Château Valandraud 2023

Lots of depth, incredibly dark-fruited and complex; taut on the palate, densely built; powerful, structured, juicy, long-lasting. Will age beautifully.

As always, Valandraud is defined by its concentration, opulence and depth, and 2023 is no exception. Expect masses of ripe but fresh blackberries, licorice, dark chocolate, hazelnuts and some pepper. Structured and full-bodied, with tight, fine-grained tannins and a juicy, intense finish. Glossy and layered, with voluptuous fruit. Modern and extremely long, lasting more than a minute. Big but not heavy. Drink from 2027.

The 2023 Valandraud is such an elegant wine. Soft, supple contours envelop a core of dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, new leather and licorice. Readers will find an incredibly finessed Valandraud—a wine that is more finesse than power. I can’t wait to see how it ages.

Chocolate, espresso, perfectly ripe, deep, dark, plums, and black cherry aromatics are all over the place. On the palate, the wine is rich, opulent, intense, deep, long, and palate-staining. It is also equally vibrant, fresh, lush, creamy, and long, leaving you with multiple-layers of ripe, sweet, fruits, salty chocolate, and espresso from start to finish. Blending 84% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2029-2055.

Garnet colour with a deep core, purple reflections. Dark forest berries, liquorice, black cherries, fine savoury herbal notes and old wood. Very deep, hints of nougat and nut oil, ripe tannins, chocolatey, opulent style, fine fruit on the finish, impressive but not elegant, some bitter chocolate on the echo.

Inky depths to Valandraud in this vintage, well constructed, intense sweet liquorice and dark chocolate. It starts out suggesting a more old-school feel for this wine, with crème de cassis dominant and high alcohol, but it gains focus and lift as it moves across the palate, with lilting aromatics of red roses, welcome pumice-stone tannins, squid-ink salinity, and mouthwatering freshness. Skilful, confident, impressive. 100% new oak for ageing, Jean-Luc Thunevin owner at this 10.7ha estate (currently replanting several plots, so 6.6ha in production). Yield 40hl/ha.

Score: 94–96. Superb freshness reminiscent of a basket of just-picked small fruits (wild blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry) and more herbal notes of raspberry leaves and bramble. The palate is deliciously indulgent, perfectly juicy, with a velvety mouthfeel, caressing, coating tannins, and a freshness that carries through to the finish. Very pretty.

The legendary charm of Valandraud, opening the door to mature, candied notes, is beautifully framed by a terroir that calls for freshness and energy. It’s hard to overlook the élevage, expressed through caramel notes, yet nuances of dark berries and licorice provide a countercurrent that ultimately builds into a shared wave: harmony. Creamy on the attack, the wine follows a linear course, supported by velvety tannins and a mouthwatering structure. These paradoxes are what create the wine’s greatness. It has the substance to carry it through the decades ahead, as well as the class and finesse devoted to flavor and a more contemporary style. Nothing is simply right or wrong; everything is about balance, with each person’s own rhythm as the regulator. Love it or not, Valandraud stands there, proudly.

The best barrel sample I have tasted from this estate in a long time, as it shows not only the dark ripe fruit one expects, but also an extra dimension of freshness, with blood orange lift on the finish. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves: the attack (with similar aromas) reveals beguiling blackberry liqueur and cassis creaminess, along with red licorice and iodine freshness. I still get oak-stave aspects from the 100% new oak (which calls for some caution, given the 15% alcohol), but superb mid-palate depth combined with that fine finish bodes well for the future. Strong potential for a higher score after bottling.

95-97. Barrel Sample. Fine black fruit and licorice aromas introduce a wine with rich tannins and great concentration. It is powerfully dense, full of black plum and berry fruits, and is solid as well as fruity. It is sure to have a fine, aging future.

This is deliciously succulent, with boysenberry and blackberry compote notes showing good energy as sandalwood, mesquite, black tea and anise swirl through. Seductive finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2038. 2,500 cases made, 250 cases imported.

Deep, intense red colour with purplish highlights. A very aromatic, refined, fruity and very pure nose. A touch of blackberry. Precise on the attack, especially aromatic on the mid-palate, both rich and subtle, the wine melts across the palate—juicy, powerful and long. A great, complex finish underpinned by noble oak. Superb.

The 2023 vintage bears the hallmark of Valandraud’s classically dense, rich style. The nose is marked by aromas of roasted dark fruits, with a few hints of tonka bean. The creamy texture is enhanced by a pronounced, clearly present oak ageing.