Chateau Valandraud Saint-Emilion 1. Grand Cru Classe B 2022 i trækasse

Wine Maniacs

Bettane & Desseauve

Jeb Dunnuck

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château Valandraud is based on 88% Merlot and the balance an even split of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has incredible purity in its cassis and darker, almost blue fruits as well as notes of candied violets, licorice, and spicy oak. Full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, it has perfect tannins, a great mid-palate, and flawless balance. It reminds me of hypothetical blend of the 2010 and 2009, with perhaps plenty of similarities to the 2020 as well.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

Inky dark in color, the wine explodes from the glass with its bouquet of wild flowers, violets, camphor, cinnamon, saffron, licorice and plum liqueur. The nose rocks, but the palate takes it to a new level. Opulent fruits drenched in velvet with intensity, purity, and electric vibrancy. The fruit caresses, and coats your palate with almost surreal levels of fruit, that magically remain light on its feet. The seamless finish lingers, builds, and expands for almost 60 seconds. It was 9am when I tasted this, and after making sure nobody was looking, I drained my glass with pleasure. This is a new level of quality for Valandraud, and that is saying something. Blending 88% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.5% ABV, 3.55 pH. Harvesting took place September 15 - October 5. Drink from 2027-2055.

Bettane et Desseauve

James Suckling

This is very rich and flamboyant yet it remains bright and vivid with a lovely fine tannin structure running through the wine. Bright acidity with a pH of 3.55 gives this energy and focus. 88% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 6% cabernet sauvignon.

The Wine Independent

The 2022 Valandraud is a blend of 88% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, aging for 18-24 months in 100% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, it spills from the glass with notes of baked black plums, boysenberry preserves, and fruitcake, leading to an undercurrent of cedar chest, Indian spices, and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, rich, and spicy, the palate has fantastic tension and a firm, fine-grained texture, finishing with great length. pH 3.55.

Antonio Galloni

The 2022 Valandraud is magnificent. Rich and sumptuous to the core, the 2022 offers up inky red/purplish fruit, blood orange, spice, mocha and espresso, with nearly seamless texture and fabulous balance. Bright acids and beams of tannin lend shape and energy. Jean-Luc Thunevin and Muriel Andraud crafted a wine that captures the textural opulence that first turned heads here, but with an added kick of energy that reflects a more contemporary approach and also the style of the year. There is absolutely no sign of the 100% new oak, always a good measure of balance. I imagine this full throttle Saint-Émilion will need a number of years to shed some of its considerable baby fat. The 2022 showed beautifully at Thunevin, but showed even better in a large comparative tasting. Yields were a very generous 50 hectoliters per hectare, very much on the high side here. Jean-Luc Thunevin adds that he may opt for slightly shorter élevage in barrel than the norm of around 18 months. Drinking window : 2032-2052

Jane Anson

Intensely deep colour, this is ink laid over ink. Manages to somehow deliver a stunning depth of black and blue fruits while still allowing some air in among the concentration. Has purity, depth and intelligence in its approach and construction. Be prepared for the waves of exuberant complexity, a wine where you brain beings to say no, but the oyster shell mouthwatering finish, and the clear grain to the tannic frame, convinces you otherwise. Limestone working its magic. 3.5.ph, 100% new oak.

Terre de Vins

Andrew Caillard MW

Deep colour. Fresh blackcurrant black cherry dark chocolate aromas with cedar notes. Beautifully balanced wine with lovely desne pure dark berry fruits, plentiful chalky/ cedary tannins and well integrated mocha, roasted chestnut notes. Lovely vinosity and volume. Top notch. (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon 100% new oak)

Decanter

Smells intensely perfumed and fragrant on the nose. Keeps much more of a linear, tense and focussed palate, with tangy fruit that has both sharp and crystalline aspects as well as toasted spice, liquorice and clove giving some savoury aspects. Nice detail and precision, you can feel each of the fine tannins and the fruit has clarity as well as concentration. Nicely intense, tannins are great and this has good persistence. Feels young of course and a bit compact but there's lots to like with layers of flavour and texture and a long finish.

Alexandre Ma

Château Valandraud 2022, with its grand structure, rich tannins, and multidimensional spiciness, defies the typical characteristics of the vintage. Given the high concentration of the 2022 vintage, I anticipated a "passionate" reception from Château Valandraud, yet it surprised me with an unexpected acidity upon entry. The wine's body is firm yet soft, like a black Mozzarella melting in the mouth. However, if it could reveal more of its berry fruit aroma after aging, it would certainly ascend to a higher level.

La Revue du Vin de France

Matthew Jukes