CHÂTEAU VALANDRAUD
2020 Grand Cru Saint Emilion
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Sub-district | Saint Emilion & Satellites |
| Village | Saint Emilion |
| Classification | Grand Cru |
| ABV | 13% |
Market Insight: The 2019 was a strong release for Valandraud, especially if it rates at the top of the score bracket. With the 2010 being similar quality and now trading at £1,250/6+, the 2020 will be a very sensible buy if it repeats, or even rises a degree. L&S (May 2021)
Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.
Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.
Very opulent and expressive aromas of black fruit and pine needles. So floral. Full-bodied with plush, velvety tannins and lots of fruit and texture. It goes on for minutes. Rich at the finish, but remains fresh and vivid. Superb. One of the great Valandrauds. Drink after 2027. Rating: 99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)
The 2020 Valandraud is a stunner. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2020 possesses dazzling intensity from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plush dark red/black fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Even with all of its intensity, the 2020 is bright and wonderfully focused. Sweet floral and blood orange accents liven up the explosive finish. Magnificent. Drinking range: 2028 - 2060 Rating: 98 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
Juicy, perfectly judged, delicious brambled fruits, this is exuberant without being overdone, just oozing with pleasure, inviting you to come on board. Expect waves of liqourice, powerful damson brambled jam, lime blossom, orange peel marmalade and saffron. This needs a good five more years in bottle before approaching, but you want this in your cellar. Founders Arnaud-Thunevin now in a 50% ownership with the Lefevre family from Sansonnet, 100% new oak, 49hl/ha yield. Drinking range: 2027 - 2048 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter (Feb 2023)
Château Valandraud
Among the garagiste wineries of the 1990’s, none was more garagiste than Château Valandraud. When Jean-Luc Thunevin and his wife Murielle bought a couple of tiny plots of wines in 1989, the only place they had to make their wine was in a garage in the back streets of St Emilion village. The better of the two plots was 0.6ha just outside the village squashed between Pavie-Macquin and Le Clotte in a little valley called the Vallon de Fongaban – tacking the “Val” from Vallon on to Murielle’s maiden name – Andraud – they came up with the name Valandraud. Necessity as much as thirst for quality meant that practically everything was done meticulously by hand. The first release was in 1991. The 1992 was released at First Growth kinds of prices, which turned heads and set Château Valandraud on the path to cult status. Gradually more vineyard has been purchased including the previously obscure Château Bel-Air-Ouÿ in Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, way out east near the border with the Côtes de Castillon, meaning Château Valandraud now has a château. With the purchase of Bel-Air-Ouÿ, it is interesting to note that the majority of this undoubtedly great estate’s vineyards lie far outside the established area of the St Emilion plateau. Valandraud’s meteoric rise was crowned by its elevation from nowhere to Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) status in the 2012 St Emilion classification, and few would bet against the B being turned into an A if St Emilion can bear the turmoil of a further classification in the future. The vineyards are around 70% Merlot, with anything from 65% to 100% going into the main cuvée. Most of the rest of the vineyards are Cabernet Franc, but there are smaller plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Carmenère. The wine is aged in 100% new oak. There are, also, around 2ha of vineyard dedicated to white wine production. Aside from Château Valandraud, there is Virginie de Valandraud which is often described as the second wine of the estate but Thunevin insist it is more of an alternative cuvée with Le 3 de Valandraud being the actual second wine.
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RELATED PRODUCTS
2000 CHÂTEAU BEAUSÉJOUR BÉCOT 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Bordeaux France 13% Red
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. Imperial
Showing beautifully, the 2000 Château Beau-Sejour Bécot is fully in its prime drink window and offers brilliant aromatics of red and black fruits, cedar pencil, tobacco leaf, truffle, and licorice. Full-bodi...(read more)
Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com
2011 CHÂTEAU CANON 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
Right Bank Bordeaux France 13.5% Red
Merlot, Cabernet Franc.
An evident delicacy to the tannins, this is rippling with flavour and definitely moreish, but the austerity of the vintage is evident, meaning it is subtle and lightly-structured rather than generous. Plenty of sappy fru...(read more)
Jane Anson, DecanterORDER COLLECT
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