"Odedi"

9.0

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color, almost Inky, with a wide reddish/brick rim.

On the nose sweet cherries, raspberries, plums, black currants, tobacco leaf, light cedar, licorice, eucalyptus, black pepper, vegetables, black tea, herbs, Indian spices and lights acetone.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables, earth, light forest floor, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium minus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 6 year old Merlot from Bordeaux is still drinking nicely, but will not get any better from this point on.

Showing nice complexity at this point. Elegant and good right out of the bottle. Feels fresh on the palate, but the nose shows more age.

I gave it an hour in the decanter to open up. Lots of herb notes show up as it opens up.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

A blend of 75% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$20. — a day ago

Carter White

9.4

Prominent black and green pepper, wrapped around a core of black fruit: blackberry, plum, black currant, accented by cedar, graphite, and fresh asphalt. Full bodied and grippy, but also vibrant and fresh. — 3 years ago

Ben Barnes

9.6

Banging flavours. — 6 years ago

Paul T HB

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. — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2015 vintage. Owned by the Vauthier family (Ausone, Moulin Saint Georges and La Clotte). A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and interestingly 5% Carnenere and 5% Petit Verdot. Seriously reduced, I wildly double-decanted the wine, and struggled with the nose for over an hour before it finally started to shine. My patience was rewarded as the beast miraculously turned into some kind of a beauty. Ripe red fruit, violets and a mineral touch. — 3 years ago

Jack Tan

8.9

Smooth velvety finish. Very aromatic nose. St emillon does not disappoint! — 7 years ago

Thomas Lengyel

9.2

$17 Medium nose. Notes of black fruit, cinnamon, baking spice, and clove on the nose. Dry. Full-bodied. Medium-plus acid. Medium tannins. Medium alcohol. Well balanced. Notes of blackberry, tobacco, forest floor, and a hint of strawberry. This is a very nice example of a Bordeaux blend. It's full-bodied and dry with some subtle hints of fruit. It would make a wonderful companion to a nice big steak. Definitely drink again! — 2 years ago

Ron from VA

9.2

This is a beautiful 80/20 blend that I brought back from visit Montpelier. This was chosen for me at a shop to reflect the region I was visiting. While a bit simple and direct, the structure conveys the elegance and mouthfeel with clarity. A delightful blackberry & thyme waltz. — 2 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.4

Elegant and already approachable with lovely black fruit (especially black cherry) and red fruit, a hint of mocha, mint and leather and just enough tannin to give it body and texture. Lovely with a long life ahead. 80% Merlot, 15% cab Franca, 5% cab Sauvignon. — 6 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.1

2010 vintage. Stunning young sauternes. Very nicely integrated, not cloying in any way. Fresh as dew. Gentle nose of botrytis and and citrus. Medium finish. — 7 years ago