Château Valandraud 1996

This 1996 Valandraud has firmed up significantly since bottling. Unfined and unfiltered, this viscous wine displays the telltale depth of color (saturated dark ruby/plum/purple). The wine’s exotic bouquet is just beginning to form, offering notes of iodine, roasted coffee, jammy black fruits, and toasted bread. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with sweet tannin, terrific texture, and outstanding purity and length. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2018.

Aromas of plum and sweet tobacco, with hints of tarragon and basil. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a light, fruity, green-tobacco aftertaste. — ’95/’96 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now. 600 cases made.

Indian tea with dark fruits on the nose. Full-bodied with spices and truffles and a little volatile acidity. Round and juicy. Drink now.

Dark, deep purple-garnet with ruby highlights and a lightening rim. What a bouquet: exotic spices, caramel, peppercorns, a touch of Earl Grey, dried plums, terrific mocha notes, an intoxicating complexity—especially the sweetness paired with just as much terroir-driven spice. On the palate, it’s spot-on: ripe tannins, dark malt, fine woods, again dark caramel and deeply toasted almonds, speculoos biscuits. A striking and very appealing Valandraud.

97: Barrel sample (18/20), production: 7,988 bottles. Various lots tasted and then a provisional blend made: extremely profound truffle and smoky bouquet, plenty of black and blue fruit; however rather cool – or better said – still reserved. Firm palate, lavish aromatics, already quite fine, so its power comes across not as massive but rather intense, lots of back-palate aroma, a bit less fat than the splendid ’95. 99: Extremely deep color; violet highlights and black in the center. For the moment a bouquet dominated by Cabernet Franc; the nose is very Cheval-like, black pepper and Irish moss – overall more on the spicy side. On the palate sweet vanilla pods, roasted coffee, ripe tannins that still move a bit rough across the tongue, long aftertaste, nice depth, shows character. (18/20). 01: Delicate, gently nutty bouquet, bread crust and light caramel, buttery hints, traces of Nutella. On the palate very light, a bit superficial but very harmonious, shows an affinity to a great Ticino Merlot, red plum skins on the mealy-feeling extract in the finish, slender, medium-length finale. The wine may seem a bit light, but it shines with harmony and beauty. 06: Dark, deep purple-garnet, ruby, brightening rim. What a bouquet! Exotic spices, caramel, peppercorns, Earl Grey notes, dried plums, great mocha notes, intoxicating versatility and above all a sweetness that knows how to pair with just as much terroir spice. On the palate perfect, ripe tannins, dark malt, noble woods, again dark caramel, dark-roasted almonds, speculoos biscuit. Knows how to stand out and also to please. (18/20). 09: At lunch from a double magnum in Bremen. Nicely meaty, not too sweet, and now with a dry sweetness, certainly in a very good place now. 11: A magnum at Lucien’s in Ste. Maxime. Lots of flesh and extract, still very slightly woody for half an hour, mocha finish and licorice. (18/20). 12: Dense, dark wine-red. Lots of ribwort plantain on the first nose, black peppercorns, soy sauce, cassis. Slender but intense. On the palate meaty, seems a bit extracted and thus shows an astringency that holds certain reserves. A perhaps slightly extracted Valandraud, which nevertheless holds its own. 14: A magnum with Lucien. Beautiful mocha and malt, nice spice and plums. For a 1996 Saint-Émilion it has plenty of power and pleases more than Angélus. (18/20). 16: A magnum at Mario’s in Ste Maxime. Actually, it was two magnums. From the 1996 vintage. And another magnum from the 1995 vintage. So a very summery Valandraud-magnum evening. The 1996 is developing slowly, or rather maintaining its great drinking maturity. (18/20). 16: Fairly dark, slightly matte wine-red. The bouquet initially has a somewhat muted approach, but behind that shows dark chocolate and wonderfully herbal notes. On the second pass it already seems more open and shows full ripeness. On the palate velvety, well balanced, showing a delicately roasted nuance in the pleasantly full finish. It is – as already noted on the nose – now at its peak for enjoyment. 18/20 drink up

Sweet, medium-bodied, soft bouquet with chocolate, blue berries, and café au lait. Sweet, medium-bodied, fruity palate with sweet aromatics and soft tannins. Sweet finish. 17/20 drink - 2015

Logo on the cork: CRL Dark colour, medium intensity, evolved. Fruity, smoky nose with a touch of tar. Light but aromatic palate. Medium length. Some variability!