Domaine Virginie Thunevin Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Valandraud Thunevin

Learn everything about Domaine Virginie Thunevin Bordeaux with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Domaine Virginie Thunevin History, Overview

Domaine Virginie Thunevin takes its name from the daughter of Murielle Andraud and Jean-Luc Thunevin. In case you are one of the few people that do not know or are not familiar with the Thunevin name, Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud are the owners of Valandraud in Saint Emilion, along with several other hot, Right Bank vineyards. Jean Luc Thunevin also owns a successful, negociant company, located in St. Emilion as well.

Domaine Virginie Thunevin Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 13.5-hectare vineyard of Domaine Virginie Thunevin is planted to 100% Merlot. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc have been removed.

The vines are old, at a respectable average of 40 years of age. Located on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, the vineyard has a good terroir, with clay and limestone soils on the plateau of Lalande-de-Fronsac.

To produce the wine of Domaine Virginie Thunevin, the vinification takes place in traditional, square-shaped, cement vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of cement tanks, and French oak barrels that are mostly used, but a small percentage is new, French oak barrels for 11 months before bottling.

Half the wine is then aged in cement vats, along with the other half the wine that is then placed into new and used, French, oak barrels for aging, before bottling. The average annual production is close to 4,500 cases of wine per year for Domaine Virginie Thunevin.

The best vintages of Virginie Thunevin are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

When to Drink Domaine Virginie Thunevin, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Domaine Virginie Thunevin is much better with 2-4 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for 1 hour allowing the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Domaine Virginie Thunevin offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-8 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Domaine Virginie Thunevin with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Domaine Virginie Thunevin is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Domaine Virginie Thunevin is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Domaine Virginie Thunevin is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Domaine Virginie Thunevin is a fine example of a fruit-forward, easy to drink, uncomplicated, Merlot dominated, Bordeaux value wine.

www.thunevin.com

Domaine Virginie Thunevin Wine Tasting Notes

13 Vintages 34,722 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2023
90
Flowers, cherries, licorice and espresso already show in the nose. Medium-bodied, forward, soft, fresh, energetic, and fruity, this is going to be delicious on release. Drink from 2026-2032. 89-91 Pts.

Flowers, cherries, licorice and espresso already show in the nose. Medium-bodied, forward, soft, fresh, energetic, and fruity, this is going to be delicious on release. Drink from 2026-2032. 89-91 Pts.

863 Views   Tasted
2022
91
Vanilla, spice, licorice, herbs, plums and espresso form the core of this wines character. On the palate, the wine is soft, medium-bodied, supple, creamy and loaded with chocolate-coated plums and black cherries that stick with you. Drink from 2025-2032. 90-92 Pts.

Vanilla, spice, licorice, herbs, plums and espresso form the core of this wines character. On the palate, the wine is soft, medium-bodied, supple, creamy and loaded with chocolate-coated plums and black cherries that stick with you. Drink from 2025-2032. 90-92 Pts.

2,371 Views   Tasted
2021
89
Black cherries, smoke, espresso and leafy tobacco notes come on strong in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft and supple, finishing with light cherries and a smidgeon of dark cocoa on the backend. This is going to be delicious on release. Drink from 2024-2031.

Black cherries, smoke, espresso and leafy tobacco notes come on strong in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft and supple, finishing with light cherries and a smidgeon of dark cocoa on the backend. This is going to be delicious on release. Drink from 2024-2031.

734 Views   Tasted
2019
89
Medium-bodied with a smoky, licorice and cherry vanilla nose. Quite fruity, with loads of red fruit and herbs in the finish. Forward in nature, you can enjoy this on release, or age it for a bit. 88-90 Pts

Medium-bodied with a smoky, licorice and cherry vanilla nose. Quite fruity, with loads of red fruit and herbs in the finish. Forward in nature, you can enjoy this on release, or age it for a bit. 88-90 Pts

3,235 Views   Tasted
2018
87
Flowers and cherries fill the medium-bodied, forward, easy to drink and like, early drinking, soft textured, fresh, fruity charmer. You can drink this on release.

Flowers and cherries fill the medium-bodied, forward, easy to drink and like, early drinking, soft textured, fresh, fruity charmer. You can drink this on release.

1,875 Views   Tasted
Sweet cherry and vanilla with floral notes come to the surface in this medium-bodied, already delicious, forward wine. The sweet berries have a softness ensuring it will be quite fun to drink on release. 87-89 Pts

Sweet cherry and vanilla with floral notes come to the surface in this medium-bodied, already delicious, forward wine. The sweet berries have a softness ensuring it will be quite fun to drink on release. 87-89 Pts

2,267 Views   Tasted
2016
88
Smoke, oak, licorice and red berries combine to produce a medium bodied, round, soft textured, smoky forward wine that is going to be delicious on release.

Smoke, oak, licorice and red berries combine to produce a medium bodied, round, soft textured, smoky forward wine that is going to be delicious on release.

2,744 Views   Tasted
Forward, early drinking, medium bodied wine with a thyme and cherry infused character. Drink this on the young side.

Forward, early drinking, medium bodied wine with a thyme and cherry infused character. Drink this on the young side.

2,697 Views   Tasted
2015
88
Licorice, dark, ripe plums and just enough wet earth under the hood to make things more interesting. The wine has a softness and polish in this vintage that will make it quite fun to drink on release.

Licorice, dark, ripe plums and just enough wet earth under the hood to make things more interesting. The wine has a softness and polish in this vintage that will make it quite fun to drink on release.

2,384 Views   Tasted
2014
87
Medium bodied, forward, soft, round textured wine, with a cherry, espresso and cocoa note, with a hint of licorice on top. This wine is already tasty and easy to drink.

Medium bodied, forward, soft, round textured wine, with a cherry, espresso and cocoa note, with a hint of licorice on top. This wine is already tasty and easy to drink.

2,059 Views   Tasted
2013
85
Offering pleasure early, the wine delivers a nice dose of cherry and black raspberry on the mid palate. 84-86 Pts

Offering pleasure early, the wine delivers a nice dose of cherry and black raspberry on the mid palate. 84-86 Pts

2,087 Views   Tasted
2012
86
With oak and red fruits, this medium-bodied wine has a sweet and sharp red berry finish. 85-87 Pts

With oak and red fruits, this medium-bodied wine has a sweet and sharp red berry finish. 85-87 Pts

2,292 Views   Tasted
2011
87
With an earthy black cherry nose, round textures and a supple character, this dark berry-filled wine is made in a sweet, uncomplicated, crowd-pleasing style. 87-89 Pts

With an earthy black cherry nose, round textures and a supple character, this dark berry-filled wine is made in a sweet, uncomplicated, crowd-pleasing style. 87-89 Pts

4,115 Views   Tasted
2010
85
This easy going, Merlot dominated, sweet, ripe, round, Bordeaux value wine is fully mature and requires consumption over the next year or two.

This easy going, Merlot dominated, sweet, ripe, round, Bordeaux value wine is fully mature and requires consumption over the next year or two.

1,743 Views   Tasted
2009
88
Easy drinking, lushly textured, medium bodied charmer with soft, sweet, dark fruits, licorice and hints of chocolate. There is no reason for further aging or decanting.

Easy drinking, lushly textured, medium bodied charmer with soft, sweet, dark fruits, licorice and hints of chocolate. There is no reason for further aging or decanting.

3,256 Views   Tasted