2018 Chateau Valandraud - St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 95 pts – JA: *Polished gourmet fruit right from the first nose, this is an accomplished and powerful Valandraud that has seductive and appealing notes of burnt caramel and pencil shavings set against rich black cherry and damson fruits. Clear ripeness through the finish, with full concentration of fruit. This is a big wine, confident and sure to please, but worth noting it's at a full 15.5%, higher than many in the vintage. 100% new oak.* - 11/2020

Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts - PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Attraktives schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, reife Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Edelholz, zart nach Kräutern und Vanille. Komplex, saftig, reife schwarze Beerenfrucht, runde Tannine, extraktsüß im Abgang, sehr gute Frische und Länge, sicheres Reifepotenzial.* - 05/2019

*Deep purple-black in color, the 2018 Valandraud develops slowly from a base of warm black cherries, blackberry compote and preserved plums with a perfume of sandalwood, Indian spices, lavender, wilted roses, mocha and fruitcake plus wafts of woodsmoke and camphor. Full-bodied, the palate is rich, ripe and flamboyant with tons of opulent black and blue fruit layers, wonderfully curtailed by a firm frame of velvety tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and very seductive.* (95-97/100)

WeinWisser – 19,5/20pts - WL: *90  % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc, 3 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 % Malbec, 40 hl/ha, 14,5 % vol., 24 bis 36 Monate in 100 % neuen Barriques, Produktion: 32.000 Flaschen. Undurchsichtiges, schwarzes Purpur mit violettem Rand. Was für ein konzentriertes Bouquet aus Wildkirschen, frisch gepflückten Alpenheidelbeeren und Cassis. Im zweiten Ansatz Holunder, parfümierter Pfeifentabak und frische Kaffeebohnen. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und sehr verlangenden Tanninen, aber die Frische macht hier den Unterschied, der Wein ist balanciert und trotz der straffen Vinifikation in Balance. Im gebündelten, katapultartigen Finale besticht der Wein mit tiefschürfender Mineralik, herrlicher Extraktsüsse und getrockneten schwarzen Beeren. Ein ganz grosser Valandraud mit einem gewaltigen Lagerpotenzial ausgestattet und sogar einen Tick besser als der überragende 2012, damit gehört er in die Spitzengruppe in St.-Émilion und kann in der perfekten Trinkreife die Traumnote erzielen.* – 04/2019

*This is richly fruited, with waves of fleshy raspberry, boysenberry and red currant cruising through, inlaid with singed vanilla and apple wood notes along the way. Shows density and cut through the finish, with a tug of tobacco at the end. This is dialed up to 11.* (96-99/100)

JancisRobinson.com – 16/20pts – JR: *Long-term wine that was the group's favourite within its flight. Tasted blind. Blackish crimson. Obvious Merlot with lushness. Very sweet start. Then all zipped up to a tight dry end at the moment. May bloom but it’s not 100% obvious that it will at this stage.* - 01/2022

JamesSuckling.com – 97-98pts - JS: *This is a fantastic young Bordeaux with superb depth of fruit and complex tannin structure. Hints of smoke, spice and toasted oak. Full body and firm, dusty tannins. Very long finish.*

Vinous.com – 97+ pts – AG: *The 2018 Valandraud is every bit as compelling as it was from barrel, maybe more. Power and vertical, with tons of explosive energy, the 2018 dazzles right out of the gate. Inky dark cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate all race across the palate. The 2018 is a wine of tremendous stature that distinguishes itself in a vintage peppered with stunning wines. I would allow for a few years in bottle to help the tannins soften. I loved it.* - 03/2021

*A very fine vintage from this estate, this beautifully structured with rich tannins, spicy fruit and great concentration. The juicy acidity and power of the wine are impressive, giving firm tannins, great ripeness and a solid, concentrated texture.* (96-98/100)

Vinous.com – 95 pts – NM: *The 2018 Valandraud packs a punch on the nose, delivering a complex array of scents: blackberry, raspberry, freshly picked violets and a touch of mint. The oak is beautifully integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins and commingled blue and blackberry fruit. Sweet and candied toward the finish, which has an almost Burgundian texture. Somehow quite Asian in style, with touches of hoisin on the aftertaste, this is a very classy and completely delicious Valandraud.* - 03/2021