Château Valandraud 2020

As always, very barrel-driven, with plenty of oak that brings a slightly more pronounced edge up front, yet it has first-class tannins and a harmonious whole: fans of this wine will not be disappointed.

Tilts to the showy side, with a flourish of black currant and fig preserves, warmed black tea, melted black licorice and a hint of alder smoke as well, all framed by a warm loam- and espresso crema-accented finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2040. 3,200 cases made.

Juicy and alive, a brightness to this even though the fruits are dark in profile – blackcurrant, black cherry, herbal-tinged blueberries – heady and seductive. Layers of acidity, mint, freshness and toast combine to give quite a full and complex palate with everything at the fore yet staying the right side of being too much. Strong and characterful but totally charming. I love the St-Emilion glamour and muscle, softly flexing with a salty minerality and unmistakable signature.

Very opulent and expressive aromas of black fruit and pine needles. So floral. Full-bodied with plush, velvety tannins and lots of fruit and texture. It goes on for minutes. Rich at the finish, but remains fresh and vivid. Superb. One of the great Valandrauds. Drink after 2027.

The 2020 Valandraud is a stunner. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2020 possesses dazzling intensity from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plush dark red/black fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Even with all of its intensity, the 2020 is bright and wonderfully focused. Sweet floral and blood orange accents liven up the explosive finish. Magnificent.

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 superb to enjoy young in its primary state, is best yet to come with some age that will allow the wine to build, expand and gain secondary nuances. Drink from 2026 to 2055.

Fragrant blueberry on the nose. Strong new wood. Vanilla. Licorice. On the palate, densely packed with fleshy tannins, very compact but dissolving juicily, intense mineral freshness, plenty of tension, a clarified structure without any excess. Suitably supple underpinnings, very good length. The alcohol remains almost imperceptible despite 15 percent by volume.

Excellent purity and depth with layers of fresh meat, cassis, dark berries, fine wood, mocha and mild spices. Dense and concentrated with great extraction, powdery tannin like cocoa powder adding a lot of freshness to the ample and dark fruit, high ripeness but no sweetness and a calcareous freshness, really layered, glossy and polished with tremendous length.

One of the wines of the vintage is Jean‑Luc Thunevin's 2020 Château Valandraud, which comes from the cooler, eastern side of Saint‑Emilion. Exhibiting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, violets, new leather, and an almost Hermitage‑like burning embers character, it hits the palate with full‑bodied richness, ripe, seamless tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and a finish that won't quit. A blend of 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's clearly in the same league as the 2019, if not slightly more concentrated. Give bottles 5–7 years in the cellar, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20–25 years or so.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: Silky, dense, complex bouquet, blueberries, cedar, currants, mocha, dark chocolate. Concentrated, multi-layered, powerful palate with velvety, dense fruit, diverse aromatics, muscular structure, plenty of fine tannins, very long, dense finish. Has further potential.

Velvety, dense, complex bouquet: blueberries, cedar, currants, mocha, dark chocolate. Concentrated, multi-layered, powerful palate with velvety, dense fruit, diverse aromatics, muscular structure, plenty of fine tannins, very long, dense finish. Can improve further. 18/20 2027 - 2050

Juicy, perfectly judged, delicious brambled fruits; this is exuberant without being overdone, just oozing with pleasure and inviting you to come on board. Expect waves of liquorice, powerful damson-bramble jam, lime blossom, orange peel marmalade and saffron. This needs a good five more years in bottle before approaching, but you’ll want this in your cellar. Founders Arnaud-Thunevin now in 50% ownership with the Lefevre family from Sansonnet, 100% new oak, 49 hl/ha yield.

The 2020 Valandraud has a deep garnet-purple color. It opens with overtones of cedar and lifted Morello cherries before giving way to a core of fruitcake, blueberry pie, chargrill, and Indian spices, with wafts of licorice and cardamom. The big, concentrated, full-bodied palate quivers with tension and shimmers with energy, framed by beautifully ripe tannins, finishing long and opulent. Gorgeous.

96-97

The nose is magical, so dense you can dive into it, with floral freshness and a sensual bouquet of red fruits, pomegranate and spice, lifted by vegetal notes that lend breed and complexity. On the palate, the wine is enveloping, juicy and fresh, particularly elegant, brimming with energy, with toasted notes and a discreetly mentholated finish. The best Valandraud we have tasted.

Imagine a meeting, a discovery. On the one hand, there is a certain serenity, because you’ve lived through quite a few, and then there are palpitations, as you discover or rediscover. And a touch of mystery is always captivating. So let’s start with élevage, the beginning of a second life: after the vineyard comes the cellar. The first traits of character appear, those that transcend élevage, those that will form the backbone of the wine. Valandraud 2020 offers a masterful symbiosis of freshness, élevage and maturity. Rather suave on the attack, the wine shows breadth and temperament. The acidic framework slowly takes the lead, guiding Valandraud’s charm toward an energizing fusion. The wine shines through its plurality, its ability to captivate all the senses, its ambitions toward excellence, this fusion-like magic. So much beauty and love in this wine! One must learn to listen to one’s heart; it has far more reasons than our brain.

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, fine and pure, with ripe fruit. Subtle hints of truffle and hazelnut, lightly toasted. Broad on the attack, brimming with fruit mid-palate, with a rich body, the wine develops juicy and melting, nobler than ever. It finishes long, slightly smoky, slightly oaky, yet deep. Superb!

96–98. Barrel Sample. This wine from the premier classé estate is seriously structured, dense and firm. At the same time the beautiful black currant fruits, acidity and fine perfumed character balance its richness. It is an impressive, memorable wine that will develop well over many years.