Chateau Valandraud - Virginie de Valandraud 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of dark berries, dried violets, toasted hazelnuts, dark chocolate and coffee. It’s full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Muscular and intense, yet still tight. Try from 2026."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Virginie de Valandraud comes barreling out of the glass with powerful scents of stewed black plums, Black Forest cake and blueberry preserves, plus hints of cedar chest, menthol and hoisin. The big, rich, full-bodied palate (15% declared alcohol) is still sporting a fair bit of oak, delivering a firm, grainy texture and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. Give it another 3-4 years in bottle for the oak to integrate and the generous fruit to fully emerge, then drink it over the next 15+ years."

DECANTER: "Sinewy but with salinity and plush red and black fruits, this finishes with a twist of salinity that gives a mouthwatering finale. This is a beautiful Virginie de Valandraud, the best that I have tasted to date. It's just so drinkable, this is one to savour and share with friends. Valandraud now incorporates an extra 10ha in St Etienne de Lisse, so the estate is 40ha in total, with 9ha in the grand vin and the rest in this second wine. Drinking Window 2027 - 2040"

JEB DUNNUCK: "Loads of cassis, chalky minerality, flowers, and lead pencil notes emerge from the 2018 Château Valandraud Virginie De Valandraud, which is full-bodied and has a layered, seamless texture, silky tannins, and a great finish. Showing more tobacco and even a hint of white truffle with time in the glass, this beautiful, elegant Saint-Emilion brings plenty of fruit and texture. It's going to keep for 10-15 years."

WEINWISSER: "Sattes Purpurgranat mit violettem Rand. Intensives Wildkirschenbouquet mit reifen Pflaumen und exotischen Hölzer. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und stützender Rasse, hier fehlt Tiefe. Im gebündelten Finale Cassisdrops und Mineralik."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Smoky with licorice and espresso overtones to go along with all the ripe fruit, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky, fresh and will be perfect to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to mature. You can drink this young and over its first decade or so of life."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Juicy and compact, with a core of steeped raspberry and blackberry paste flavors. Nice length here, as well as depth provided by a mix of dark earth, tobacco and apple wood on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028."