Valandraud - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2022

Alexandre Ma

96

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

Château Valandraud 2022 triumphs over the challenges of a hot and dry year with its imposing structure, plentiful tannins, and intricate layers of spice. While the high concentration of this vintage suggested a “fervent embrace,” it surprises with a refreshing vibrancy. The pH of 3.55 has proven its brilliance once again. The palate is compact yet silky, evoking the sensation of black mozzarella melting in the mouth. Given its powerful and intense character, this wine may be challenging to fully appreciate in its youth. However, after 5–8 years of aging, it will reach its true pinnacle.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Inky plum in colour, opens with an immediate caress of supple tannins with violet, rose and peony, liquorice root, textured, rich but reserved with a tug of graphite, slate and crayon. This is a really impressive Valandraud, excellent quality, clearly decades of ageing ahead of it. Jean-Luc Thunevin owner, harvest September 15 to October 5, 100% new oak.

The Wine Cellar Insider

98

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Valandraud, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

99

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The 2022 Château Valandraud is sensational, offering a massive array of blackcurrants, chocolate, smoked tobacco, baking spices, and truffly earth. Full-bodied and deeply layered, it has a velvety mouthfeel, polished tannins, and remarkable purity. It reminds me of a hypothetical blend of the 2020 and 2019. Based on 85% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, it was vinified and aged 22 months in new barrels. It will evolve gracefully for 20-30 years.

Yvesbeck.wine

99

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

85% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon En humant le bouquet de Valandraud, plusieurs images apparaissent à mon esprit, qui éveillent des rêves, des envies de Panettone, des souvenirs d'enfance et puis des gâteaux aux cerises qui envahissent l'ensemble de la maison ! Ce Valandraud est dédié au plaisir et au charme avec pour ambition de garder un cap auquel il se voue depuis sa création. En bouche, le vin surprend par sa timidité, par son attaque élancée et par une touche suave. Ses tannins se révèlent lentement, pas à pas, et confèrent une puissance inestimable, presque imperceptible et pourtant tellement évidente. La cohérence affichée est imposante, le reste n'est qu'interprétation et goût. Un vin entraînant, envoutant, séduisant, persistant. Simplement délicieux. 2029-2049 99/100

Vinous

96

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Valandraud has an intense nose that curiously reminds me of Burgundy, with plenty of crème de cassis, veins of blueberry and crushed violet. A bit of alcohol is present, but this retains satisfying delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and a creamy texture. The acidity keeps you on your toes as this gains weight towards the finish, delivering notes of black pepper and clove. Very harmonious and well crafted, the 2022 Valandraud will age well over the next 20 to 25 years.

Jamessuckling.com

97

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

A rich, glossy Valandraud delivered in a plush but polished mode. Showing lots of new wood, cocoa nibs, mocha, espresso and pine cones to the dense blackberries and a touch of roasted red peppers. Full with immense concentration, this has compact fruit and bold, dusty tannins. You hardly catch the high alcohol here with such intensity. Balanced at a high pitch. Big, voluptuous but beautiful too. 36,200 bottles made. Give it three more years to let the wood spices integrate. Drink from 2028.

Vinous

97

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Valandraud is fabulous. Rich and plush, with no hard edges, the 2022 is an exotic beauty. I imagine it will need the better part of a decade to be approachable, as its fruit intensity and tannic heft are both notable. Inky dark red/purplish fruit, new leather, tobacco and baking spice all build in the glass. The 2022 deftly balances opulence and finesse in grand style. Tasted two times.

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe12/9/2024

Alluring singed alder and black tea accents lead the way, followed by a dense core of steeped blackberry and black currant fruit. A swath of licorice root, warm earth and tobacco coats the finish, with the fruit keeping pace. Lengthy and velvety in feel, this is almost approachable now. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2040. —J.M.

Wine Maniacs

98-99

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

96

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Smells intensely perfumed and fragrant on the nose. Keeps much more of a linear, tense and focussed palate, with tangy fruit that has both sharp and crystalline aspects as well as toasted spice, liquorice and clove giving some savoury aspects. Nice detail and precision, you can feel each of the fine tannins and the fruit has clarity as well as concentration. Nicely intense, tannins are great and this has good persistence. Feels young of course and a bit compact but there's lots to like with layers of flavour and texture and a long finish.

Alexandre Ma

94-96

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Château Valandraud 2022, with its grand structure, rich tannins, and multidimensional spiciness, defies the typical characteristics of the vintage. Given the high concentration of the 2022 vintage, I anticipated a "passionate" reception from Château Valandraud, yet it surprised me with an unexpected acidity upon entry. The wine's body is firm yet soft, like a black Mozzarella melting in the mouth. However, if it could reveal more of its berry fruit aroma after aging, it would certainly ascend to a higher level.

Vinous

95-97

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Valandraud was picked from 15 September to 5 October and matured in 100% new oak. It has a pure and very opulent bouquet with ravishing black cherries and crème de cassis scents, a touch of pressed violets and dates. The palate is medium-bodied and hides the 15.5% alcohol beneath its velvety texture. Plush red fruit, sweet and candied but with counterbalancing spiciness and structure on the finish. This is a Valandraud with a V12 engine. It will need several years in bottle. It manages to maintain balance and purity, thankfully not imposing or fatiguing unlike some others. Jean-Luc Thunevin has crafted an excellent Saint-Émilion here.

The Vintage Journal

96-97

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep colour. Fresh blackcurrant black cherry dark chocolate aromas with cedar notes. Beautifully balanced wine with lovely desne pure dark berry fruits, plentiful chalky/ cedary tannins and well integrated mocha, roasted chestnut notes. Lovely vinosity and volume. Top notch. (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon 100% new oak)

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

Intensely deep colour, this is ink laid over ink. Manages to somehow deliver a stunning depth of black and blue fruits while still allowing some air in among the concentration. Has purity, depth and intelligence in its approach and construction. Be prepared for the waves of exuberant complexity, a wine where you brain beings to say no, but the oyster shell mouthwatering finish, and the clear grain to the tannic frame, convinces you otherwise. Limestone working its magic. 3.5.ph, 100% new oak. Harvest September 15 to October 8, becquse these are cooler terroirs. damson, p

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

96-98

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 Valandraud is a blend of 88% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, aging for 18-24 months in 100% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, it spills from the glass with notes of baked black plums, boysenberry preserves, and fruitcake, leading to an undercurrent of cedar chest, Indian spices, and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, rich, and spicy, the palate has fantastic tension and a firm, fine-grained texture, finishing with great length. pH 3.55.

Yvesbeck.wine

96-98

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Une fois encore, Valandraud brille de son éclat, de cette symbiose entre le calcaire et la générosité du Merlot. Une fois encore, ce vin aura se détracteurs et, surtout, ses admirateurs. Et une fois encore Valandraud, reste Valandraud. Ca c'est le point le plus crucial car il s'agit de répondre à ceux qui nous aiment ! Invitant et charmant, le vin cumule générosité, opulence, densité et tempérament. Il doit ce dernier point au calcaire, à la fraîcheur de ses terroirs et à ceux qui ont su l'interpréter et l'écouter. Un vin tellement séduisant, gourmand, ample et dense. La profondeur conjuguée à du charme, de la tension et de la profondeur... Valandraud est maître en la matière !

Bettane & Desseauve

97-98

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Toucher de bouche d’un satiné renversant, accents floraux toniques, vitalité de l’intensité tannique. Tout est déjà fondu et pourra évoluer parfaitement. Cette flamboyance unique accompagne la finale, avec une fraîcheur poivrée stylée.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97-99

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château Valandraud is based on 88% Merlot and the balance an even split of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has incredible purity in its cassis and darker, almost blue fruits as well as notes of candied violets, licorice, and spicy oak. Full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, it has perfect tannins, a great mid-palate, and flawless balance. It reminds me of hypothetical blend of the 2010 and 2009, with perhaps plenty of similarities to the 2020 as well.

Vinous

96-98

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Valandraud is magnificent. Rich and sumptuous to the core, the 2022 offers up inky red/purplish fruit, blood orange, spice, mocha and espresso, with nearly seamless texture and fabulous balance. Bright acids and beams of tannin lend shape and energy. Jean-Luc Thunevin and Muriel Andraud crafted a wine that captures the textural opulence that first turned heads here, but with an added kick of energy that reflects a more contemporary approach and also the style of the year. There is absolutely no sign of the 100% new oak, always a good measure of balance. I imagine this full throttle Saint-Émilion will need a number of years to shed some of its considerable baby fat. The 2022 showed beautifully at Thunevin, but showed even better in a large comparative tasting. Yields were a very generous 50 hectoliters per hectare, very much on the high side here. Jean-Luc Thunevin adds that he may opt for slightly shorter élevage in barrel than the norm of around 18 months. Drinking window : 2032-2052

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Inky dark in color, the wine explodes from the glass with its bouquet of wild flowers, violets, camphor, cinnamon, saffron, licorice and plum liqueur. The nose rocks, but the palate takes it to a new level. Opulent fruits drenched in velvet with intensity, purity, and electric vibrancy. The fruit caresses, and coats your palate with almost surreal levels of fruit, that magically remain light on its feet. The seamless finish lingers, builds, and expands for almost 60 seconds. It was 9am when I tasted this, and after making sure nobody was looking, I drained my glass with pleasure. This is a new level of quality for Valandraud, and that is saying something. Blending 88% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.5% ABV, 3.55 pH. Harvesting took place September 15 - October 5. Drink from 2027-2055.

Jamessuckling.com

97-98

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

This is very rich and flamboyant yet it remains bright and vivid with a lovely fine tannin structure running through the wine. Bright acidity with a pH of 3.55 gives this energy and focus. 88% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 6% cabernet sauvignon.