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Valandraud 2014

Tasting Notes

Wow. The blackberry, licorice and blueberry aromas are really spellbinding. Full-bodied, chewy and polished with beautiful fruit. Super depth and richness. Always subtle and polished behind the power. Try in 2023.

96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2017

The 2014 Valandraud is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. Notes of unsmoked cigars and smoked meats waft from the glass, followed by hints of black cherry compote and plum preserves with a touch of bay leaves. The medium-bodied palate has a firm backbone of rounded tannins and plenty of freshness to support the generous, mature fruit, finishing long and spicy.

95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, March 2024

Tasted blind. Savoury, soapy, interesting nose. Real depth and ambition. A certain lift and lightness. Very clean and brisk.
Drink 2024-2040

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2018

The 2014 Valandraud from Saint-Emilion superstar Jean-Luc Thunevin is certainly up with the crème de la crème of the vintage, and while I can be a little humdrum with regards to 2014, this is one of the few that will cause your heart rate to jump. A deep purple/ruby color is accompanied by a terrific perfume of ripe black cherries, blackberries, Asian spices, decaying flowers and hints of tobacco. Deep, layered, full-bodied, and tannic, it needs to be forgotten for at least 4-5 years and will keep for two decades. It’s one of the few “do not miss” wines in 2014. 2022 - 2042

95
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, November 2017

Delivers a gorgeous display of fruit, with boysenberry, raspberry and blackberry coulis notes that are fresh and racy, allied to a graphite spine and framed judiciously with a well-singed apple wood accent. This has a lot of coiled-up energy. Best from 2022 through 2035. 2,000 cases made.

95
James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com, February 2017

A wine that is very difficult to taste (and to judge) at this point, Valandraud is big, bold and compact with lashings of new oak and firm tannins that dry the palate on the finish. There's plenty of fruit too, but the wine may or may not integrate with time. All that's lacking is some freshness.

91
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2015
Read more tasting notes...

Having tasted the 2014 Valandraud blind as part of a complete vertical in December, you may ask what is the point in revisiting it a manner of weeks afterwards? Well, Jean-Luc submitted three or four bottles to subsequent tastings, so I feel that I should honor his participation by saying that these vindicated the showing back in December. There remains that exuberance on the nose with layers of blackberry and blueberry, the palate still sumptuous and stocked, full of dense black cherry and cassis fruit. It could have been pushed too far, but it pulls everything back on the finish to retain the detail and freshness you expect. Tasted February 2017. Drink Date 2022-2045

94
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (Interim En), April 2017

The Château Valandraud 2014 does not mess about on the aromatics. There is no holding back here with its plush blackcurrant pastille and vivacious crème de cassis and violet-scents, but as usual, Jean-Luc Thunévin has retained superb delineation and exquisite purity. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated ripe tannin and a keen line of acidity; a sense of symmetry and precision on the finish. It is modern in style for sure, but there is quality and craftsmanship interwoven into this Saint Emilion. This is as sophisticated as anything you will find on the Right Bank. Drink: 2019 - 2035

93/95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com (218), April 2015

A rich wine with fine tannins and fruits. Full body, very polished texture and a wonderful length. There's an attractive mineral and a fresh tobacco character to the wine.

92/93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2015
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.