Château de Valandraud 2019

The Wine Independent

Andreas Larsson - Tasted

Inky dark purple colour with a viscous texture. Polished and layered nose with an abundance of fresh dark berries, cassis, violet, black truffle, coffee bean, fine oak and spice box. The palate has a massive concentration without heaviness, a bright acidity underneath, super refined tannins, never ending layers of bright dark fruit, fine spices and tobacco notes with a fine oak integration and an impressive length and finish. Tremendously good and potent.

VertdeVin

The nose is elegant, fine, gourmand, precise, racy and offers power, a fine freshness. It reveals notes of ripe/juicy boysen berry, juicy wild cassis, small notes f wild raspberry associated with touches of small acidulous fruits, cornflower as well as hints of toasted, nutmeg, tonka bean and sense of the place (terroir). The palate is elegant, beautifully defined and offers a beautiful precision, an acidulous frame, suavity as well as a small freshness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/acidulous blackberry, fleshy/acidulous cassis, small notes of raspberry associated with touches of cornflower, small fleshy fruits as well as hints of violet plum, nutmeg, cardamom and chocolate. Good length. Tannins are elegant, well-built and structuring. A very discreet hint of chocolate on the persistence.

James Suckling

Vivid and focused with brightness and clarity of fruit. Dried flowers, too. Full-bodied with layers of fine, soft tannins that spread across the palate and show class and refinement. It goes on for minutes. A beautiful bottle. Try after 2027, but so attractive already.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Rich and dramatic, the 2019 Valandraud bursts with aromas of berry fruit, plums and licorice, framed by a lavish but far from exaggerated application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, fleshy and sensual, it's broad and enveloping, its lavish core of fruit framed by ripe, polished tannins and succulent balancing acids. Seamless and integrated despite its ripe, hedonistic style, this has turned out beautifully and has the balance to perform well for at least two decades, even if there's no youthful asperity to preclude near-term enjoyment.