2008 Valandraud
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Tasting notes
The 2008 Valandraud is drinking beautifully today, with loads of fruit and texture, yet also elegance and purity. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, dried earth, spice, and dried flowers flow to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured 2008 that has ripe, present tannins, loads of fruit and texture, and a great finish. It’s drinking brilliantly today yet has another 10-15 years of longevity.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Valandraud has a generous nose that is ripe, more animally and savory than its peers, touches of fennel developing and almost garrigues in style. The palate is sweet and candied on the entry with high-toned, iodine-tinged red fruit lavished in new wood. There is a fine line of acidity but it feels a little hard and short towards the pencil lead finish, possibly from the Cabernet Franc contribution. It took time to come around in the glass but it does open with flourish, so decanting is advisable. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 10-Year On tasting.
Tasted blind. Juicy, fruity and quite an open wine with only the fine veil of tannin underneath to remind us it also has a future. (JR)
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.