Valandraud 2001

As hard as it may be to believe, Valandraud’s 2001 is better than their 2000. One of the great efforts from proprietors Murielle Andraud and Jean-Luc Thunevin, the 2001 Valandraud boasts a saturated plum/purple color as well as a sumptuously sweet nose of Varhona chocolate intertwined with espresso roast, blackberries, cherry jam, and currants. Full-bodied, opulent, voluptuously textured, pure, rich, and seriously endowed, this is a brilliant effort from Bordeaux’s leading revolutionary. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. By the way, the kosher cuvee of this wine merits 91-92 points. It is undeniably the finest kosher wine I have ever tasted

Jean-Luc Thunevin and his wife Murielle think 2001 might be superior to 2000 ... for them. They may well be right, as this is certainly one of the most impressive wines of the vintage. Inky blue/purple in color, with an extraordinary nose of espresso roast, chocolate, ripe blackberries, and cassis, this full-bodied, dense, concentrated effort looks like it is going to be one of the greatest Valandrauds made since this estate burst onto the scene. In short, this is a serious, impressive effort from one of Bordeaux's qualitative revolutionaries. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020.