Chateau Valandraud 2016

JEB DUNNUCK: "Including 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Merlot-dominated 2016 Château Valandraud is a brilliant example of this cuvée that should match or exceed the incredible 2015 at maturity. Brought up all in new oak, its deep purple color is followed by a powerful bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, smoked earth, and hints of earth. Possessing full-bodied richness, thrilling purity of fruit, ripe tannins, and just about perfect balance, it's another tour de force from the incredibly talented Jean-Luc Thunevin. It's slightly more elegant than the L'Interdit de Valandraud cuvée and will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for two decades or more."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Incredible perfumes and beauty with ripe plum and berry character, as well as an array of spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Full-bodied, firm and silky with beautifully polished tannins. Rendered and defined. A wine with lovely, classy nature and personality. One of the best Valandrauds I have tasted at this stage. Try from 2026."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Dark as night in color, the wine is opulent in nature. The dark chocolate, boysenberry, licorice, plum liqueur and black cherries are there for the asking. Full-bodied, silky, long and opulently textured, this sensual wine will be much better with 7-9 years in the cellar."

WEINWISSER: "90 % Merlot, 7 % Cabernet Franc, 3 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Dichtes Purpur mit violettem Rand. Komplexes, dicht verwobenes Bouquet mit blaubeerig- würziger Frucht. Spürbare Mineralik und Veilchenduft dahinter. Er gibt nicht viel von sich preis, im zweiten Ansatz kommen dann edle Röstaromen und Lakritze zum Vorschein. Der kräftige Gaumen und vor allem das Terroir packt die Vinifikation spielend! Sehr elegante Textur und eine beeindruckende Konzentration. Ein mit schwarzer Johannisbeere und Holundergelee nicht enden wollendes Finale – spielt ganz klar in der obersten Liga mit!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Juicy, spicy and with wonderful fruit, this is developing splendidly. With black-currant flavors and tannins that give structure while allowing plenty of room for the fruit and balanced acidity, it is certain to age well. Drink from 2025."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Valandraud packs a wallop on the nose with bombastic scents of baked black plums, cherry compote, coffee beans and licorice plus hints of hoisin, cedar chest and sautéed herbs. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and a fantastically long finish."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is a full display of fruit, with raspberry preserve, plum reduction and creamed boysenberry notes streaming through in lockstep, while light bramble and singed vanilla accents happily take a back seat throughout. An echo of chalky minerality at the very end adds refinement and length. Best from 2022 through 2038."

DECANTER: "An estate that is fascinating to taste in this vintage. Cassis, blueberry and liquorice flavours have huge persistency, with a dense but creamy texture across the palate. For the past two years they have carried out much less green harvesting and the yield in 2016 is at 50hl/ha, the highest ever. 'Us, the big proponents of low yields', Jean Luc Thunevin tells me with a smile. He knows, as I do, that this is a big success, an extremely lovely wine that still impresses plenty. No surprise that this counts as my favourite Valandraud to date. 92 IPT. 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new oak. More than 96% of the production in this grand vin. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050"

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, fester Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, kräftiger Neuholzeinsatz, Vanille, Möbelpolitur, Rauch, Kirsche, Kokos, Haselnuss. Kurzer Weichteil, dann sehr stoffig, fleischig mit Adstringenz, knapp in Schach gehaltene Grüntöne, sowohl in der Säure als im Tannin, erstaunlich nervig. Kerniger, forciert wirkender Bau."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Rich and round virtually without tannins! Spice and appeal and something so French! Bleu marine and long. Unctuous with a saline note on the end."