Château de Valandraud - St.-Emilion 2012 (1.5L)
Price: $302.00
| Producer | Château de Valandraud |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St Emilion |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Sku | 7789 |
| Size | 1.5L |
Jeb Dunnuck: 97 Points
The 2012 from Valandraud has a flat-out awesome nose of crème de cassis smoked herbs leaf tobacco coffee bean and sweet oak. Big rich decadently styled yet structured and tannic readers will be lucky to latch onto a few bottles of this sen
Jane Anson: 96 Points
The year that Valandraud was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B going straight to the position from Grand Cru (the only other one to do so is Mondotte). This makes it a particularly special wine to be tasting at 12 years on now that the firm tannic structure has begun to soften and melt into the black and red brambled fruit. You're always going to get a touch of sandalwood and espresso grilled notes in Valandraud and an exuberant expansion through the palate but at this point it is balanced by gentle cigar box dried herbs oyster shell and tobacco. Enjoyable. 100% new oak.
Wine Advocate: 95 Points
Tasted blind at the Valandraud vertical at the property the 2012 Valandraud instantly demonstrated the wide gap in quality between itself and the previous vintage. It is a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc matured for 28 months in 100% new oak. It has a primal and concentrated bouquet with intense blackberry bilberry and graphite aromas that gain intensity in the glass and yet remain "strict" and linear. The palate is medium-bodied with brittle tannin that impart a chalky texture. There is plenty of clean and crisp blackberry and raspberry fruit here pencil lead and a touch of chalk towards the precise and vivid finish. The energy is palpable in this Saint Emilion a quite stupendous wine from Jean-Luc and Murielle that must stand as one of the best on the Right Bank. This comes strongly recommended although it still needs plenty of time. Tasted December 2016.
Vinous: 94 Points
The 2012 Valandraud hits the palate with gorgeous depth. A powerful racy wine the 2012 boasts remarkable intensity and structure for the year. Mocha bittersweet chocolate plums and dark spices open up but above all else in this vintage Valandraud is a wine of structure. This is one of the few 2012s that absolutely needs several years in the cellar. A broad frame of tannin supports the deep finish. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Stated simply Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud have crafted one of the wines of the vintage. - By Antonio Galloni on July 2015
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