Wine Critic
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Chateau Valandraud Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2018
First Growth B. Premier Grand Cru Classe B.
Critic tasting notes:
"Inky dark in hue, the wine opens with a flamboyant perfume of licorice, barbecue smoke, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, espresso and plum liqueur. On the palate, the wine is as rich as the color. Multi-layered, opulent, showy and intense, the wine gracefully coats your palate with waves of perfectly ripe, velvety textured, sweet dark fruits. 2018 is one of the best vintages of Valandraud produced yet. If you follow their wines, you know that is really saying something! This will age gracefully for at least 2-3 decades with ease." - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (97/100)
"This release continues the great run of vintages from this estate, based in the eastern part of Saint-Emilion. Powerful tannins are echoed by sumptuous black-plum and berry flavors. The high alcohol shows in the density although this concentrated wine does stay comfortably in balance. It needs plenty of aging. Don't drink before 2027." - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (97/100)
"Deep purple-black in color, the 2018 Valandraud is still sporting a fair bit of oak on the nose, with the cedary notions giving way to a profound core of Black Forest cake, stewed plums and boysenberry preserves, plus suggestions of espresso, clove oil, unsmoked cigars and charcuterie with a waft of Chinese five spice. The full-bodied palate is jam-packed with rich black fruit preserves, framed by sturdy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and tinged with exotic spices. It will need a good 5-6 years for everything to marry and for the nuances to be fully expressed, then enjoy it over the next 25+ years." - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown (96/100)
"This is really rich and intense with beautiful blackberry, violet and blueberry aromas that follow through to a full-bodied palate with extremely polished tannins that caress your palate. Love the texture and purity to the wine. Fantastic. Try after 2025." - James Suckling
Vineyard notes:
"The geographical location of this parcel, in the Fongaban valley, near Pavie Macquin and La Clotte, is the origin of the name “Valandraud”: Val (for valley) + Andraud (surname of Murielle which appears on the registers of Saint Emilion from 1459)."
Classification
Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé B
Producer Notes
Fruit of the considerable work of a couple passionate about wine, Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud, Château Valandraud was born in 1991 on a 0.6 ha plot bought with all the couple's savings.
Drinking Window
2025 - 2051
Consultant Winemaker
Jean-Philippe Fort (Rolland)
Winemaking
Vinification in thermo-regulated stainless steel, wood and concrete vats, manual punching down, pumping over, maceration for about three weeks. Malolactic fermentation in barrels.
Maturation
Oaked
Harvest Notes
The harvest is manual with sorting of the grapes by the pickers, then densimetric sorting of the berries in the cellar on Tribaie®.
Ageing
22 months in 100% new barrels.
