Chuck Hayward, JJ Buckley, April 2012

Sourced from a collection of vineyard parcels owned by garagiste "bad boy" Jean-Luc Thunevin. Plantings are 75% merlot, 25% cabernet franc and 5% malbec with an average vine age of 30+ years. Opaque purple color. The beguiling bouquet seduces with a melange of soft, black fruit aromas. Juicy with broad textures and soft edges to the fruit-filled palate, there's a bit of chocolate infused with the black fruit flavors. Firm tannins shape the finish, with no hard textures or tanginess. Needs five years to soften and gain some breadth, then will be at its best from 2025-2030.

90 -91 points,

James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, April 2012

Extremely silky and polished with violets, blueberries, and hints of toasted oak. Full body, with a long, long finish. Very well-done for the vintage. Second wine of Valandraud.

90 -92 points,

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, April 2012

The Grand Vin was picked between 5th and 10th October and delivers around 14.5% alcohol, whilst the malolactics had finished just two weeks prior to my tasting in early April. I will cut to the chase, because yet again (whisper is quietly) I prefer the bouquet on the Virginie. It has a very ripe crème de cassis, blueberry scented bouquet, which has a touch of warmth to it. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe cassis and spice on the entry. The texture is soft and velvety with a cashmere finish, which I prefer to the nose. Tasted April 2012.

92 -94 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 2012

Notes of chocolate, espresso roast, Asian plum sauce, blackberries and toasty oak are found in this opulent, rich, powerful 2011. Jean-Luc Thunevin has done an exemplary job in getting the finest material into this vintage of Valandraud. This full-throttle St.-Emilion should drink well young and last 10-15+ years.

92 -95 points,

Wine Spectator, April 2012

Very enticing, with deliciously bright plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit pushed by ample spice, but stays well-integrated through the juicy finish. Offers lovely mouthfeel and length, with latent power in reserve.-J.M.

About Winery

Château de Valandraud was one of the first Garagiste wines with its inaugural vintage being the difficult 1991. Jean-Luc and Murielle Thunevin own a mere 2.7 hectares of vineyards which consist of 4 separate parcels and are planted with 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec. De Valandraud's yields are pitifully low and the grapes are de-stemmed by hand before being fermented in 2 open-top fermenting vessels. Malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels and the wine is matured in "200%" new oak barriques for 18 months (two sets of new barrels for 9 months each). De Valandraud produces only about 400 cases a year and, not surprisingly, this very rich and concentrated St-Emilion is now one of the most sought-after wines in Bordeaux.

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