Chateau Valandraud 2016

This is a full display of fruit, with raspberry preserve, plum reduction and creamed boysenberry notes streaming through in lockstep, while light bramble and singed vanilla accents happily take a back seat throughout. An echo of chalky minerality at the very end adds refinement and length. Best from 2022 through 2038. 2,583 cases made.

One of the early micro-wineries, named after the surname of Murielle Andraud, co-founder with her husband Jean-Luc Thunevin. From their purchase in 1991 of a 0.6ha vineyard in the Fongaban valley (the ‘Val’ in the name) and a garage where they made wine, they now have 9ha on the clay-limestone terroir of St-Etienne de Lisse. In 2016 the blend was 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, and was aged in 100% new oak. Georgie Hindle: Expressive full, rich nose. Granular texture, grippy but with soft edges so you get a plump, almost plush feeling. Sophisticated and refined with dark, sultry black fruits. Vincenzo Arnese: Nose is ripe and intense with good aromas of plum followed by coffee and tobacco leaves. Clean and fresh with smooth tannins, a very elegant finish. Arthur Coggill: A glossy, staining black compote appeal. Inviting nose of gently sweet blackcurrant and damson. Dense mouthfeel with crunchy acidity. Banging.

The ripe plum, tobacco, cigar box and earth aromas are more evident than the fruit notes. The palate shows concentrated dark fruit and focused yet silky tannins. Full-bodied yet sleek and elegant. Drinkable now with aeration, but still needs time. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.

The 2016 Valandraud is surprisingly closed on the nose despite rigorous aeration, black plum and violet scents emerging with time. Gentle grip. Succulent on the palate, this feels rounded and opulent, spice box and white pepper with a tingle of spice on the finish. A modern sheen, but still quite delicious. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's Ten-Year-On tasting.

Dark as night in color, the wine is opulent in nature. The dark chocolate, boysenberry, licorice, plum liqueur and black cherries are there for the asking. Full-bodied, silky, long and opulently textured, this sensual wine will be much better with 7-9 years in the cellar.

Deep dark ruby, dense core, purple glints, faintly lighter at the rim. Intense new wood tones, vanilla, wood polish, smoke, cherry, coconut, and hazelnut. Immediately smooth onset, then very substantive, fleshy with astringency, barely contained green tones, both in acidity and tannins, surprisingly nervy. Pithy, seemingly driven structure.

Ripe, pure and layered nose, floral with violet, dark blackberry, raspberry, fine spiciness, very chalky and stony. Dense and concentrated palate, very intense and lingering with bright freshness, crushed berries, high concentration of tannin but very ripe and digest with an extremely long finish. Very pure, fresh and intense with perfect proportions.

Kunz barrel sample 17: silky, concentrated, fruity bouquet, black cherries, plums, mocha, vanilla, caramel, currants, cedar, coal. Concentrated, multi-layered, powerful palate with plenty of tannins, a dense, muscular structure, sweet fruit, bold dark aromatics, very long, aromatic, dry finish.

Silky, concentrated, fruity bouquet: black cherries, damsons, mocha, vanilla, caramel, currants, cedar, coal. Concentrated, multi-layered, powerful palate with plenty of tannin, a dense, muscular structure, sweet fruit, bold dark aromatics, and a very long, aromatic, dry finish. 19/20 2025 - 2038

The 2016 Valandraud is deep garnet in color. Notions of plum preserves, fruit cake, and cherry pie all jump from the nose, followed by hints of wild sage, Chinese five spice, and balsamic. Full-bodied, concentrated and plush, the palate has a lively backbone, going savory and pleasantly chewy on the finish.

The vintage ultimately shifts and finally moves toward purity. A purity, to be sure, in the Thunevin style, which still lets the plush flesh and dynamic tannin shine.

Purple with violet hues. An intense, complex bouquet with fruity and mineral notes. Valandraud reveals all the richness and complexity of the limestone plateau, with notes of chalk, coffee, and black berries. On the palate, the wine is compact, racy, and endowed with beautiful tension, which it also owes to its terroir. A fine, seductive, convincing wine with a persistent finish. A great success with lovely tension. For my part, one of Valandraud’s greatest achievements. Persistent finish.

Logo on the cork: CB Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Intense nose with pure, ripe fruit, developing a slightly creamy touch. Delicate on entry, fleshy mid-palate, the wine gains in richness and breadth as it races toward a long, sappy finish, with a lovely return of aromas on the aftertaste. A rich and complete wine.

90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dense purple with a violet rim. A complex, tightly woven bouquet with blueberry and spicy notes. Noticeable minerality with a hint of violets in the background. It doesn’t reveal much at first; on the second pass, refined roasted aromas and licorice emerge. The powerful palate—and above all the terroir—handles the winemaking with ease! Very elegant texture and impressive concentration. A never-ending finish of blackcurrant and elderberry jelly—clearly playing in the top league!

96–98. Barrel Sample. The wine is ripe and opulent, packed with great fruit and a solid core of tannins. It is superbly structured, yet fruity, with both firm tannins and ample acidity assuring its future. It is a fine wine for the long term.

Medium to full ruby in colour, the notes here are fully ripe from the opening moments, touches of soy, espresso, damson puree, cherry pie crust, incense, sandalwood, tobacco, grilled oak. This is exceptional quality, in a closed spot right now, give it another few years to come back out of it. Jean-Luc Thunevin estate.