2019 | Château Valandraud | Virginie de Valandraud

Dark ruby ​​garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges. Ripe plum fruit with a delicate nutty underlay, blackberry confit, candied orange zest, a hint of nougat. Medium-bodied, red berry nuances, not quite as tight-knit, fine tannins, good freshness.

Reviews:

• Andreas Larsson: Inky dark purple core and hue. Fragrant with aromas of violet, ripe blackberry, cherry, chalky notes and fine oak. The palate is dense, polished and ample with layers of savoury dark fruit, perfectly melted tannin, integrated oak, a fresh backbone, layered with a great length and nuance.

• VertdeVin: The nose is fruity and offers power, élégance as well as a fine concentration. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, ripe blackberry, small notes of small blue fruits, violet associated with small touches of crushed blueberry and grey pepper. The palate is fruity, racy and offers freshness, minerality as well as a fine grain. On the palate this wine expresses notes of cassis, fresh blackberry, small notes of violet associated with fien touches of crunchy plum as well as hints of crunchy raspberry and small red berries. Tannins are precise, fine and well-built. Good length and persistence.

Producer Information

Château de Valandraud is a producer in Saint-Émilion classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé B. The Merlot-dominant grand vin is part of a relatively large portfolio which includes a number of red wines made from the classic Bordeaux blend, as well as a couple of white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The estate was formed in 1989, when wine merchant Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud (who has been the fulltime winemaker since 2008) bought a 0.6-hectare (1.5-acre) plot of vines near Château Pavie Macquin. There are now 10 hectares (25 acres) of vines. Merlot is the predominant variety, followed by Cabernet Franc and small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Carmenère. The 2ha (5 acres) planted to white varieties are split evenly between Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Sauvignon Gris. Château de Valandraud is regarded as one of Bordeaux's pioneering "garagiste" wines, made in a richer, more international style than many other Bordeaux wines. It has attracted high prices in the region from the very beginning, despite its initial St Emilion Grand Cru status - a rather commonplace designation in this particular region. The wine came under the spotlight in 2002 when plastic sheeting was placed over 2ha of vines to protect from water damage, requiring a declassification to Vin de Table for that year. However, Valandraud's sustained quality was officially recognised with an upgrade in the 2012 Saint-Émilion Classification to Premier Grand Cru Classé B.

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