Valandraud 2005

St Emilion, Grand Cru

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy
12	75cl Bottle	Case 12	£2,550 per Case	Case	[Add to shopping basket]

Tasting Notes
Very dark crimson. Round and glossy even if not very intense. Dry end. Quite serious but a little bit too much extraction/tannin. Score: 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2021 16 August 2009
Saturated, deep ruby-red. Very complex aromas of plum, mocha, iron and minerals, lifted by a floral topnote. Wonderfully lush and smooth in the mouth, with fully ripe flavors of black raspberry, currant, licorice and mocha perfectly supported by ripe acidity. This boasts terrific balance and somehow manages to hide its 14.5% alcohol. Finishes impressively long, with big but thoroughly ripe tannins. The pH here is a very reasonable 3.6, notes Jean-Luc Thunevin. A splendid vintage for Valandraud, and likely to evolve slowly. Score: 94 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2008
This is one of the most riveting examples of Valandraud Jean-Luc Thunevin has made over the last fifteen years. Thunevin and his partner, Murielle Andraud (who has much of the responsibility for their brilliant Margaux, Marojallia), exhibit impeccable attention to detail, resulting in an inky/blue/purple-colored 2005 Valandraud boasting a sweet nose of melted chocolate, licorice, graphite, espresso roast, and copious quantities of black cherries and blackberries. Pure, layered, and full-bodied, with gorgeous integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol, and wood, this stunning effort will be drinkable in 7-8 years, and should keep for three decades. Slightly more than 16,000 bottles were produced. Score: 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2038 30 April 2008
The 2005 Valandraud should turn out to be one of their greatest efforts. Although closed, it reveals phenomenal texture, a dense purple color, and a gorgeous bouquet of espresso, chocolate, sweet blackberry and currant fruit, and hints of lead pencil shavings and incense. With extraordinary purity, layers of concentration, full-bodied power, and elegance as well as symmetry, this stunning St.-Emilion should be at its peak between 2012-2030. The irrepressible de facto head of the garagiste movement, Jean-Luc Thunevin, along with his partner, Murielle Andraud, continue to achieve marvelous things at this estate, always pushing the envelope of quality. Score: 93 - 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2030 30 April 2007
A terrific effort from bad boy and leading garagiste, Jean-Luc Thunevin, and his sidekick, Murielle Andraud, the inky/blue/purple-tinged 2005 Valandraud exhibits superb aromas of graphite, black currants, blackberries, violets, white chocolate, sweet licorice, and espresso roast. Boasting great intensity, full-bodied power, beautiful purity, and layers of complexity, this stunning wine should be unusually long-lived. Score: 93 - 96 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2025+ 30 April 2006
Dark ruby in color, with intense aromas of blackberry, mineral and dried lavender. Full-bodied, very dense and layered, with powerful tannins. This is big and very rich. A bodybuilder. Needs time. Best after 2016. 1,330 cases made. Score: 95 James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2016+ 31 March 2008
Astounding. Intense aromas of crushed berries, violets and toasted oak. Full-bodied and wonderfully concentrated. Long and velvety. Out of the garage. Serious. Could be best ever here. Score: 95 - 100 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 1900
Jean-Luc Thunevin was the auteur of the garage phenomenon with the first vintage of Valandraud in 1991 sparking a wave of imitators. Since then, Valandraud has enjoyed huge success although prices have not been shy. 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Rigorous selection in the vineyard, maximum ripeness and talented winemaking result in enormously rich and concentrated wines. Aromas of ripe berries and currants with notes of chocolate and espresso. There is impressive power, grip and density here but it is well-controlled with good overall balance and freshness. Score: - Albany Vintners, - 01 January 1900

Tasting Notes

Very dark crimson. Round and glossy even if not very intense. Dry end. Quite serious but a little bit too much extraction/tannin.

Score: 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2021 16 August 2009

Saturated, deep ruby-red. Very complex aromas of plum, mocha, iron and minerals, lifted by a floral topnote. Wonderfully lush and smooth in the mouth, with fully ripe flavors of black raspberry, currant, licorice and mocha perfectly supported by ripe acidity. This boasts terrific balance and somehow manages to hide its 14.5% alcohol. Finishes impressively long, with big but thoroughly ripe tannins. The pH here is a very reasonable 3.6, notes Jean-Luc Thunevin. A splendid vintage for Valandraud, and likely to evolve slowly.

Score: 94

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2008

This is one of the most riveting examples of Valandraud Jean-Luc Thunevin has made over the last fifteen years. Thunevin and his partner, Murielle Andraud (who has much of the responsibility for their brilliant Margaux, Marojallia), exhibit impeccable attention to detail, resulting in an inky/blue/purple-colored 2005 Valandraud boasting a sweet nose of melted chocolate, licorice, graphite, espresso roast, and copious quantities of black cherries and blackberries. Pure, layered, and full-bodied, with gorgeous integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol, and wood, this stunning effort will be drinkable in 7-8 years, and should keep for three decades. Slightly more than 16,000 bottles were produced.

Score: 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2038 30 April 2008

The 2005 Valandraud should turn out to be one of their greatest efforts. Although closed, it reveals phenomenal texture, a dense purple color, and a gorgeous bouquet of espresso, chocolate, sweet blackberry and currant fruit, and hints of lead pencil shavings and incense. With extraordinary purity, layers of concentration, full-bodied power, and elegance as well as symmetry, this stunning St.-Emilion should be at its peak between 2012-2030. The irrepressible de facto head of the garagiste movement, Jean-Luc Thunevin, along with his partner, Murielle Andraud, continue to achieve marvelous things at this estate, always pushing the envelope of quality.

Score: 93 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2030 30 April 2007

A terrific effort from bad boy and leading garagiste, Jean-Luc Thunevin, and his sidekick, Murielle Andraud, the inky/blue/purple-tinged 2005 Valandraud exhibits superb aromas of graphite, black currants, blackberries, violets, white chocolate, sweet licorice, and espresso roast. Boasting great intensity, full-bodied power, beautiful purity, and layers of complexity, this stunning wine should be unusually long-lived.

Score: 93 - 96

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2025+ 30 April 2006

Dark ruby in color, with intense aromas of blackberry, mineral and dried lavender. Full-bodied, very dense and layered, with powerful tannins. This is big and very rich. A bodybuilder. Needs time. Best after 2016. 1,330 cases made.

Score: 95

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2016+ 31 March 2008

Astounding. Intense aromas of crushed berries, violets and toasted oak. Full-bodied and wonderfully concentrated. Long and velvety. Out of the garage. Serious. Could be best ever here.

Score: 95 - 100

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 1900

Jean-Luc Thunevin was the auteur of the garage phenomenon with the first vintage of Valandraud in 1991 sparking a wave of imitators. Since then, Valandraud has enjoyed huge success although prices have not been shy. 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Rigorous selection in the vineyard, maximum ripeness and talented winemaking result in enormously rich and concentrated wines. Aromas of ripe berries and currants with notes of chocolate and espresso. There is impressive power, grip and density here but it is well-controlled with good overall balance and freshness.

Score: -

Albany Vintners, - 01 January 1900

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