2021 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc
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Tasting notes
I continue to just love the whites from this family. Their 2021 Virginie De Valandraud Blanc checks in as 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon, and while 2021 is an impressive vintage for the whites, it was slightly more challenging for Semillon, as it's more fragile with regard to frost and mildew. Crushed lime, chalky mineral, and more reductive yet clean, pure notes define the bouquet of this wine, and it's straight, focused, and chiseled on the palate, with good mid-palate depth. I think it's beautiful and will put on weight over the course of its élevage and have a long life.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc is mainly Sauvignon Blanc this year because the Sauvignon was touched by frost. It has quite a taut, linear bouquet with fine mineralité , bashful at first and requiring time to open. The palate is well-balanced with fine acidity, and quite spicy – you can feel the tongue tingling on the aftertaste. Good potential.
The 2021 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc is a bundle of energy. Citrus peel, orchard fruit and white flowers race across the palate. Although nervy and very bright, the Virginie Blanc has a good bit of mid-palate texture and plenty of layers that open over time.
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.