The 2023 Valandraud is a Bordeaux Blend from the Saint Emilion sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This wine, produced by Valandraud, is composed of 84% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged in 100% new oak barrels and boasts an alcohol content of 15%.

James Suckling gives the wine an impressive 98 points, describing it as "really something" with "dark blackberries and blueberries, as well as blood oranges." He notes the wine's "great depth of fruit and chewy, polished tannins" and praises its "power with precision" (jamessuckling.com, 4/15/2024).

Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Independent rates the wine 96 points. She highlights its "deep garnet-purple color" and "fragrant notes of star anise, Indian spices, cedar chest, and fragrant soil." She finds it "full-bodied, concentrated, and built like a brick house" with "firm, chewy tannins" and a "very long and opulent" finish (The Wine Independent, 4/28/2024).

Neal Martin from Vinous awards the wine 97 points, noting its "very polished scents of black cherries, cassis, and crushed violets." He comments on the "rich and fruit-driven" palate with "layers of black fruit" and a "long and persistent finish," recommending three to five years of cellaring for optimal enjoyment (Vinous, 4/29/2024).

Jane Anson gives it 95 points, appreciating its "inky depths" and "intense sweet liquorice and black chocolate." She describes the wine as "skilful, confident, impressive" with "mouthwatering freshness" (janeanson.com, 4/17/2024).

Jeb Dunnuck rates the wine 97 points, noting its "pure cassis, mulberries, spicy oak, chocolate, and graphite" aromas. He describes it as a "big, rich, undeniably sexy wine" with "full-bodied richness" and "a great finish" (jebdunnuck.com, 5/8/2024).

Jeff Leve also awards the wine 98 points, praising its "complex aromatic profile" of "flowers, black raspberries, licorice, smoke, espresso, black cherries, and chocolate." He highlights its "energetic, with freshness, and elegant, creamy tannins" and its "long, intense, and concentrated" finish (TheWineCellarInsider.com, 5/4/2024).

Finally, Decanter gives the wine 94 points, commending it as the "best barrel sample from this estate in a long time" with "dark ripe fruit" and "an extra dimension of freshness" (Decanter, 4/20/2024).

Overall, the 2023 Valandraud is highly acclaimed, with multiple reviewers highlighting its depth, complexity, and potential for aging.