Valandraud - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020

Alexandre Ma

95 / 100

byAlexandre Mathe4/18/2023

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

If the 2019 vintage at this address was something of a guilty pleasure, the 2020 Valandraud is simply guilty as charged. Exhibiting aromas of jammy black fruits mingled with toasted coconut, spices and caricatural slatherings of new oak, it's full-bodied, rich and chewy, with generously extracted tannins that clamp down on the finish. All that oak and extract impedes access to the wine's generous fruit, rendering it less demonstrative and gourmand than its 2019 counterpart, and that's a pity, as recent vintages of Valandraud have been among the more successful of the few remaining hold-out "garagiste" wines of the Right Bank.

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Tilts to the showy side, with a flourish of black currant and fig preserves, warmed black tea, melted black licorice and a hint of alder smoke as well, all framed by a warm loam- and espresso crema-accented finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2040. 3,200 cases made.

Jeb DUNNUCK

99 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

One of the wines of the vintage is Jean-Luc Thunevin's 2020 Château Valandraud, which comes from the cooler, eastern side of Saint-Emilion. Exhibiting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, violets, new leather, and an almost Hermitage-like burning embers character, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, seamless tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and a finish that won't quit. A blend of 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's clearly in the same league as the 2019, if not slightly more concentrated. Give bottles 5-7 years in the cellar, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20-25 years or so.

The Wine Cellar Insider

98 / 100

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Completely opaque in color, the nose explodes with chocolate, espresso, smoke, blackberries, black cherries, truffles, smoke and licorice. Full-bodied, opulent and intense, this hedonistically-textured thrill ride coats your palate with layers of velvety, dark red, black and blue fruits, mocha, espresso and Asian spices. The array of sensations here is exactly what the doctor ordered. This is a sublime tasting experience that while it is superb to enjoy young in its primary state, the best is yet to come with some age that will allow the wine to build, expand and gain secondary nuances. Drink from 2026.2055.

Alexandre Ma

95 / 100

byAlexandre Mathe3/15/2023

Wines Critic

97 /

byRaffaele Vecchionethe3/10/2023

Decisive and intense in the sensory profile showing notes of plums, hibiscus, lavender, hyacinth, guaranà and magnolia. A lot of white flowers and spices dominate the secondary scene. Full bodied, perfectly matured tannins and an engaging finish, rich in material and flavour. The intriguing character of the Cabernet Franc shows through. Better from 2026.

Vinous

98 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

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.

Vinous

96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Valandraud was a startling Saint-Émilion from barrel. Bottled in July 2022, it retains a very intense bouquet with blackberry, wild strawberry, licorice and star anis scents that remain beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent, plush, luxuriant tannins. There is a candied quality to this Valandraud, yet the trick is that Thunevin maintains balance and it does not overwhelm on the decadent finish. It sashays along with style. Give it several years in bottle.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

96 / 100

byJane Ansonthe1/16/2023

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.

Jamessuckling.com

99 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/16/2023

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.

TASTED

97 / 100

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Excellent purity and depth with layers of fresh meat, cassis, dark berries, fine wood, mocha and mild spices. Dense and concentrated with great extraction, powdery tannin like cocoa powder adding a lot of freshness to the ample and dark fruit, high ripeness but no sweetness and a calcareous freshness, really layered, glossy and polished with tremendous length.

La Revue du Vin de France

96-98 / 100

the6/7/2021

La densité d’une chair mûre et riche expose sa profondeur sur un profil très net. La richesse du palais passe par une texture veloutée, une sucrosité savoureuse de fruit noir mûr (cassis). Un tanin crayeux rehausse l’ensemble sur une finale plus minérale.

Le Figaro

92-94 / 100

the6/2/2021

Un nez séducteur de bonbons acidulés. Une bouche charnue et solaire de fruits noirs bien mûrs, et des tannins boisés encore très présents.

Vinous

95-97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Valandraud is impressive. Inky, deep and exquisitely layered, it possesses tremendous richness in every dimension. crème de cassis, chocolate, licorice, new leather, spice and lavender build as the 2020 gains volume in the glass. Silky and plush, with magnificent balance, this is shaping up to be one of the wines of the year. A magnificent effort from Muriel Andraud and Jean-Luc Thunevin. Superb. Tasted two times.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97-99 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

Winemaker Jean-Luc Thunevin has hit a home run in the vintage, and his 2020 Château Valandraud is unquestionably up with the crème de la crème out there. Made in a ripe, sexy, plush style, it brings an incredible amount of ripe black fruit, chocolate, vanilla, espresso, and leafy herb-like aromas and flavors. This carries to a full-bodied, powerful Saint-Emilion that somehow stays weightless and graceful on the palate, with moderate acidity, ripe tannins, and a great, great finish.

Vinous

95-97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Valandraud has a deep purple hue and delivers an intense bouquet of lush blackberry, raspberry, cassis and crushed violet aromas, all beautifully defined. The palate is very well balanced with a sensual opening. This’ll have you smitten from the first sip: silky-smooth with immense depth and harmony. There is tension and precision from start to finish. This 2020 continues a startling run of form by Jean-Luc Thunevin, this representing one of his crowning achievements to date. Chapeau!

Decanter.com

96 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

This is excellent, broad-shouldered with ample depth to the brambled fruits, liquorice, cigar box spice, with a gorgeously saline finish. Chalky, grippy tannins keep tugging you back into the body of the wine. The tannic grip is helped by a linen rather than silk texture that stops things being overly smooth and instead adds depth and interest to the powerfully knitted body, as do white flowers on the aromatics as it opens. Good stuff. 100% new oak for 24 months. A yield of 49hl/ha. Thunevin has sold a 50% stake in Valandraud to the Lefevre family at Sansonnet (also the new owners of Villemaurine, so a busy year for them).

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Completely opaque in color, the wine grabs you with camphor, flowers, plum liqueur, licorice, blueberry, cherry pie and Asian spice aromas. THedonism at its best, this a bringing sexy back to wine with all its layers of voluptuous, opulent, palate staining fruits. Yet, even with all of that going on, the wine remains fresh, focused and complex. The array of sensations here is exactly what the doctor ordered. If you can wait a decade before popping a cork, this is going to be a true cellar treasure. No guts no glory. But you can quote me. This is the best vintage of Valandraud ever produced. 97-99

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

Opaque purple-black colored, the 2020 Valandraud bursts with scents of crushed black plums, boysenberries and blackberry preserves, followed by hints of dusty soil, garrigue and clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a lot of energetic, crunchy black fruits with a lively backbone and beautifully ripe, rounded tannins, finishing long and fragrant.

Anthocyanes

95-97 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Marqué par le bois, le nez recèle toutefois de belles notes de fruits frais, de violette, de cassis et de myrtille. En bouche, le boisé est présent, presque dominant. Cela enrobe l'ensemble, le sucre un peu mais masque la délicatesse et la texture charnue de ce vin. Un temps de bouteille effacera tout cela pour lui apporter de la patine et surtout un très bel avenir. La note pourrait être supérieure après les élevages.

Falstaff

94-96 / 100

the5/10/2021

Im Duft Heidelbeere. Kräftiges Neuholz. Vanille. Lakritze. Am Gaumen dicht mit fleischigem Gerbstoff bepackt, sehr kompakt, saftig auflösend, intensive miner- alische Frische, viel Spannung, eine abgeklärte Struktur ohne jeden Exzess. Passend geschmeidig unterlegt, sehr gute Länge. Der Alkohol bleibt nahezu unmerklich trotz 15 Volumenprozent.

My Bettane + Desseauve

96-97 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/25/2021

A dense, layered white with dried apple, pineapple and some nougat and praline on the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with tangy acidity and hints of toasted oak and bitter lemon. Lovely texture.

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/14/2021

Wow. This is really super polished with incredible length and intensity, offering blackberries and hazelnuts. Superb richness that is reserved and poised. Great length. Full-bodied, extremely long and exciting.