2003 Virginie de Valandraud
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Tasting notes
(70% merlot and 30% cabernet franc) Dark red. Explosive aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, coffee, iron and smoke, with lovely lift. Sweet and silky, with nicely integrated acidity for 2003. Iron and spice notes from the soil. Finishes with dusty, firm tannins and very good length. A terrific showing.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
This wine, from a specific plot of land, is quite hot on the nose. Round, black sherry palate but rather a green edge. Very chewy, jagged and harsh as though there are some underripe tannins in there. (JR)
Bright ruby-red. Cool, pure aromas of blackberry, minerals and menthol. Tightly wound and rather high-pitched, with bitter chocolate and mineral flavors nicely framed by firm acids. From a late-ripening site on cool clay and chalk soil. Nicely fresh wine, finishing with ripe tannins.
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.