April 20, 2024 - 1 hr decant. Very blue/purple color, striking to look at the decant dregs. Much sterner and more fierce than a stereotypical St Émilion. Intense dark fruit, still quite strong tannins. This is right now much more about power than precision; it was hard for me to pick out individual aromas in the bouquet or palate. Will this monolithic beast sort itself in the fullness of time? Above my pay grade to answer — I don’t have nearly the experience with Valandraud to answer. Right now, more impressive than endearing.
Score: 92. Relative to expectations: 0
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. A fresher nose compared to most other vintages. Again rather airy with blurry aromas (similar to 2009). Fresh red cherry, but also with a bit of heat. The palate was pretty wild and struggled to find balance. May improve given enough time.
November 25, 2021 - 起头就有着绵密的鲜奶和高级奶油香，一下子把主调的甜美拔高起来了，黑樱桃酱、成熟的黑莓、蓝莓和蓝莓酱等与紫罗兰和薰衣草等紫调花香构成了很大的块头，随后还有丝滑的牛奶巧克力、木质、烟叶、香草、甘草等等味道，丰富而高调，有力而昂扬。入口结构大，集中度较高，单宁多，呈现出细粉质地，铺满舌面。黑色水果和蓝莓等果味又甜又熟，像是一团浓缩果浆悬浮于口中，密度高但有些松软，又透露出一点精致的意味。蛋糕、巧克力、香草慕斯、肉桂卷、新鲜的烟叶和一点粉末状的石，美中不足的是收尾有点仓促。92-93/100
November 25, 2021 - Powerful. Loads of chocolate, oak, smoke, liquorice, ripe red berries, earthy and graphite. Lingering. Needs a few years time.
November 15, 2021 - Superbe nez de cacao, vanille, fruits mûrs, chocolat.. Super silky tannin, sappy ripe black cherries.
June 21, 2021 - Amsterdam UGCB Tasting (Amstel Boathouse, Amsterdam, NL): Clearly one of the stars of the show today - as always in recent years. Rich and concentrated, almost decadent, but with immaculate minerality and freshness to balance the ripeness, velvety tannins covered in flesh, long and layered finish. Very attractive already, with the inner harmony to last a long time.
June 21, 2021 - The 2018 UGCB tasting Amsterdam 6/21/2021 (Amsterdam, Amstel Boathouse): A whiff of (charming) yeast, hardly comparable to the other Saint-Emilion wines, a bit reserved, elegant, needs time; has probably the capacity to gain a point in future.
March 9, 2021 - Inky dark in hue, the wine opens with a flamboyant perfume of licorice, barbecue smoke, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, espresso and plum liqueur. On the palate, the wine is as rich as the color. Multi-layered, opulent, showy and intense, the wine gracefully coats your palate with waves of perfectly ripe, velvety textured, sweet dark fruits. 2018 is one of the best vintages of Valandraud produced yet. If you follow their wines, you know that is really saying something! This will age gracefully for at least 2-3 decades with ease.
November 2, 2020 - Arvi Bordeaux 2018 Arrivage (Dolder Grand, Zurich): Tasting of 2018 Bordeaux in the bottle. A mixed vintage where St. Emilion often ended up over-ripe and cooked while Pomerol seems to have fared better, as did the left bank. Wine of the tasting was Rauzan Ségla, but the Léovilles (Barton and Poyferré), Pichon Lalande and Clinet presented themselves brilliantly as well.
Tasting note:
Good depth here with a dense bouquet. Lots of herbal components like mixed salad seasoning. Fruit pretty extracted, but still in a good place and showing mostly ripe red berries. A creamy texture matching the nose in terms of density. A good length finish. My top pick among 6 St Emilion wines tasted.
October 13, 2020 - Deep purple colour.
N: Deep ripe, plush nose, dark fruit character. Evident new oak, punchy but alluring.
P: Super palate. Deep, full, but lovely freshness running through the ripe, dark fruit, Rich and balanced with layers of flavour. Some suggestions of meat but still primary in character. Very very good.