins that display layers of blackcurrant, black tea, and forest floor flavors. The finish is long and slightly savory, with lingering notes of black fruit and a touch of graphite. Yarra Yering, Agincourt Cabernet-Malbec, 2022, Yarra Valley, Australia, 13.5% ABV, 750 ml. Yarra Yering is among the most esteemed producers in the Yarra Valley. The Agincourt blend honors traditional Claret styles with a contemporary Australian flair. The wine features aromas of red plum, violets, cocoa powder, and aromatic dried herbs. It is structured on the palate with a subtle tannic backbone and brisk acidity, showcasing red currant, tobacco, and a savory earthiness typical of Australian Malbec. The finish is long and smooth. Miguel Torres, Los Inquietos 02 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022 Maule, Chile, 14.5% ABV, 750 ml. Miguel Torres Chile is a branch of the well-known Spanish wine family. The 'Los Inquietos' line emphasizes innovative, small-batch wines from various Chilean regions. The wine offers aromas of blackberry jam, black pepper, roasted coffee, and cassis. It's full-bodied and smooth on the palate with ripe, soft tannins and lively acidity, highlighting black fruit, mocha, and a hint of graphite minerality. The finish is long and plush, with lingering notes of black fruit and subtle pepper. Li's Estate, Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022 Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 15.5% ABV, 750 ml. Li's Estate, a top boutique producer in Ningxia, specializes in terroir-driven wines from sustainable vineyards in China's leading red wine region. The wine exhibits dark fruit aromas of plum, cassis, and a hint of prune, complemented by notes of sandalwood and smoke. It's robust and powerful on the palate, with drying tannins and bright acidity, revealing layered flavors of dark fruit, Chinese herbs, and espresso. The finish is long and intense, with lingering notes of dark fruit, subtle spices, and a touch of minerality. Château Haut de la Bécade, 2022 Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 14% ABV, 750 ml. Located in the famous Pauillac appellation, Château Haut de la Bécade presents approachable yet traditional Left Bank Bordeaux styles, with Cabernet Sauvignon as the main grape. The wine features classic Left Bank aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, leather, and graphite. It's structured and dry on the palate, with a pronounced tannic backbone and brisk acidity, showcasing flavors of plum, pencil lead, cigar box, earth, and savory herbs. The finish is long with lingering notes of black fruit, earth, and graphite. Château Brown, Le Colombier de Brown, 2022 Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 14% ABV, 750 ml. Le Colombier is the second wine of Château Brown, a respected estate in Pessac-Léognan known for its elegant, age-worthy reds with smoky minerality. The wine exhibits aromas of red cherry, toasted oak, crushed stone, and violets. It's medium-bodied on the palate, with soft, ripe tannins and brisk acidity, revealing flavors of red plum, graphite, and subtle wood spice notes. The finish is long and minerally, with lingering black fruit notes. A vineyard in the Golan Heights. getty Golan Heights Winery, Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021, Galilee, Israel, 14.5% ABV, 750 ml. Golan Heights Winery is Israel's most globally recognized winery. The Yarden label showcases their premium wines, known for their structure and finesse. The wine offers aromas of blackberry, mint, black olive, and exotic spices. It's full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with smooth, ripe tannins and lively acidity that reveal flavors of jammy dark fruits, espresso, savory herbs, and toasted oak. The finish is long and velvety, with lingering notes of dark fruits and a subtle touch of Middle Eastern spice bazar. Gva'ot, Raz, 2019, Shomron, Israel, 14% ABV, 750 ml. Gva'ot is a boutique winery situated in the Shomron Hills, known for their expressive wines from high-elevation vineyards. "Raz" is their flagship wine. The wine features aromas of black cherry, anise, licorice, cedar, and aromatic Mediterranean herbs. It's rich and concentrated on the palate with ripe, well-integrated tannins and bright acidity, showcasing flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate, roasted coffee, sage, and thyme. The finish is long, with lingering notes of black fruits, fresh earth, and dried Mediterranean herbs. From China's emerging talents in Ningxia to California's sun-drenched slopes, the gravel banks of Bordeaux, and Israel's highlands, this year's Decanter World Wine Awards confirmed that world-class Cabernet Sauvignon knows no borders. These outstanding wines showcase the remarkable versatility and global reach of the variety. Whether driven by old-world tradition or new-world innovation, these twelve wines showcase power, elegance, and a distinct sense of terroir. They stand as a testament to Cabernet Sauvignon's status as a true global icon. Offering a captivating invitation to explore the world one glass at a time. More From Forbes Forbes America's Best Cabernet Wine, According To The Decanter World Wine Awards By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Top American Wines, According To The Decanter World Wine Awards By Joseph V Micallef Forbes Top Cabernet Sauvignon Wines From The San Francisco International Wine Competition By Joseph V Micallef
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Xinhua Silk Road: Ancient ethnic Chinese legacy revealing cultural fusion inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage
BEIJING, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List on July 11 during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, France. This marks China's 60th World Heritage site. Located at the foot of Helan Mountain in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Xixia Imperial Tombs represent the largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved archaeological remains of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227). The heritage area encompasses nine imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, one architectural complex at the northern end, and 32 flood control facilities. Through nearly half a century of excavation, over 7,100 exquisite artifacts have been unearthed, including a gilded bronze ox and a glazed Chiwen. These findings vividly showcase the features of Xixia civilization. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized the Xixia Imperial Tombs as an outstanding testament to multicultural fusion. Their spatial layout, design philosophy, and architectural forms inherited the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties' imperial mausoleum systems while integrating Buddhist beliefs and ancient local ethnic customs. This created unique funerary traditions and demonstrated the dynasty's significant role in cultural and commercial exchanges along the Silk Road during the 11th to 13th centuries. The Chinese government's tremendous efforts and outstanding achievements in protecting the cultural heritage of the Xixia Imperial Tombs were highly commended by the Committee. Since being designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1988, the site has established comprehensive laws, regulations, and a management system. Particularly since 2000, in collaboration with professional institutions, 60 major reinforcement projects have been successfully implemented on the tombs themselves. These have essentially eliminated instability risks and surface erosion issues affecting the imperial mausoleums and main subordinate tombs. Furthermore, the removal of approximately 100,000 square meters of buildings and modern facilities within the heritage zone, combined with the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring and early-warning platform, has effectively ensured the site's authenticity, integrity, and preservation environment. International scholars point out that the Xixia Imperial Tombs serve as crucial physical evidence for studying ancient ethnic relations, architectural arts, and funerary traditions in China. Their successful inscription enriches the diversity of global cultural heritage. Original link: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mounds claim their rightful place in history
Researchers piece together a fascinating tale to shed light on an exceptional saga, Wang Kaihao and Wang Ru report in Yinchuan. BEIJING, July 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from China Daily: In 1227, this dynasty in Northwest China was finally defeated by the Mongol army after a prolonged and valiant resistance — a campaign led by Genghis Khan, who died in his frontline camp during the final assault. Xixia (or Western Xia, 1038-1227), a power lasting for 190 years and once spread across over 1.15 million square kilometers at its zenith, eventually fell in the Gobi Desert. Established by Tangut people and inhabited by various ethnic groups, Xixia was not documented in a specific history book by its successors while most Chinese dynasties were. However, on the foot of the lingering Helan Mountains, a group of earthen mounds, which marked the long resting places of Xixia rulers, seal an exceptional saga, not only as a footnote on how a united Chinese nation evolved and boomed, but also about a neglected legend on the Silk Road. The spotlight returns onto this site on the outskirts of Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region. On Friday, Xixia Imperial Tombs achieved World Heritage site status during the ongoing 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO in Paris. Flood waters gushing from the mountains etched a fan-shaped land, dotted by desert vegetation and bathed in Gobi wilderness. Within the 3,899 hectares of property zone, its key elements included nine imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, 32 flood control work sites, and a 5.03-hectare architectural complex site to the north, whose nature remains subject to debate but most scholars agree that it was used for rituals. "The combination of artificial and natural elements creates a unique and majestic landscape at the tombs," says Chen Tongbin, honorary director of the Institute of Architectural History, affiliated to the China Architecture Design and Research Group. Chen is a main drafter of the bidding document seeking World Heritage site status. Visiting the site numerous times, she is still amazed at the breathtaking sunset vista that unrolls in front of her eyes. "It's hard to grow crops on the landscape of proluvial fan," she explains. "The land is not suitable for massive construction. The site has thus not been much disturbed other than through natural erosion. Its integrity leaves us with a credible source to know history." The 11th to 13th centuries, the time of Xixia, witnessed a key era of political standoff and cultural communications in China. The Song Dynasty (960-1279), celebrated for its thriving culture and art in Chinese history, ruled central and southern China. The Khitan and Jurchen peoples successively established the Liao (916-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties to the north. The rise of Mongols on the grassland then further greatly changed the geopolitical environment. "Xixia people demonstrated their perseverance and wisdom in the complicated circumstance," Chen explains. "They're adept at learning and creativity. They relied on both agriculture and nomads." In her eyes, Xixia Imperial Tombs remain a crucial witness to such cultural fusion and innovation resulting from interactions among diverse ethnic groups, modes of livelihoods and cultures. The tombs manifest such features through site selection, spatial layout, burial system, architecture, construction techniques, funerary customs, and so on, Chen says. Track into the past Centuries passed. Sands and time blurred people's memory about the graves. In the 1930s, when a German pilot flew over what is now known as Mausoleum No 3 — the largest tomb among the complex — and took aerial pictures, he described it as "a huge anthill". Its true identity as a site of imperial tombs only re-emerged in the 1970s when Chinese archaeologists first launched excavations on the site. The "anthill" is actually a circular mausoleum pagoda, though the outside layers of construction, towering via bricks and tiles, had vanished. Half a century's continuous research has greatly cleared questions surrounding the site, according to Chai Pingping, an archaeologist with the Ningxia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology who is in charge of recent research on Xixia Imperial Tombs. Broken pieces of stele that were inscribed with Tangut scripts and Chinese characters, architectural components, gold artifacts, sandstone statues, Buddhist relics, and so on, gradually provide a panorama of Xixia imperial life despite surviving documentations on the dynasty not being as rich as its contemporaneous neighbors. "Archaeology will also offer support when we design plans to preserve the site and explain its values to the public," he says. In the past decade or so, archaeologists expanded the studies to subordinate tombs and water control sites, which unveil an even wider spectrum of Xixia society. For example, Chai considers that the water control facilities, which can still function today, offer a precious glimpse into how Xixia people designed their defensive systems. Heavy rain hit the tomb when Chai was guiding China Daily reporters to the site. An ancient Xixia proverb written on the walkway thus seems to have particular meaning. It says: "Prepare by building canals before rainy season arrives; those without specific skills should be diligent and hardworking." Nonetheless, as experts point out, the imperial tombs follow traditional Chinese geomancy, feng shui. The relatively elevated proluvial fans covered with gravel and coarse sand lead to good drainage conditions. The towering Helan Mountains serve as a natural shelter for the tombs. "Through archaeological studies, we can see the layout and design of Xixia Imperial Tombs absorb many elements from Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties,"Chai says. "It also has its own features." For example, Xixia people used pagodas to replace the shrines, which were often seen in Tang and Song mausoleums to honor the tomb occupants' souls. "Xixia people adopted many traditions from other Chinese dynasties," Chen agrees. "But they displayed their creativity in details." Xixia founding ruler Yuanhao's creation of Tangut script, whose formation basically followed that of Chinese characters, is an example of Chen's views. Xixia also honored Confucius as "an emperor" and became the only dynasty known to do so in Chinese history. That move thus gave a great impetus to the development of Confucianism within its rule. Perhaps, the design of the imperial tombs is yet another proof. Though a tomb is basically symmetrical along an axis, sacrificial hall, the mound above the tomb passageway, the pagoda, and burial chamber are located along another skewed line. "It may reflect the traditional Tangut beliefs: the central axis is left to pay homage to ghosts and deities," Chen explains. Chai reveals more comparative archaeological studies surrounding Xixia Imperial Tombs and those of other Chinese dynasties will be conducted to have a bigger picture of communication. According to Du Jianlu, a history professor on Xixia studies, the time when Song, Liao, Xixia and Jin dynasties coexisted was an important period for various ethnic groups of China to merge and form a shared community. "Khitan, Tangut and Jurchen ethnic groups communicated and integrated with the Han people for a long time," Du says. "They gradually absorbed the traditional material and spiritual culture of the Han and, vice versa, they also spread their own customs. "It thus enriches the connotations of Chinese civilization," he adds. Milestone discovery Continuous studies on Xixia Imperial Tombs may open a new horizon to gradually fit the jigsaw puzzles together and form a big picture. In the early 20th century, a great amount of literature in Tangut scripts was discovered by foreign explorers at the Heishuicheng site in nearby Ejine Banner, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which was later identified as an ancient Xixia city. The Heishuicheng literature, which is about various aspects of Xixia society, was regarded a milestone discovery in ancient literary artifacts. "It provides very important basic materials for us. Without the literature, studies of Xixia would not have developed to the current level," says Shi Jinbo, a veteran historian from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences specializing in the studies of Xixia. From Heishuicheng, people found Pearl in the Palm, a 12th-century bilingual glossary of the Chinese and Tangut languages, which has become the key for modern researchers decoding the writing system of Xixia. Scholars have recognized nearly 6,000 characters in Tangut scripts. In its preface, Xixia scholar Gule Maocai particularly highlighted the importance of learning each other's languages for effective communication between Han people and other ethnic groups. "The book serves as a good testimony to the frequent exchange and integration, which laid a foundation for Xixia's prosperity," Shi says. "Developing through mutual learning and communication, that is a good inspiration Xixia has left to us." Among the Heishuicheng literature, researchers also discovered Tiansheng Gaijiu Xinding Lyuling or "The new laws in the years of Tiansheng (1149-1169) modified from the old one". It is the longest, most detailed and best preserved code of laws, that is known of Xixia. It includes nearly 200,000 Tangut scripts. "This is the oldest surviving comprehensive legal code left by a non-Han ethnic group in Chinese history, " Shi says. He says the code was compiled on the basis of laws of Tang and Song dynasties, and similar physical evidences of legal codes from other Chinese dynasties of its time were rare. The code also records Xixia exchanged with not only surrounding regimes but also Central and even West Asia through tribute, market fairs, and mutual trades along the Silk Road. And findings on Xixia Imperial Tombs may resonate with the recordings. On the outer wall of Mausoleum No 3, arc-shaped corner towers may tell its possible inspiration from similar battlements in West Asia while most such structures in ancient China were square-shaped. Sculptures of Kalavinka, a fantastical immortal with a bird's torso, also rested on the roof of mausoleum structures. Colloquially known as an "exquisite sound bird" and believed to originate from India, this deity image appeared in other key Buddhist sites in the rest of China following booming trade on the Silk Road. In 1991, a Buddhist scripture in Tangut script was unearthed from a pagoda in a valley of Helan Mountains and turned out to be the world's earliest extant wooden movable-type imprint. And on the site of Xixia Imperial Tombs, rich discoveries of porcelain, iron, and bronze objects, further showcase the dynasty's pivotal role in distribution of technology. Thanks to continuous research, about 7,100 cultural relics excavated from the Xixia Imperial Tombs now lie in collections of museums, filling the empty spaces of documentations. Still, a large part of Xixia history still awaits to be decoded. For example, archaeologists have attributed just one of nine imperial mausoleums to a known ruler. Who are the others lying beneath those huge mounds? "Gaining World Heritage site status will attract more attention to the history, not only from the scholars, but also among the public, and the younger generation in particular," says Chen, the bidding document drafter. "Different ethnic groups have their own talents and they eventually merge into the Chinese nation," she says. "That's how we've come so far." Hu Dongmei contributed to this story. Contact the writers at wangkaihao@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE China Daily Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
China's ancient Silk Road tombs join Unesco World Heritage list
The Western Xia Imperial Tomb complex in northwest China has been designated as a Unesco World Heritage site – a recognition of the site's importance as a centre of cultural fusion and commercial activity on the ancient Silk Road The group of burial sites , also known as the Xixia Imperial Tombs, officially received the designation from the United Nations cultural body on Friday, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The site dates back to the Western Xia dynasty (1038–1227), which was ruled by the Tangut people, an ancient branch of the Qiang ethnic group. The site is located some 30km (19 miles) west of today's Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region. The 40 sq km (15 square mile) site is home to nine imperial mausoleums, their 271 accompanying subordinate tombs, 32 flood control works sites with walls and discharge trenches, as well as a five-hectare (12 acre) northern architectural complex site for purposes such as worship and management of the tomb area. According to Xinhua, the World Heritage Committee said the site was a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions among diverse traditions that occurred during the period.
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Ancient Silk Road tombs in China join Unesco World Heritage list
The Western Xia Imperial Tombs in northwest China has been designated as a Unesco World Heritage site – a recognition of the site's importance as a centre of cultural fusion and commercial activity on the ancient Silk Road The group of burial sites , also known as the Xixia Imperial Tombs, officially received the designation from the United Nations cultural body on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua. The site dates back to the Western Xia dynasty (1038–1227), which was ruled by the Tangut people, an ancient branch of the Qiang ethnic group. The site is located some 30km (19 miles) west of today's Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region. The 40 sq km (15 square miles) site is home to nine imperial mausoleums, their 271 accompanying subordinate tombs, 32 flood control works sites with walls and discharge trenches, as well as a five-hectare (12 acres) northern architectural complex site for purposes such as worship and management of the tomb area. According to Xinhua, the World Heritage Committee said the site was a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions among diverse traditions that occurred during the period.
