2019 Chateau Valandraud (750ml)

Merlot from Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Among “the top tier of Right Bank wines this vintage” according to Neal Martin of Vinous and summed up by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson as “gorgeous,” the powerful and opulent 99 pt. 2019 Chateau Valandraud offers luscious fragrant dark fruit hinting of stony minerality with velvety polished tannins and a long-lasting finish, a stunning St. Emilion blend from Bordeaux “Bad Boy” Jean Luc Thunevin promising several decades of enjoyment at an outstanding value price.

After acquiring their initial .6 hectare parcel in the lieu-dit Fongaban close to the town of St-Emilion in 1989, Chateau Valandraud founders Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud produced their first vintage in the tiny workshop next to their house earning it the nickname "garage wine" from French critic Michel Bettane and inspired by the so-called modern style of Le Pin to age it new French oak barrels. Promoted to 1st Grand Cru Classe in the Saint-Emilion Grands Crus classification in 2012, Valandraud has evolved into one of the region’s most consistent and highly regarded producers, developing “complexity to match the ripeness, depth and structure” according to Decanter’s James Lawther who named Valandraud to his list of top 10 St. Emilion and Pomerol Chateaux. Expanding its holdings to 20 hectares of vineyards throughout the appellation, the 2019 Chateau Valandraud was sourced from a single vineyard located on the eastern side of Saint Emilion, the estate’s 7 hectare parcel planted mostly to Merlot in classic loamy clay and limestone soils. A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, the enticing 2019 Chateau Valandraud was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak, yielding “notable power and explosive richness” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous in a captivating blend that “dazzles from the first taste,” ready to enjoy over the next two to three decades and called “a tour de force that readers should snatch up” by Jeb Dunnuck.

Capturing “all the best the vintage has to offer” according to Vinous critic Galloni, the seductive 99 pt. 2019 Chateau Valandraud promises to reward Bordeaux fans and collectors with a “truly magical” tasting experience, crafted by an estate that’s “unquestionably in the top handful of Chateau in the appellation” according to Jeb Dunnuck and delivering exceptional value.

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The local bad boy of Bordeaux, Jean-Luc Thunevin, continues to fashion truly brilliant wines, and his 2019 is no exception. Based largely on Merlot with small amount of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Château Valandraud is a deep purple-hued beauty offering up a kaleidoscope-like bouquet of black and blue fruits, scorched earth, chocolate, gravelly earth, spicy oak, and sappy flowers. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and wonderfully concentrated, it has insane purity of fruit, brilliant tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and just has everything in the right places. It's up with the top wines of the vintage and a tour de force that readers should snatch up. It shows a very different style than the sexier 2018, but it's every bit as good. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for 2-3 decades.

99 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

Vivid and focused with brightness and clarity of fruit. Dried flowers, too. Full-bodied with layers of fine, soft tannins that spread across the palate and show class and refinement. It goes on for minutes. A beautiful bottle. Try after 2027, but so attractive already.

98 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)

The 2019 Valandraud is sensational. Stunning in its delineation and with sheer energy, the 2019 dazzles right out of the gate. Dark red/purplish berry fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice and lavender all come alive in the glass. In 2019, Valandraud is a towering, statuesque wine that captures all the best the vintage had to offer. I tasted the 2019 three times and it was magnificent on all three occasions. It is a tremendous effort from Jean-Luc Thunevin and his Murielle Andraud. What a wine!

97+ points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)

The 2019 Valandraud is deep garnet-purple in color. It gallops out with energetic notes of blackberry preserves, kirsch, and wild blueberries plus suggestions of spice cake, dried roses, star anise and forest floor. Concentrated, full-bodied and super-rich, it explodes in the mouth with vibrant black fruit preserves and exotic spices flavors, supported by exquisitely ripe, velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length.

97 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Apr 2022)

Alcohol By Volume: 15.5%

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$139.88

Compare At: $149.99

35 bottles in stock. Ships in 1 to 2 business days.

This item is available in original wood case. Would you like to include the wood case in your order? There is an additional $12.00 shipping fee for wood cases.

Available in Original Wood Case of 6

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