Pete

9.3

Black cherry, chocolate, tannins are light, semi dry, would buy again. We both enjoyed it. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

I debated giving this a NR for its rating as this tastes like a wine that is made to taste a certain way rather than a wine made to express its region, but there is a tasty factor in play. Bordeaux blend. Michel Rolland consulted on the winemaking. 2nd vintage.

This is real suave and sexy in style, but I could see this being from a multitude of places. Ripe and decadent fruit that seems to just now be calming down 13yrs later. Mostly red and black fruits (black cherry compote), and cherry vanilla pipe tobacco both aromatically and on the palate. Stops short of being hedonistic, but the mid palate is dense. Finish brings some currant and herbal flair to tie back to Italy. Tannic but not a monster.

Decanted an hour and finished the next day, it didn’t experience much change. I’d consume these in the next 3-5yrs. — 4 years ago

Diego Sarniguet

9.0

Yacochuya M. Rolland.
Strong, woody malbec. Expresive in the nose. Rich — 5 years ago

James Parker Huston, CWE

Sommelier Charlie Palmer

9.3

The family Estate of Michel Rolland, aka The Good Shepherd. This wine was in an amazing place with dried black plum, black berry, raspberry with secondary notes of bakers chocolate, fine herbs and toast. $85 at Auction was a steal. — 5 years ago

Ron R

9.4

Home alone, and as a result, I can return to some French faves. Regretfully, wifey tastes vomit if it’s anything other than a Napa fruit-bomb. Yes, I’m exaggerating, but you get my point...
This is on another level. 2009 was in my opinion a breakout year for this winery. With the winery renovations complete in 09, and Michel Rolland consulting on the winemaking, it’s easy to see the future state. This is a Merlot blend with double digit cab franc, and a dollop of cab sauv. I poured this pretty much at cellar temp (unusual for a typical Bdx), and it’s simply wonderful at this point.
Nose displays kirsch, nutmeg and a hint of sweet tobacco. The palate explodes with fresh black fruits, brown sugar, bold tannins, and a touch of white pepper. Judicious oak treatment allows the components and winemaking to take center-stage. A very contemporary example, which will sail on for another 15 years, minimum.
@Deborah M, your gentle nudge moved me. While I didn’t decant, I did open it 2hrs prior to tasting 🙂 — 6 years ago

with Mo

Shay A

9.5

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

This wine is made by John Duvall of Penfolds. Dark overripe berries, smoke, cassis, currant and some smoked bacon. Not the northern Rhône/Cayuse like funky Syrahs...this is more Napa Syrah that is rich, structured and voluptuous. Notes of violets and caramel. One of my favorites of the night. — 8 years ago

with Mark

Shay A

9.2

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

Dominant Sangiovese with some cab and a splash of Syrah. Rich style sangio wine. Sweet oak, dirty cherries, herbs, and a high percentage/bitter dark chocolate. — 8 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.4

This is really very nice. Balanced, respectable, calm and soft. Smooth mouthfeel, silky tannines, plummy fruit. Peak drinking, I’d say.
Mr. Rolland was consulting… RIP.
🙏🏻 — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Here's another beautiful wine from the Michel Rolland consulting collection.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Full bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Showing blackberries, black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, alcohol, peppercorn, tobacco leaf, herbs and licorice.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel. Nicely aged with a beautiful nose, that I kept smelling on. Looks and feels much younger.

The alcohol is still noticeable, which surprised me a little.

I had this vintage before, and it seems like this 14 year old has reached its peak a year or two ago.

Feels like a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley with a splash of Bordeaux.

Delicious right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in French oak barrels for 36 months.

15% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$55. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.6

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous one from Napa.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, cooked cherries, chocolates, black currants, tobacco, vanilla, licorice, cedar, spices, light alcohol, eucalyptus and peppercorn.

Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, spices, tobacco, chocolates, dark coffee, graphite and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

A delicious Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux blend from the great 2014 vintage. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Fruit forward, elegant and rich. Opulent and tasty. Shows great complexity already, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

I've had many wines from Michel Rolland, from all over the world, and I always enjoyed them. Never disappoints and always a pleasure.

Thank you Scott for sharing this beautiful wine with me.

Wine Enthusiasts 95 points. Robert Parker 96 points.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime, and good by itself as a sipping wine. No need for food at all, but will pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (80% New). Only 370 cases produced. Some of the fruit come from To Kalon and Stagecoach Vineyards.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$175. — 5 years ago

with Scott

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2015 / Great effort. Rich smell with vannila cherry bonbon and chocolate. Brushwood. Coffee. Michel Rolland is consultant. — 7 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.4

Fully opaque ruby violet offering aromas of black cherry, cassis, cocoa powder, coffee, and cedar. Full bodied, soft, and fruit forward with incredible mid-palate density. The tannins are fine grained and alcohol is 14.6%. Made from a blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot sourced from vineyards like Beckstoffer’s Orchard Lane and Dr. Crane and aged in 65% new French oak. Along with Duckhorn, this is one of my favorite California Merlots and is crafted by winemaker Benoit Touquette and consultant Michel Rolland to drink young. I favor a pop and pour approach. $95. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.5

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

This is made by Melka and is Cab dominant with merlot, petit Verdot and Malbec to round it out. Possibly nose of the night! Smells of sweet, rich Cabernet without being jammy. This is all finesse. Red and black fruit pie, and cocoa. Great texture. — 8 years ago

with Mark

Irina Georgieva

9.6

Amazing wine! — 5 months ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

A steal on auction
I wouldn’t consider it a 🥩 wine but great with charcuterie
Web info
Chateau Valandraud is represented by the passion of a couple: Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud. Following the great success with the wine merchant business in Saint Emilion, they opened their own vineyard to produce their own wine.
In 1989, they bought a small parcel of 0.6 hectare (1.48 acres) located in a small valley near Saint Emilion between Pavie-Macquin and La Clotte. The origin of the wine name is as much geographic (Val: Vallon de Fongaban), as sentimental (Andraud: Murielle’s maiden name). Thus Chateau Valandraud was born.
Little by little, Jean-Luc and his wife purchased several other parcels of vines, and now, the domain represents a total surface of 10 hectares (24.71 acres), located in various areas of Saint Emilion. The diversity of soils and varietals permit the production of 6 different wines: Chateau Valandraud, Chateau Valandraud Casher, Virginie de Valandraud and the 3 de Valandraud (the second wine of Chateau Valandraud and Virginie de Valandraud), Blanc de Valandraud N° 1 and N° 2.
The final blending of the various parcels occurs in the month of March, following a blind tasting with the help of the world famous oenologist, Michel Rolland. — 3 years ago

Paul ewing

9.4

Had on Easter Pete Carol Tom’s wine — 5 years ago

James Patullo

9.0

Costco - very tasty — 6 years ago

Kyle Harvey

8.9

Assault on Japanese Natural Wine Scene Wine No. 2 - good balance for supermarket Languedoc natty blend — 7 years ago

Frédéric Leteurtre

9.4

très bonne découverte — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

Approachable red blend. To me, this is the pop and pour wine out of the lineup. Very plush. This reminds me of Flora Springs Trilogy Blend out of Napa with a bit more fruit on the finish. More milk chocolate than dark. Boysenberry, blue and black fruit medley. — 8 years ago

with Mark