Conrad Green

9.2

Oily and intense. Really packed with flavor and quite blocky. Some nice refined notes — 24 days ago

with Paul and Ara

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

Jay Kline

9.0

The second wine of Chateau Pavie Macquin. Popped and poured, this needed at least 90 minutes to even begin to open up. In the glass, dark ruby with a nearly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, medium intensity with dark cherries, some purple flowers and freshly tilled earth. On the palate, dark cherries, plums, tobacco, and earth. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Long and satisfying finish. Drink now with patience or hold for the next 10 years, easy. — 5 years ago

Philip Deibel

9.7

My review did not post previously for some reason. This is a very impressive wine. Even over several hours it was continuing to open up and show additional layers. I wish we had saved some for the following night but we couldn’t help but finish it! From a small lieu-dit on the right bank next to Pavie and Troplong-Mondot. I had specific thoughts last month but they will have to wait for the next bottle. But I HIGHLY recommend Component wines. Actually, I recommend anything by Michael Kennedy. He has a Napa and Bordeaux line, along with the newly announced Gagnon-Kennedy brand from historic Napa sources. Come along for the ride! — 6 years ago

Tim Schroeder

10

Delicious! Balanced between affordable-good American style cab-based red and something more austerely French. Hard for me to guess the grape(s), but is there a touch of cab franc? Has definitely benefited from six years of age. — 8 years ago

with Amanda

Steven Lee

9.4

World cup wine - france vs uruguay. Need 3hrs decanting. Crushed rocks, mineral and herbs. Chalky powdery standard st emilion signature. Missing truffle but got cigarbox towards the end — 8 years ago

Juan Mendez

9.7

Enjoyed at Del Frisco — 3 months ago

with Allyson

Suren Divanyan

9.2

Shamoun’s rating. — 10 months ago

John Van Trijp

9.9

Powerful but very well balanced. Long aftertaste. Impressive — 3 years ago

Ming L

9.0

Ripe plum, black currant, cedar, black pepper, a hint of rusted iron on the nose. Dense palate. Bright acidity. Firm tannins leads to an slightly astringent finish.
Not quite ready yet. Need at least another 5 years.
Clos Labarde is a 4.5ha estate a stone throw from Pavie. 16’ is the last vintage before it’s sold to an insurance company for a cool $3.5m/ha. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2016 vintage. Nicolas Thienpont is a great winemaker at 3 Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classés Beauséjour HDL, Pavie Macquin and Larcis Ducasse +Grand Cru Classé Berliquet + a few estates in the Côtes de Bordeaux). This Côtes de Francs is probably the most humble in his stable, but it's a very serious wine. A blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, it features a dark red colour colour with a purplish rim, a complex nose with blueberry and strawberry fruit, flowers and cocoa powder. The fruit is packed in a tight ripe tannic structure, with balancing acidity and serious length. I would recommend to give this overachiever a few years of bottle age. Abv. 14,5%. Great value at 12,90 euro. — 6 years ago

Monika Elling

9.2

Layered, complex and drinking beautifully. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.1

This was rich & ripe but lacked the finesse & balance of the Pavie. — 8 years ago

Raul Puga

9.8

WOW. Just WOW. Celebrating my 28th wedding anniversary and this wine was stunning. Pop and pour deliciousness — 3 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2018 vintage. A blend of Merlot (65%), Cabernet Franc (20%), and Cabernet Sauvignon from diverse vineyards in Saint-Emilion and Côtes de Castillon owned by the Perse family. Aged for 15 months in used barrels from Pavie and Monbousquet. A solid,bold wine, ready to drink, with good fruit and some of the chalkiness that I associate with Castillon. Abv. 14,5%. — 6 months ago

Jason Brater

9.1

This one seemed to maybe have started bricking. Slow to open. Seemed past its prime. After an hour or so it came alive and rivaled the Pavie. Be patient once opened, but drink em if you got em. — 4 years ago

Steven Lee

9.3

Easter wine. Good nose. better than pavie — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2014 vintage. This historical estate with great terroir surrounded by famous neighbours like Angélus, Ausone, Pavie etc. is going from strength to strength after it was bought by Denise and Stephen Adams (also owners of Château L'Enclos in Pomerol and ADAMVS in Napa Valley). 2014 vintage. 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Biodynamically farmed (since 2009, certification in 2020). Intriguing attractive nose with an amazing minerality, intertwined with cassis and a hint of truffle. In the mouth it is initially a bit severe, if classy. I would recommend decanting or taste it over several hours. After a few hours the fruit shines through compensating the tight tannic structure and the acidity. Built to age, I feel this will deserve a higher score in 5 or 6 years. It's a very classic restrained wine that definitely has an understated class. Nice value at under 50 euros if you like this style. — 6 years ago

Paul J

9.2

Way way too young! Massive oak, vanilla, and coconut on the nose. Very little fruit, but solid earth and tar. This will be really nice in a decade! Somewhat American like, but needs to mature. Not bad, I was aggressive in opening. — 7 years ago

with Brooke

Bill Bender

9.6

A completely different wine than the Dominus. This was full throttle and slams you back in to your seat with its G forces. So ripe, almost over the top; but it decelerates just in time and the finish is so succulent it lingers in your mouth forever. Filled to the tip of the cork with graphite and teeth staining purple fruit. This is the malevolent bastard child of a young Colgin IX Syrah and 2000 Chateau Pavie. Gobsmacker. — 8 years ago