2010 Valandraud
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Tasting notes
The 2010 Château Valandraud is every bit as stunning as it was on release. Still vivid purple/plum in color, it delivers a powerful, layered bouquet of blackcurrants, tobacco, truffle, and spice, with a deep sense of purity and polish. Full-bodied and plush on the palate, it has ultra-fine tannins and a seamless, mouthfilling texture that makes it hard to put down. This is a thrilling Saint-Emilion with richness, depth, and balance, and it’s drinking beautifully today while promising another 2-3 decades of evolution. Drink 2025-2055.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Intense, concentrated, closed down, with high spice, black pepper, sage, rosemary, olive pit, tar, incense. More enjoyable and balanced than the 2009 because there is clear mint leaf and eucalyptus here, and the fruit is fleshy with plenty of character. Still not for me at the quality of today's Valandraud, but it is delivering on the promise of the vintage.
The 2010 Valandraud has a well-defined bouquet, the fruit slightly darker than its peers, quite mineral-driven and precise. This feels very lively and energetic. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, plenty of black fruit laced with tar and black pepper. This is a superb Right Bank with class and pedigree. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.
Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Valandraud comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant blueberry compote, Black Forest cake and plum preserves notions, plus hints of underbrush, camphor and licorice. Full-bodied, rich and seductive, it has a gorgeous velvety texture and great freshness supporting the decadent fruit through the long, energetic finish.
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.