2001 Chateau Valandraud 1x75cl

Vinous – 91+

Bright medium ruby. Enticing black raspberry and bitter chocolate aromas. Sweet, supple and broad but not at all over the top. Rich flavors of cocoa powder and spices. Today the wine’s big, rich, chewy tannins are a bit stern, but the wine’s length is impressive. Right-Bank Satellite Appellations and Others [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/2004]

JancisRobinson.com – 14.0

Oxidised nose. Loose and dusty and over the top on the nose and then very tough on the finish. Oak tincture. [17/01/2008]

Robert Parker – 95

Tasted blind at the Valandraud vertical at the property, the 2001 Valandraud is a vintage that I had tasted previously but had not impressed. Well, here it gave a totally different impression (paired blind against a superb 2001 Opus One incidentally). It has a deep color with very little ageing. The bouquet offers intense black cherries, mulberry, orange rind and cedar aromas that are vigorous and very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and superb tension. The texture feels slightly chalky, almost as if from calcareous soils, and you can feel the energy towards the vivid red cherry and raspberry coulis-tinged finish. This is only just beginning to show what it can do. This is equal to the 2000 Valandraud and might actually be the better long-term bet. Tasted December 2016. [28/09/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035