Valandraud - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2021

Vinous

95

byAntonio Gallonithe4/2/2024

The 2021 Valandraud is sumptuous, dark and enveloping to the core, even it some of the underlying contours need time to soften. Black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and spice gain intensity in the glass. The rich, heady style is classic Valandraud, temp

Vinous

95

byAntonio Gallonithe2/28/2024

The 2021 Valandraud is sumptuous, dark and enveloping to the core, even it some of the underlying contours need time to soften. Black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and spice gain intensity in the glass. The rich, heady style is classic Valandraud, tempered by the distinctive qualities of the 2021 vintage.

Wine Advocate

90

byWilliam Kelleythe2/22/2024

The 2021 Valandraud offers up aromas of minty berries framed by a generous application of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, with a creamy attack that segues into a mid-palate built around chalky barrel tannins, it concludes with a vanillin-inflected and discreetly herbal finish. This showed more harmoniously en primeur than in bottle.

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe2/22/2024

Black berry, pine nut, bark and dark mushroom aromas follow through to a medium body with creamy tannins that caress the palate and give a complexity and subtlety at the finish. Extremely fine velvety texture here. A beauty for the vintage. Drink in three or four years.

Wine Spectator

92

byJames Molesworththe2/22/2024

Boasts a blackberry and black currant fruit core that belies the vintage's generally light persona, while a chalky structure and notes of sweet tobacco and bay leaf fill in nicely through the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2036. 2,000 cases made, 400 cases imported.  –JM

matthewjukes.com

17,5

byMatthew Jukesthe8/2/2022

Valandraud is always a super-exotic and incredible dense wine, and in 2021 this character was imprinted on a 13.5% alcohol framework. This alone is remarkable. With crazy concentration and a very dry finish from the 100% new oak, this is a very ostentatious wine, but unlike some of the other hugely extracted or oaky Saint-Émilions, it is balanced wine – not least because constituent element everything is massive! 17.5+

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe6/8/2022

Full-bodied with a silky yet very firm and broad tannin structure. Lots of ripe, cool blue-fruit and stone character. Red tea, too. Textured. Well balanced and focused for the vintage. Lovely length.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-97

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/2/2022

The Grand Vin 2021 Château Valandraud checks in as 85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, and it's still resting all in new barrels. Deep purple-hued, with rocking bouquet of ripe black and blue fruits, chocolate, spicy oak, and spring flowers, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, velvety, ripe tannins, terrific mid-palate depth, and one heck of an impressive finish. Despite the new barrels, this wine leads with its fruit, has everything in the right places, and delivers notable freshness as well as a great finish. I'd put it up with any of the top wines out there.

Bettane & Desseauve

96-97

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/24/2022

Texture d'un satiné exceptionnel, avec des arômes de cerise noire et une onctuosité relevée par une sensation de salinité. Bouche dense et pleine, parmi les plus accomplies des premiers de l’appellation. De la mâche, de la flamboyance dans la finale et une fraîcheur mentholée stylée.

The Vintage Journal

93-94

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2022

Deep crimson. Fresh dark plum, praline, hint liquorice aromas with herb garden notes. Dense, brambly textured wine with ample dark plum, dark cherry fruits, fine graphite muscular tannins and underlying toasty/ vanilla/ espresso notes. Finishes sappy firm. Bouyant with a sinewy structure. 85% merlot, 9% cabernet franc, 6% cabernet sauvignon. 18–24 months new oak. 13.5% alc

Alexandre Ma

94-95

byAlexandre Mathe5/16/2022

The roasted aromas of Valandraud 2021 are softer and thus the fruity notes are more visible. In the moderate vintage of 2021, it is really difficult to present ripe black fruits on nose, but Valandraud manages to do so. I prefer the rich but not cloying palate of the 2021, with more delicate tannins, to the overly dense body of a hot vintage. With a lower alcohol degree and pH, the smooth palate offers me an image the Valandraud flying high up in the sky... Enjoy it, my friends. Valandraud 2021?????????,?????????????????2021??,???????????????,?Valandraud?????????????????????????,????2021??“????”?????,??????????????PH?????,???????????????????Valandraud… ?????????

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/16/2022

Put your nose in the glass and smell all the chocolate, espresso, black plums, black raspberry, licorice and wet earth. Deep garnet in color, the wine is plush, polished, silky and loaded with sweet, dark, ripe, lusciously-textured red fruits. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% ABV, pH 3.5. The harvest took place October 3 - October 15. drink from 2025-2048. 93-95

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

96

byJane Ansonthe5/13/2022

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/12/2022

The 2021 Valandraud was picked October 3–15 and matured for a planned 18–24 months entirely in new oak. Again, this has quite an intense bouquet of perfumed blackberry, briar and mineral scents, the latter distinguishing it from the Virginie. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe, supple tannins that frame the pure, lightly spiced red berry fruit. More linear than previous vintages, yet fresh, this is well-defined toward the finish, where a pleasant spiciness carries over on the aftertaste.

Vinous

93-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2022

The 2021 Valandraud is compelling. Bright acids give the 2021 terrific purity and cut. The style of the year is perhaps a bit unusual for Valandraud, which tends to be an opulent wine, but there is a ton of potential. Aeration brings out the wine's natural texture and breadth. Wild dark cherry, mocha, spice, new leather and licorice all build nicely. In most vintages, Valandraud offers tons of near-term appeal. The 2021, on the other hand, is a long distance runner.

vvwine

93-95

byAdrian Van Velsenthe5/10/2022

Purpurrot. Die Nase ist sofort da, vielschichtig und feinduftig, Röstnoten, dunkle Frucht, schwarze Johannisbeere, Kirsche, ein Hauch Schokolade, steinige Mineralik. Im Gaumen kräftig, wuchtig, der Wein hat Power und merklich Gerbstoff, dieser ist von sehr guter Qualität, die Säure verleiht Frische, ein Wein mit zwei Gesichtern, der bekannten Kraft jedoch ohne die Speckröllchen auf den Rippen wie sonst so oft. Hat Reserven. 2025-2045+ (Verkostet im April 2022. UGCB)

Wine Advocate

93-94

byWilliam Kelleythe4/29/2022

Opening in the glass with inviting aromas of dark berries, baking chocolate, exotic spices and vanilla pod, the 2021 Valandraud is a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine that's seamless and layered, exhibiting impressive concentration, beautifully ripe tannins and a long, succulent finish. Bursting with fruit, this is an especially elegant Valandraud, with below-average alcohol at 13.5%, but it doesn't lack for anything. Tasted four times, twice at the château.

Decanter.com

94

byGeorgina Hindlethe4/1/2022

A rich and hedonistic nose full of perfumed black fruits that are so beguiling. Smooth, supple and generous on the palate in every way - tannins are present and mouthfilling but do well to give the blackcurrant and black cherry frame in the mouth. The fruit has quite a high tone to it, stopping short of being sharp but really vibrant with sparky edges from the acidity and liquorice, clove, toasted wood and cinnamon spice. It's characterful with lots going on - well presented with elegance and a cool freshness throughout. It's the detail that is just so excellent here. It's still got a lot of youthful excitement but this has beautiful intention, direction and understated power. A bold and more hefty style for the vintage with clear confidence.