Community Tasting Notes 17

• sirpat00 wrote: 95 points

  December 4, 2023 - Valandrau vertical (1991-2020) (Fribourg): Selected tasting notes from a complete Valandraud vertical (1991-2020) hosted by a collector with an estate representative. Main observation was that both the work the estate did during the transition phase 2000-2012 is clearly bearing fruit in more recent vintages, further helped by warmer growing seasons that are favorable for this cool site in St Emillon. Additional comments included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  This was decanted prior to serving. Leathery notes, a mineral base, ripe dark cherry fruit, black tea and dried herbs. Fruit-forward and structured palate with good amount of juice, solid balance and soft texture - even if the tannin still showed a lot of grip. The winner in the vintage vertical – but may yet be bested by the worldclass 2021 which I tasted earlier in the year.

  Comment

• Elpaninaro wrote:

  October 12, 2023 - black purple red color- probably the deepest color of any wine tonight, burnt fruit on the aggressive nose, fresh coffee grinds, licorice, on the palate impenetrable, inky, showing a little herbal and chalk nuance but in no way is this subtle, FWIW many in the room spoke well of this- so my read on this was far from popular consensus.
  
  [**+?, 2040+ this will need a long time to achieve its ends]

  Comment

• remyworldpeace Likes this wine: 95 points

  May 23, 2023 - Tasted at a 2020 vintage UGC tasting in Singapore. Cassis, raspberry, slate, lovely touch of cedar and long finish. Complex, elegant and supple. Really impressive.
  
  Anticipated score when fully mature: 95-97+pts.

  Comment

• Jeff Leve wrote: 98 points

  March 21, 2023 - Completely opaque in color, the nose explodes with chocolate, espresso, smoke, blackberries, black cherries, truffles, smoke and licorice. Full-bodied, opulent and intense, this hedonistically-textured thrill ride coats your palate with layers of velvety, dark red, black and blue fruits, mocha, espresso and Asian spices. The array of sensations here is exactly what the doctor ordered. This is a sublime tasting experience that while it is superb to enjoy young in its primary state, the best is yet to come with some age that will allow the wine to build, expand and gain secondary nuances. Drink from 2026.2055.

  Comment

• Zweder wrote: 97 points

  March 6, 2023 - UGCB tasting Bordeaux 2020 Walkaround tasting so in general just short notes (Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam.): This wine was one of my favorites of the tasting. Extremely luxurious with beautiful oak and cedar, ripe berry fruits, a beautiful toast, sweet spices, beautiful acidity and tannin. A feast!

  1 person found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 16

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2020
• Type Red
• Producer Château Valandraud
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard n/a
• Country France
• Region Bordeaux
• SubRegion Libournais
• Appellation St. Émilion Grand Cru
• UPC Code 3380820089209

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 64 (11%)
• In Cellars 521 (88%)
• Consumed 7 (1%)

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