Chateau Valandraud Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1er Grand Cru Classé (Minimum order: 6 bottle case) FUTURES 2025 Pre-Arrival
First Growth B. Premier Grand Cru Classe B.
Château Valandraud Saint-Émilion 2025 is a highly sought-after Right Bank Grand Cru Classé with a bold, polished style and strong luxury appeal. It combines Saint-Émilion’s natural richness with the estate’s famously modern, concentrated expression, making it an impressive release for collectors and serious Bordeaux buyers. 84% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon 14% alc. PH 3.5 Aged 20 months in 90% new French oak + 10% foudre. The critics are unanimous: this is among the finest Valandraud ever produced.
A Historic Transition
"The 2025 vintage marks a pivotal chapter in Valandraud's history: it is the first made jointly by Jean-Luc Thunevin and Marie Lefévère, who, along with her husband Christophe, has now taken full ownership of the estate. New managing director Grégory Leymarie has embraced this transition with a clear vision reduced production by 20–25%, tighter plot selection, and a deliberate move toward greater finesse and terroir expression. The result is a wine that preserves the unmistakable Valandraud signature while opening an entirely new chapter."
Critic tasting notes: (2025 vintage)
"Licorice, smoke, black cherries, flowers, blackberries, plums, licorice, chocolate, and espresso are already quite expressive in the nose. The palate is even better with its vivid display of perfectly ripe, black cherries, plums, spice, espresso, mocha, and dark chocolate. Intense, and concentrated, opulent, deep, and long, the fruit stains your palate, teeth, and gums, but, at the same time, the wine manages to be vibrant. Velvety in texture, the finish is close to seamless. Give it just a few years of bottle age, and it will be quite enjoyable over the next 2-3 decades. Drink from 2030-2060." - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (98/100)
"Lots of dark fruit with an edge, supported by chalky tannins. Compact and concentrated, with a fresh medium body. The crunchy, chalky tannins help balance the wine’s exuberance. This shows an attractive combination of power, focused tannins, freshness and exuberant fruit, with hints of black mushrooms and ink. Aged for 20 months in 90% new oak and 10% foudres. 84% merlot, 9% cabernet sauvignon and 7% cabernet franc." - James Suckling (96–97/100)
"Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate rim brightening. Fine cassis, black cherry fruit, a hint of roasted aromas, attractive bouquet. Complex, juicy, dark berry fruit, good freshness, ripe, supporting tannins, salty touch, red berry nuances in the aftertaste, animating style, good ageing potential." - Falstaff (96/100)
Site & Identity
Valandraud is known for producing deeply textured wines from Saint-Émilion’s limestone and clay terroirs, with a style that emphasizes ripeness, precision and sculpted density. In a 2025 context, the wine should be presented as vibrant, refined and cellar-worthy, with the kind of aromatic depth and structural definition that has made the estate an icon of modern Bordeaux. It is a wine that speaks to both prestige and personality.
Technical Tasting Note
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Appearance: Deep ruby with a dark, intense core and purple reflections.
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Nose: Blackberry, black cherry, plum, violets, cocoa, espresso, spice and crushed stone.
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Palate: Full-bodied and richly textured, with concentrated dark fruit, polished tannins and a supple yet structured profile.
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Finish: Long, layered and persistent, with a refined mineral thread and a savoury, spice-laced close.
The consensus tasting profile: intense dark fruit complexity, chalky and velvety tannins of rare precision, remarkable freshness for the vintage, and a finish that is both powerful and saline reflecting the limestone terroir as never before at this estate.
Winemaking & Style
Château Valandraud is typically associated with meticulous fruit selection, careful extraction and a luxurious, contemporary style that still retains freshness and balance. The 2025 vintage should be framed as a wine of depth, precision and immediate allure, while still offering the structure needed for serious bottle age. It is especially appealing to customers who favor modern Saint-Émilion wines with richness, energy and sophistication.
Food Pairing
Excellent with roast lamb, duck breast, beef tenderloin, truffle dishes, mushroom risotto and mature cheeses. It is also an excellent choice for cellaring to mark future celebrations.
