Lot presentation

Château de Valandraud 1er Grand Cru Classé B depuis 2012 2003

The wine

Bottled without fining or filtration after being aged for 20 months in new barrels, this extraordinarily rich wine is an undeniable success. Magnificently concentrated, it has pronounced aromas of blackcurrants and young cherries, later developing mocha aromas. The predominance of the Merlot grape lends it its suave, seductive character in the mouth. Ready for drinking after 8-20 years' keeping.

About the Producer Château de Valandraud

In 1989, restaurateur and wine merchant Jean-Luc Thunevin and his wife Murielle acquired a small plot of vines (less than a hectare) in Saint-Emilion. The first vintage of Château de Valandraud was produced in 1991. The Thunevin family were involved throughout the winemaking process, seeking perfection at every stage… starting in the vineyard, where Murielle tended the vines on a daily basis. From 2001, organic methods were adopted in the vineyard, which had previously been treated with a minimum pesticides approach. A superb wine prized by connoisseurs all over the world, its price has risen dramatically due to the small quantities that were produced: 4,200 bottles in 1993, 9,000 in 1994, 11,400 in 1995 and about 12,000 bottles a year thereafter. The Thunevin family have since purchased ten more hectares spread across the Saint-Emilion appellation. The term garage wine has thus come to apply less and less to Château Valandraud, which now also produces a second wine, Virginie de Valandraud. At the 2012 reclassification of Saint-Emilion wines, Valandraud was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B status.

Detailed characteristics