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Valandraud 2006

Tasting Notes

Notes of graphite, licorice, espresso roast, chocolate, and black currant liqueur jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored wine. Full-bodied, with a layered texture, superb purity, and depth, this is always an over-achieving estate, and obviously the flagship wine of Jean-Luc Thunevin and his partner Murielle. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026.

92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (181), February 2009

Tasted with Jean-Luc Thunevin in Saint Emilion, the 2006 Valandraud is pure Merlot, since he told me that the Cabernet Franc had not ripened sufficiently that year. It offers an attractive, matured bouquet with cough candy and star anise infusing the red berry fruit that is beginning to move into its secondary stage. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly coarse tannin compared to more recent vintages, mulberry and tarry notes with a rather stolid finish that needs a little more finesse to come through. Not bad, though I think Jean-Luc has "honed his craft" since this vintage.

91
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2016

There's some good fruit, with hints of violet and mineral. Medium- to full-bodied, with a medium finish.

89/91
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2007

Bright crimson. Thick and fresh and a bit angular and not really married - hollow and awkward. Needs a bit of weight and fruit expression in the middle. No kosher cuvée was made this year ‘because I still have four years’ stock to sell’, said Jean-Luc Thunevin. Kosher-keepers, haste ye.

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2007

Dark ruby-red. Dark ruby-red. Reticent nose offers dark cherry, mocha, spices and smoky oak lifted by a note of violet. Sweet and supple, with moderate nuance but good thickness and verve to the cherry and licorice flavors. Finishes with a sweet dusting of tannins and a lingering suggestion of woodsmoke. Already quite accessible.

88
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May 2009
Read more tasting notes...

The structured, pure, focused 2006 Valandraud offers hints of white chocolate, coffee beans, black currants, cherries, and underlying camphor as well as earth. Outstanding ripeness, medium body, and a highly structured, tannic style is broodingly backward at present. It tasted as if malolactic had only recently been completed, so I suspect it will put on weight and perform even better in 3-6 months. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025+.

90/93+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Tasted at Jean-Luc Thunevin's. A deep purple/ruby colour. The nose is effortlessly pure with great poise: cassis, redcurrants and blueberry with an underlying minerality. Medium-bodied palate that is supple and fleshy with notes of Morello, crushed violets and cranberries. Very pretty and feminine, not as powerful as the 2005, but well-poised and extremely pure and expressive. Tasted April 2007.

92/94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2007

Bright ruby. Perfumed aromas of blackberry, minerals, flowers and fruity pepper. Plush and silky on entry, then savory and primary in the middle, with youthful, slightly inky flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate, espresso and violet. As young as this is, it's already quite pliant and refined. Finishes with very suave tannins and lovely subtle persistence. Distinctly higher-pitched than Jean-Luc Thunevin's Virginie de Valandraud, and seemingly much more influenced by calcaire.

92
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May 2009
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.