Château Valandraud Saint-Emilion 2018 - 1er Grand Cru Classé B

Decanter

About the wine:

From the very first whiff, you’ll discover rich, refined fruit. This is a full-bodied, powerful Valandraud that offers seductive and alluring notes of burnt caramel and pencil lead set against rich black cherry and plum flavors. It maintains full maturity all the way through the finish, with beautiful fruit concentration. This is a great wine, confident and sure to please. (2026–2042)

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Aged extensively for two years in oak barrels, this wine fully embraces its richness and robust character. Yet its full-bodied texture is balanced by an irresistible smoothness, savory notes of perfectly ripe black fruit, and remarkable freshness. The firm tannins remain silky and superbly integrated; this reflects great skill and dedication. A distinctive style that makes for a wine you can count on.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

A hint of truffle, roasted notes, mocha, a touch of toast, and forest floor aromas... This vintage embodies all the passion of the Thunevin winemaking style. It’s incredibly warm, with slightly cloying tannins.

About the estate:

“Created from scratch by Jean-Luc Thunevin and his wife, Muriel, in the early 1990s, Valandraud is a remarkable ‘success story,’ the kind that only the social mobility of Bordeaux’s Right Bank can offer. Built from a single hectare of vineyards in Saint-Émilion, the estate—which now covers 10 hectares in the commune of Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse—has established itself as one of Bordeaux’s most expensive and sought-after wines. The strong personality of its owner and, above all, his keen business acumen have played a major role in this success. But today, it is the contents of the Valandraud bottle that draw in enthusiasts of this astonishing, exotic wine—sensual upon release and one that also ages exceptionally well. While it was once the leader of the “garage wine” movement, Valandraud no longer fits that category. Nevertheless, the methods have not changed; the vineyard remains one of the best-maintained in Bordeaux, and the wine continues to benefit from all of Jean-Luc Thunevin’s expertise.”

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Château Valandraud still retains that woody note it displays from the very start, but as the vintages progress, it becomes more balanced. It is complemented—and even surpassed—by nuances of black berries. The wine’s rich flavor profile is perfectly highlighted and supported by a sharp, refined acidity that lends it vibrancy, while the smooth, fine-grained tannins surprise with their ability to impart power. This wine unfolds very slowly on the palate, much like many great wines from 2019. What energy, what power, and what savory depth! When charm gives way to boldness, sweetness becomes energizing! This is certainly one of the greatest Valandrauds of the past decade. (2026–2049)

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Deep, intense, purple color. A very aromatic nose, both subtle and powerful. Smooth on the palate at first, rich and full-bodied in the mid-palate, and complex as well; the wine develops deep nuances on the finish, with good flavor and a subtle hint of oak. It’s very good.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is elegant, refined, and beautifully developed, offering power, lovely finesse in the texture, and a subtle velvety quality. It features notes of wild blackcurrant, blackberry, violet, and, more subtly, fleshy berries, combined with hints of raspberry, cherry blossom, and nutmeg, as well as subtle touches of tonka bean, pepper, and blond tobacco, along with a very subtle hint of saffron (in the background) and toast. On the palate, it is fresh, fruity, and balanced, offering a juicy, subtly tart structure, minerality, beautiful finesse of texture, structure, definition, power, and a certain aromatic purity. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy, juicy blackcurrant; juicy blackberry with a hint of violet; juicy, vibrant blueberry; and juicy raspberry, combined with hints of juicy, fresh redcurrant, lilac, lily, as well as hints of chocolate and tonka bean, toasted notes, nutmeg, cardamom, blond tobacco, a subtle hint of Sichuan pepper, and imperceptible hints of saffron, coffee, and Bourbon vanilla bean. The tannins are beautifully fine and supple. A wine full of delicacy and sensitivity! Congratulations!

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About the wine:

Clearly leaning toward oak, the 2018 Château Valandraud impresses with its dense and complex nose. On the palate, the wine is dense, with structuring tannins that are still young, and its pronounced acidity helps to tighten the overall structure. However, it remains somewhat marked by oak, a sensation that aging should smooth out. Best enjoyed by 2038.