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: An airy nose with fresh herbal characteristics (similar to 2018), hints of sweet bubble gum. Also mineral notes and just the lightest of leathery aromas. The palate fresh, well-structured but with a somewhat abrupt finish and lacking mid-palate presence.
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Valandraud, St. Emilion: A compelling bottle of wine. In great spot, with smooth tannins but great grip, relaxing just enough to allow the dark and somewhat earthy fruit come in. This obliterated a 2006 Valandraud next to it, which more tired and old school when compared to the 2009. In a perfect drinking window now.
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I’ve had this wine several times before. This one was a dud. The bottle had been cellared in ideal conditions and definitely wasn’t corked. While the complexion changed several times over the course of 1.5 hours, it never opened or delivered.
I don’t think this is representative of the producer based on the other bottles I’ve had...but this one went unfinished!
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This is so youthful, it is hard to believe it is already a decade old. Over the years, the wine has filled out, softened and gained in complexity and length. Rich, powerful and loaded with layers of ripe, dark, juicy fruits, licorice and smoke, there is still some oak in the finish that needs to fully integrate. Give it another 3-5 years and the wine will be even better! Quite dark in color, the wine is concentrated, lush and powerful. The nose, with its licorice, flowers, smoke, chocolate and boysenberry is impossible to ignore. The fruit packs a punch with its volume and intensity. The tannins are ripe, the texture is opulent and on the palate the fruit is dense, deep and fresh. But it is the decadently textured, full bodied blast of fruit on the palate that knocks this out of the park.
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Chateau Valandraud Masterclass with Jean-Luc Thunevin (Singapore): Tasted during a Valandraud Masterclass as part of a WA event "a matter of taste". Overtly sexy nose with dark fruit, licorice, candy, spice. There is enough bitter extract in the wine to buffer the ripe fruit. No over ripeness, not heat at all, also no overbearing roasty/toasty notes (one of the weaknesses of 2009) in this wine. Drink this gem while you wait for the even better 2010 to come around.
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This is pure bottled sex! With the texture of spun velvet, silky tannins and fruit that gushes its sweet, juicy flavors, this is not a wine of contemplation. It is a wine that offers pure, unbridled pleasure. Concentrated with perfectly, ripe, sweet, black and blue fruits, there is the right amount of vibrancy to give it lift and life, keeping it interesting.
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This sexy wine explodes with licorice, espresso, chocolate covered boysenberries, cherry, blueberry and earthy aromas. Pure, opulent and incredibly rich, there is a not a hard edge to be found in this decadent tasting experience.
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K&L Top Bordeaux Tasting (K&L, San Francisco): Dense blackcurrant profile; palate is very young and tannic, dense; finish is medium, tannic. A california style, but excellent within that style. Needs time. 93
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A flamboyant nose of licorice, black raspberry jam, spice, pepper, chocolate, blueberry, vanilla and cloves introduce the wine. On the palate, this sensuous wine is dense, rich, concentrated and plush in texture. The wine finishes with layers of licorice, vanilla and blackberry jam. Tasted within days of bottling, once this wine has settled in, it will probably earn a higher score.
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2009 Valandraud is deep, dark ruby with purple tints. This pungent wine offers aromas of fresh picked flowers, jammy blackberries, licorice, black raspberries, kirsch, coffee, and black cherries. This Valandraud is a richly textured, full bodied wine concentrated with pure ripe fruit. The long, clean, powerful finish offers freshness, paired with cherry and blackberry flavors. The best Valandraud since the stellar 1995. 95-97 Pts
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En Primeur Bordeaux 2009 Tasting (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Tasted en primeur after 4 months in the barrel. Near black, totally opaque colour. Refined nose. The wine is thick and totally stains the glass. Palate is very extracted but quite austere: deep intense blackcurrant just noticeable behind tons of graphite and quite sharp acidity. Clearly very well made. Could turn out to be outstanding but it will take a lot longer than most Merlots to reveal its true self. Hard to believe it is 100% Merlot (note: but they will add Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon before the final blending). "Very good" but I preferred the Virginie De Valandraud.
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12/4/2023 - sirpat00 wrote:
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:
An airy nose with fresh herbal characteristics (similar to 2018), hints of sweet bubble gum. Also mineral notes and just the lightest of leathery aromas. The palate fresh, well-structured but with a somewhat abrupt finish and lacking mid-palate presence.
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11/24/2023 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Valandraud, St. Emilion: A compelling bottle of wine. In great spot, with smooth tannins but great grip, relaxing just enough to allow the dark and somewhat earthy fruit come in. This obliterated a 2006 Valandraud next to it, which more tired and old school when compared to the 2009. In a perfect drinking window now.
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10/25/2020 - TomOfCT Does not like this wine: 82 Points
I’ve had this wine several times before. This one was a dud. The bottle had been cellared in ideal conditions and definitely wasn’t corked. While the complexion changed several times over the course of 1.5 hours, it never opened or delivered.
I don’t think this is representative of the producer based on the other bottles I’ve had...but this one went unfinished!
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8/29/2020 - Vineyard Boy Likes this wine: 96 Points
So smooth. Decant not required, but still recommended.
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9/20/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
This is so youthful, it is hard to believe it is already a decade old. Over the years, the wine has filled out, softened and gained in complexity and length. Rich, powerful and loaded with layers of ripe, dark, juicy fruits, licorice and smoke, there is still some oak in the finish that needs to fully integrate. Give it another 3-5 years and the wine will be even better!
Quite dark in color, the wine is concentrated, lush and powerful. The nose, with its licorice, flowers, smoke, chocolate and boysenberry is impossible to ignore. The fruit packs a punch with its volume and intensity. The tannins are ripe, the texture is opulent and on the palate the fruit is dense, deep and fresh. But it is the decadently textured, full bodied blast of fruit on the palate that knocks this out of the park.
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10/22/2017 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Chateau Valandraud Masterclass with Jean-Luc Thunevin (Singapore): Tasted during a Valandraud Masterclass as part of a WA event "a matter of taste". Overtly sexy nose with dark fruit, licorice, candy, spice. There is enough bitter extract in the wine to buffer the ripe fruit. No over ripeness, not heat at all, also no overbearing roasty/toasty notes (one of the weaknesses of 2009) in this wine. Drink this gem while you wait for the even better 2010 to come around.
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4/16/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
This is pure bottled sex! With the texture of spun velvet, silky tannins and fruit that gushes its sweet, juicy flavors, this is not a wine of contemplation. It is a wine that offers pure, unbridled pleasure. Concentrated with perfectly, ripe, sweet, black and blue fruits, there is the right amount of vibrancy to give it lift and life, keeping it interesting.
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1/28/2016 - DomVito wrote: 93 Points
Full bodied dark spicy chocolate raspberry wine. Dances around for days. Stud of the night. Probably gets better with more age.
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5/19/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
This sexy wine explodes with licorice, espresso, chocolate covered boysenberries, cherry, blueberry and earthy aromas. Pure, opulent and incredibly rich, there is a not a hard edge to be found in this decadent tasting experience.
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3/17/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
K&L Top Bordeaux Tasting (K&L, San Francisco): Dense blackcurrant profile; palate is very young and tannic, dense; finish is medium, tannic. A california style, but excellent within that style. Needs time. 93
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7/30/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
A flamboyant nose of licorice, black raspberry jam, spice, pepper, chocolate, blueberry, vanilla and cloves introduce the wine. On the palate, this sensuous wine is dense, rich, concentrated and plush in texture. The wine finishes with layers of licorice, vanilla and blackberry jam. Tasted within days of bottling, once this wine has settled in, it will probably earn a higher score.
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6/29/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
2009 Valandraud is deep, dark ruby with purple tints. This pungent wine offers aromas of fresh picked flowers, jammy blackberries, licorice, black raspberries, kirsch, coffee, and black cherries. This Valandraud is a richly textured, full bodied wine concentrated with pure ripe fruit. The long, clean, powerful finish offers freshness, paired with cherry and blackberry flavors. The best Valandraud since the stellar 1995. 95-97 Pts
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4/17/2010 - Goldstone wrote:
En Primeur Bordeaux 2009 Tasting (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Tasted en primeur after 4 months in the barrel. Near black, totally opaque colour. Refined nose. The wine is thick and totally stains the glass. Palate is very extracted but quite austere: deep intense blackcurrant just noticeable behind tons of graphite and quite sharp acidity. Clearly very well made. Could turn out to be outstanding but it will take a lot longer than most Merlots to reveal its true self. Hard to believe it is 100% Merlot (note: but they will add Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon before the final blending). "Very good" but I preferred the Virginie De Valandraud.
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4/1/2010 - dcwino wrote: 97 Points
The biggest wine along with Pavies. You can eat this. Blueberry everything, crushed, whole, jam, compote and etc. All I can say it is BIG 96-98 pts.
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