2012 Château Valandraud St. Émilion Grand Cru Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note
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2012
Château Valandraud (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
This beauty is pure, silky and velvet drenched. With a potent brew of espresso bean, chocolate, dark cherry liqueur, blue fruit and earthy essences. The wine is rich, deep and long. Give it some time to develop secondary notes and enjoy the ride. 5,325 Views Tasted Jul 2, 2015Murielle Andraud has been in charge of the Bordeaux winemaking at the property since 2007. She is clearly on a roll! One of the deepest colored wines of the vintage, truffle, spicy oak, chocolate and black raspberry jam notes are impossible not to notice. Lush, rich and sexy with an opulent, flashy personality, this is one of the top wines from St. Emilion in 2012. 94-96 Pts 5,263 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
When to Drink Chateau Valandraud, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Valandraud is much better with at least 8-10 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-3 hours, or more.
This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Valandraud offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 10-30 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Valandraud with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Valandraud is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Valandraud is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.
Valandraud Blanc
Aside from their red wine, the estate also produces an outstanding white wine, Blanc de Valandraud N° 1 and N° 2. The style of the white wines is unique.
They are filled with lemon, lime, floral, and minerality characteristics, along with ample freshness. But so little is made, they are is impossible to find. In addition, they also produce Valandraud Casher, Virginie de Valandraud, and the 3 de Valandraud which is the third wine of Valandraud, Clos Badon Thunevin, and Bad Boy.
Thunevin also has property in Margaux as well as in Pomerol. Aside from being a busy winemaker and successful wine merchant, and negociant, Jean Luc Thunevin is also a well-known consultant who works with numerous estates in the Left Bank as well as in the Right Bank.