2009 Valandraud
Buying options
Tasting Notes
An inky/purple wine with an extraordinary nose of black raspberries, blueberries, acacia flowers, licorice and camphor, it is full-bodied, multi-dimensional and layered, with silky tannins, stunning purity, and a finish of 50+ seconds. This is an opulent, sexy, sumptuous style of wine to drink over the next 15 or more years. Kudos to Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle!||One of the all-time great wines from Jean-Luc Thunevin and his partner Murielle Andraud, the 2009 Valandraud represents 13,000 bottles, with most of it coming from vineyard parcels near the sector of St.-Emilion known as St.-Christophe des Bardes. Wine Advocate.February, 2012
Critic Scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind at the Valandraud vertical at the property, the 2009 Valandraud is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc matured in 100% new oak for 22 months. It has a more opulent, ravishing, Rubenesque bouquet than the outstanding 2008 Valandraud (as you would expect): layers of viscous black cherry and raspberry fruit, orange pith, over-ripe Satsumas and crushed violet. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet tannin and plenty of luscious ripe red and black fruit. The alcohol seems nicely contained with a slightly cloying blueberry and raspberry finish that leaves a tang of licorice on the aftertaste. Decadent but irresistible. Tasted December 2016. Mar 2017, www.robertparker.com
Very deep crimson. Rich and round and a little tarry on the nose. Very sweet and round and flashy. Dramatic and alive with lots of electricity in the wine. Dry on the finish but not excessively so. Dances a bit and is very lively as well as managing to be quite supple. Just 10% Cabernet Franc, pH 3.5, < 14% apparently. Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com
Stunning aromas of black truffles and blueberries, with Valrona milk chocolate undertones. Full body, with a wonderful core of fruit. This just dances on your palate. A wine that makes you smile. Superb. Best Valandraud ever? Try in 2002. James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
About the producer
One of the first garage wines, Ch. Valandraud was created by Jean-Luc Thunevin – Saint-Emilion’s “bad boy”. Today the style of the wine is much more restrained, and officially classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé B estate.