Château Valandraud - St. Émilion Grand Cru 2017

It all started humbly on a 0.6 ha vineyard and a garage turned into a vinification cellar. Since then, Chateau Valandraud has grown to a 10.70 ha vineyard based on the clayey limestone terroir of Saint Etienne de Lisse. The vineyard is a mix if various grape varieties : 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Thermo regulated stainless steel and wooden vats. Punching of the cap, pumping over, 3 weeks maceration. Malolactic fermentation in oak barrels. Aging varies with each vintage, from 18 to 30 months in 100% new oak barrels. The final blending also varies according to each vintage, result of the rigorous selection by the technical team, helped in this task by Jean Philippe Fort from the Rolland team.

"A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in new barrels, the 2017 Chateau Valandraud is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Killer notes of crème de cassis, graphite, white flowers, and violets all emerge from the glass, and this beauty has a wonderful sense of purity, full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It opens up beautifully with time in the glass and is a remarkable effort in the vintage. Give it 3-4 years if you can and enjoy any time over the following two decades." - 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

"This is ablaze with cassis, cherry preserve and blueberry reduction flavors that ripple with energy, inlaid with graphite, anise and Lapsang souchong tea notes. The long finish displays a luxurious feel, with a subtle underlay of chalky minerality. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2040. 2,125 cases made." - 96 Points, Wine Spectator

Producer: Château Valandraud

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Varietal:  Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, 

Appellation: St. Émilion Grand Cru

Vintage: 2017

Size: 750ml