Chateau Valandraud

About the producer

Château Valandraud started life in 1991, as one of the original "garage" wines, which sparked a trend for thoroughly modern Bordeaux wine styles made in such tiny quantities that they could be - and sometimes were - made in a garage. The man behind the wine, Jean-Luc Thunevin, was called the "Bad Boy" of Saint-Émilion by Robert Parker for defying centuries of tradition and making a highly stylised wine: bold and rich with lavish new oak (at one point it was aged in 200% new oak). Prices were as outrageous as the first wines, exceeding the First Growths on a number of occasions.

With his wife Murielle Andraud, who is the brains in the vineyard and gives her surname to the wine, the pair made a huge impact on the Saint-Émilion scene. Once dubbed the "Black Sheep" of this wine village, Jean-Luc is now part of the established order, achieving Premier Grand Cru Classé status in 2012 in the appellation's official classification

In the vineyard

Having poured their life savings into a 0.6 hectare plot in 1991, Valandraud now counts almost 9 hectares of land in the village of Saint-Étienne de Lisse, a 10 minute drive east from central Saint-Émilion. The Bordeaux five are all represented on its clay-limestone slopes but Merlot and Cabernet Franc account for 90% of all plantings.

In the winery

There's certainly more winemaking wizardry at Château Valandraud now than there was in the low-tech inaugural vintage: there was no de-stemmer and no pump to do pump-overs so it was a case of getting one's hands dirty. Jean-Luc's cellar now has all the tools to maximise ripeness, extraction and quality: the grapes are sorted in the vineyard and then by a modern sorting machine which analyses grapes according to their sugar level and rejects those that don't reach the required level. He was one of the first to practice the malolactic conversion in barrel, a method that has since been widely adopted across the region, and it's 100% new wood for a length of 18-30 months. The result is a lavish and luxurious Merlot-dominant blend.

The 2019 Vintage

A few words from Jean-Luc Thunevin, owner of Château Valandraud, on the 2019 vintage.

The 2019 growing season was incredibly dry and hot. How did you cope with the drought and heat spikes and other climatic pressures during the growing season?

With Valandraud being on a clayey limestone terroir, there was no hydric stress and above all we harvested after a rainy episode which allowed the grapes to reach perfect maturity and create more volume from perfect grapes.

Rainfall was quite localised during veraison in Bordeaux in 2019. Were there any specific climatic episodes that affected veraison and/or harvest and how did you cope with these?

With our clayey limestone terroir, we experienced no real water shortage, as our terroir is the quintessential top vineyard terroir. We undertook double guyot pruning, deleafing, green harvest, good sanitary conditions. Let’s keep in mind that Valandraud’s location is called “Bel Air”because of the windy conditions that keep the grapes dry.

How would you define the 2019 growing season in a few words?

Perfect timing of the pre-havest rain!

Were there any events (or unusual timings) this season that were of particular note: budburst, early growth, flowering, veraison, harvest?

This year was a very late harvest: 20 days later than the estimated dates we had during the spring.

Can you tell us about the specific blend you used for the 2019 vintage?

It should be 95% Merlot / 10% Cabernet Franc / 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

How did you work up to final blend? Can you share your process this year?

We use the “Rolland method” (in honour of their oenologist Michel Rolland) of separate lots using 100% new oak for 1st and 2nd wines.

What has been the reaction so far to the final blend? And can you describe it for us?

Really good vibes, same as 2018.

What do you feel has had the biggest effect on the final taste profile of the 2019 vintage?

Our choice to adapt the harvest dates.

How does 2019 compare to other vintages?

A mix of 2000 and 2018; freshness, maturity and a more rare occurrence of density.

Would you kindly share a personal memory about the 2019 vintage?

I just had half of bottle of a 2019 sample with my wife Murielle at dinner, shame it wasn’t a full bottle… An incredible nose of rose and a mouth full or cherries like a great Musigny, This is the first time we reach this level in April.

Read the full report: Bordeaux 2019 A Vintage Preview

About the producer

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2019 Valandraud Blanc

Valandraud

Bordeaux

94.0

£53.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

£597.00

12x75cl

£597.00

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£53.00

Bts

£53.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

2019 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

95.9

£560.00

6x75cl

0 Immediate | 28 Marketplace

£560.00

6x75cl

£560.00

0 Immediate | 28 Marketplace

2018 Valandraud Blanc

Valandraud

Bordeaux

95.5

£68.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£789.00

12x75cl

£789.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 10 Marketplace

£68.00

Bts

£68.00

0 Immediate | 10 Marketplace

2018 Virginie de Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

93.0

£32.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 18 Marketplace

£342.00

12x75cl

£342.00

0 Immediate | 18 Marketplace

6x75cl

0 Immediate | 62 Marketplace

£173.00

6x75cl

£173.00

0 Immediate | 62 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£32.00

Bts

£32.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

2018 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

96.7

£129.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 106 Marketplace

£1,524.00

12x75cl

£1,524.00

0 Immediate | 106 Marketplace

6x75cl

0 Immediate | 18 Marketplace

£765.00

6x75cl

£765.00

0 Immediate | 18 Marketplace

3xMags

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£765.00

3xMags

£765.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£129.00

Bts

£129.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

2017 Valandraud Blanc

Valandraud

Bordeaux

93.4

£62.00

Bts

0 Immediate | 5 Marketplace

£62.00

Bts

£62.00

0 Immediate | 5 Marketplace

2017 Virginie de Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

90.4

£28.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 87 Marketplace

£294.00

12x75cl

£294.00

0 Immediate | 87 Marketplace

6x75cl

0 Immediate | 42 Marketplace

£149.00

6x75cl

£149.00

0 Immediate | 42 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 7 Marketplace

£28.00

Bts

£28.00

0 Immediate | 7 Marketplace

2017 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

93.9

£102.00

Bts

6xMags

0 Immediate | 49 Marketplace

£1,197.00

6xMags

£1,197.00

0 Immediate | 49 Marketplace

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 152 Marketplace

£1,197.00

12x75cl

£1,197.00

0 Immediate | 152 Marketplace

6x75cl

0 Immediate | 69 Marketplace

£598.00

6x75cl

£598.00

0 Immediate | 69 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 10 Marketplace

£102.00

Bts

£102.00

0 Immediate | 10 Marketplace

2016 Valandraud Blanc

Valandraud

Bordeaux

91.9

£66.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£763.00

12x75cl

£763.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

6xMags

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£763.00

6xMags

£763.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

Mags

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£129.00

Mags

£129.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

£66.00

Bts

£66.00

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

2016 Virginie de Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

91.3

£35.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 71 Marketplace

£385.00

12x75cl

£385.00

0 Immediate | 71 Marketplace

6x75cl

0 Immediate | 13 Marketplace

£194.00

6x75cl

£194.00

0 Immediate | 13 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

£35.00

Bts

£35.00

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

2015 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

94.6

£102.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 101 Marketplace

£1,190.00

12x75cl

£1,190.00

0 Immediate | 101 Marketplace

6x75cl

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£595.00

6x75cl

£595.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 10 Marketplace

£102.00

Bts

£102.00

0 Immediate | 10 Marketplace

2014 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

95.0

£372.00

3x3L

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£1,116.00

3x3L

£1,116.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

6xMags

0 Immediate | 9 Marketplace

£1,089.00

6xMags

£1,089.00

0 Immediate | 9 Marketplace

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

£762.00

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£372.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

2012 Virginie de Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

87.0

£307.00

12x75cl

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£307.00

12x75cl

£307.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

2012 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

94.5

£656.00

6x75cl

12x75cl

3 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£1,314.00

12x75cl

£1,314.00

3 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

6x75cl

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£656.00

6x75cl

£656.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

2010 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

96.5

£263.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

£3,149.00

12x75cl

£3,149.00

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

6x75cl

PR
Provenance: Ex Chateau

0 Immediate | 95 Marketplace

£1,295.00

6x75cl

PR
Provenance: Ex Chateau

£1,295.00

0 Immediate | 95 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

£263.00

Bts

£263.00

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

2009 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

95.3

£1,395.00

6x75cl

PR
Provenance: Ex Chateau

0 Immediate | 95 Marketplace

£1,395.00

6x75cl

PR
Provenance: Ex Chateau

£1,395.00

0 Immediate | 95 Marketplace

2008 Virginie de Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

£43.00

Bts

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£43.00

Bts

£43.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2007 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

91.8

£1,450.00

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£1,450.00

12x75cl

£1,450.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

2006 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

91.5

£139.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£1,637.00

12x75cl

£1,637.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£559.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£139.00

Bts

£139.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2005 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

96.0

£2,387.00

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 16 Marketplace

£2,387.00

12x75cl

£2,387.00

0 Immediate | 16 Marketplace

2004 Virginie de Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

£40.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 5 Marketplace

£442.00

12x75cl

£442.00

0 Immediate | 5 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 9 Marketplace

£40.00

Bts

£40.00

0 Immediate | 9 Marketplace

2004 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

91.0

£178.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£2,117.00

12x75cl

£2,117.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

£178.00

Bts

£178.00

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

2003 Virginie de Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

£230.00

6x75cl

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£230.00

6x75cl

£230.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2003 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

89.5

£1,533.00

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 5 Marketplace

£1,533.00

12x75cl

£1,533.00

0 Immediate | 5 Marketplace

2002 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

91.5

£132.00

Bts

6x75cl

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£779.00

6x75cl

£779.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

£132.00

Bts

£132.00

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

2001 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

94.5

£1,879.00

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£1,879.00

12x75cl

£1,879.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2000 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

94.5

£260.00

Bts

12x75cl

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£3,111.00

12x75cl

£3,111.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

Bts

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£260.00

Bts

£260.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

1999 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

90.0

£156.00

Bts

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£156.00

Bts

£156.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

1997 Virginie de Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

£48.00

Bts

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

£48.00

Bts

£48.00

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

1993 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

92.0

£103.00

Bts

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

Duty Paid

£103.00

Bts

£103.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

Duty Paid

1992 Valandraud

Valandraud

Bordeaux

89.0

£138.00

Bts

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£138.00

Bts

£138.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

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