Chateau Valandraud 2001

Château de Valandraud is a producer in Saint-Émilion classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé B. The Merlot-dominant grand vin is part of a relatively large portfolio which includes a number of red wines made from the classic Bordeaux blend, as well as a couple of white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.

The geographical location of this parcel, in the Fongaban valley, near Pavie Macquin and La Clotte, is the origin of the name “Valandraud”: Val (for valley) + Andraud (surname of Murielle which appears on the registers of Saint Emilion from 1459).

The 2001 Valandraud has a deep color with very little ageing. The bouquet offers intense black cherries, mulberry, orange rind and cedar aromas that are vigorous and very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and superb tension. The texture feels slightly chalky, almost as if from calcareous soils, and you can feel the energy towards the vivid red cherry and raspberry coulis-tinged finish. This is only just beginning to show what it can do. This is equal to the 2000 Valandraud and might actually be the better long-term bet.