2015 Château Valandraud, Grand Cru St-Emilion

2015 Château Valandraud, Grand Cru St-Emilion

The 2015 Chateau Valandraud is founded upon Jean-Luc Thunevin's ever-reliable Merlot parcels, and this year the blend is augmented with 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a glorious and damn irresistible bouquet of crème de cassis, blueberry, crushed violets and a scintilla of citrus fruit, all beautifully defined and very precise. In 2015 it is determined to put a gap between itself and the Virginie de Valandraud. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, creamy in texture but not in the slightest cloying. The acidity is well judged with layers of caressing black fruit towards a finish for which I could only deploy the word - nubile. This will be a stunning Valandraud to savor over the next couple of decades, though it will be difficult to resist temptation in its youth.
95-97 points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate

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Wine details

  • Region & country
    Saint-Emilion, Right Bank, Bordeaux, France
  • Maturity
    Ready 2024 - 2035info
  • Colour
    Red
  • Sweetness
    Dry
  • Style
    Still
  • Unit Volume
    Bottle (75cl.)
  • ABV
    15%
Château Valandraud

Associated with beginning the garagiste movement, it was an act of necessity that led Jean-Luc and Murielle Thunevin to make their now revered St-Emilion from what was essentially a large workshop. A workshop that is still used today and is kitted out with state-of-the art winemaking technology. Releasing their first vintage in 1991, at prices that rivalled the First Growths, was the publicity the Thunevins needed to launch their incredible wine and its reputation has continued to soar. Today their 8.8 hectare estate is split throughout St-Emilion, though the first parcel of vines they bought was just 0.6 hectares in size and situated close to Pavie-Macquin. Their wine has achieved critical acclaim from influential critics like Robert Parker, who scored the 1995 vintage higher than Pétrus and labelled Jean-Luc the ‘Bad Boy of Bordeaux.’ His reputation to push boundaries and experiment with his wines, together with consultant Michel Rolland, led to the creation of a second wine and helped to further bolster his reputation. However, their conscientious and hands-on winemaking continues to day, with the hand-harvesting in their vineyards, careful selection and ageing in 100% new oak barrels.

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