Zhouqing Shaoxing Rice Wine Black Label 15-Year-Old Black Cylinder is a high-end aged representative product of the century-old gold medal brand "Zhouqing". Inheriting the gold medal-winning brewing lineage of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, it is brewed using traditional methods in the core production area of Dongpu, Shaoxing, and aged for fifteen years. With its mellow and delicate quality and minimalist, sophisticated black and silver packaging, it is a top-grade semi-dry Shaoxing rice wine suitable for business gifts, high-end banquets, and long-term collection.
The Zhouqing brand has a profound heritage, originating from the renowned Yunji Xinji Winery in Dongpu, Shaoxing during the late Qing Dynasty. It is a pioneering brand that propelled Shaoxing rice wine onto the international stage. In 1915, Zhouqing wine won the first international gold medal in the history of Shaoxing rice wine with its pure traditional flavor, gaining fame both at home and abroad. After weathering the changing times, the brand trademark was reclaimed and revived by the Zhou family descendants in 2019. Adhering to the philosophy of "preserving ancient methods and innovating forms," the brand restores its century-old ancestral brewing recipe, continuing the terroir and craftsmanship of classic Shaoxing rice wine. This 15-year-old Black Label vintage is the core high-end masterpiece of the brand's revival.
In terms of brewing techniques and quality, this rice wine adheres to the standards of the authentic Shaoxing core production area, using carefully selected Jianhu Lake spring water, high-quality round glutinous rice, and brewing wheat as raw materials. No additional alcohol is added; only natural caramel color and hue are used. The entire process follows the traditional Shaoxing winter brewing process, involving complex steps such as soaking rice, steaming, natural fermentation in vats, and segmented filtration. Only the purest middle layer of the original wine is used, and it undergoes a full fifteen-year static aging process to ensure authenticity, undiluted original wine, and no blending. Simultaneously integrating cutting-edge modern technology, it employs imported Italian low-temperature cold filling and microwave sterilization processes to prevent high-temperature processing from damaging the flavor and nutrients of the wine, thus locking in the fresh texture of the aged wine to the greatest extent. Combined with imported high-polymer sealing stoppers, it effectively prevents air oxidation, ensuring long-term stability and enhancing aroma with age.
The mature 15-year-old aged wine boasts an exceptionally rich and layered flavor profile. The liquid is a clear and lustrous amber-gold color, with a delicate and viscous texture and even clinging to the glass. Upon opening, the aroma is elegant and full-bodied, initially a refreshing floral and fruity sweetness, followed by a rich aroma of cooked glutinous rice and malt, with a mellow, aged fragrance in the finish. The aroma is clean and free of impurities. As a standard semi-dry yellow wine, its sweetness is mild and restrained, not cloying, smooth and mellow on the palate, with a full and balanced body. The 14% vol alcohol content is smooth and not harsh on the throat, with a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. The mid-palate is rich and complex, with a clean and long finish, showcasing the mature charm of a 15-year-old wine.
