Chateau Valandraud 2015

ANTONIO GALLONI: "A gorgeous, arrestingly beautiful wine, the 2015 Valandraud delivers on all the promise it showed as a barrel sample, and then some. Soft contours and layers of sumptuous fruit add to its considerable appeal. Readers will have to give the 2015 at least a few years to develop aromatic complexity. Today, the wine's off-the-charts intensity and opulence are attention-grabbing, to be sure, but the best is yet to come. This is a superb showing from Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud. The 2015 is 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, all fermented in barrel."

DECANTER: "85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe, bright and dense dark fruit and spice aromas. Layered fruit on the palate with a real vibrancy – lots of energy. Texture smooth and velvety and tannins extremely fine. Persistent finish. Tension as always but with ripe tannins and generous fruit to give it harmony."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, mit feiner Edelholzwürze unterlegtes schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, feiner Nougat, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten. Saftig, süße Kirschenfrucht, seidige Tannine, finessenreich strukturiert, salzige Mineralität, bleibt gut haften, sicheres Reifepotenzial, feiner rotbeeriger Nachhall."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Plenty of toasty oak and extract here. This has immensely concentrated fruits with powerful yet silky tannins. Blackberry and dark-plum aromas dominate the nose with hints of dark chocolate and candied orange. Flavors follow suit amid fluid, muscular tannins that hold long into the finish. Great wine. Try from 2023."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Very dark blueish crimson. Fresh and zesty. Real energy and wild flowers here. Thick and sweet. Lifted and really interesting and energetic. Long and intriguing."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A wine that will be a candidate for perfection at maturity, the 2015 Valandraud is a heavenly wine that exhibits a deep, saturated ruby/purple color as well as a sensational bouquet of blackcurrants, cassis, crème caramel, graphite, and chocolate. This full-bodied, expansive, super concentrated 2015 is a hedonistic dream and has exceptional purity, balance, and equilibrium. While it offers pleasure today, it needs short-term cellaring and will keep for 20+ years."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deep, dark and almost inky in color, the wine is equally deep on your palate. Thick, rich, lush, and opulent, the black plums, boysenberry chocolate and licorice stand out here due to the velvet textures and fresh attitude. The wine is lively, and incredibly rich, a difficult act to achieve. The finish leaves you with layers of black cherry liqueur, dark chocolate, licorice and truffle. This is one of the best vintages of Valandraud ever produced, and that says something, with so many great vintages made at the estate over the years."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "The 2015 Valandraud is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with a profound nose of baked cherries, warm black plums, blueberry preserves and smoked meats with tilled earth, mocha, Indian spices and dried herbs nuances plus a touch of licorice. The mouth is big, full-bodied and powerful with notable, velvety tannins and it is packed with savory and spice flavor layers, finishing with epic length. This big-boned, voluptuous, Rubenesque beauty will blow hedonists' minds!"

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Enorm intensives, Konzentration anzeigendes Bouquet, viel Brombeeren, Edelhölzer, Malz, Kräuternoten und nicht zu vergessen: sehr viel Cassis. Im Gaumen bleibt er schwarzbeerig, wartet aber - trotz verlangender Adstringenz - mit reifen und sehr feinen Tanninen auf, erst gegen das dunkelmalzige und lakritzenhafte Finale zeigen sich dann doch noch Gerbstoffe, welche nach recht vielen Jahren Flaschenreife verlangen. Ich denke, das wird möglicherweise ein unterschätzter Spätzünder und hat dann dafür ein entsprechendes Lagerpotenzial."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Since the first vintage in 1991, this wine and its vineyard have travelled far. Now close to the top of the classification tree in Saint-Émilion, this vintage shows the impressive nature of this powerful wine. With a good balance between acidity and black fruits backed up by tannins, the wine is powerful and stylish. Drink from 2027."

WINESPECTATOR: "Melted licorice, plum sauce and blackberry puree notes flow through here, with ample but velvety structure running underneath. Alluring ganache, violet and tobacco accents add nuance on the finish. Long and beguiling, featuring echoing fruit and a captivating mouthfeel. Drink now through 2035."