2006 Valandraud Bordeaux Red

2006 Valandraud

92 JS

Featured Review

Chewy and dusty with lots of cocoa character and milk chocolate with dark fruits. Full and velvety. Lots of fruit but reserved. Better in 2014. James Suckling

James Suckling | 92 JS

Chewy and dusty with lots of cocoa character and milk chocolate with dark fruits. Full and velvety. Lots of fruit but reserved. Better in 2014.

James Suckling | 92 JS

Notes of graphite, licorice, espresso roast, chocolate, and black currant liqueur jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored wine. Full-bodied, with a layered texture, superb purity, and depth, this is always an over-achieving estate, and obviously the flagship wine of Jean-Luc Thunevin and his partner Murielle. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026.

Robert Parker | 92 RP

Bright ruby. Perfumed aromas of blackberry, minerals, flowers and fruity pepper. Plush and silky on entry, then savory and primary in the middle, with youthful, slightly inky flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate, espresso and violet. As young as this is, it's already quite pliant and refined. Finishes with very suave tannins and lovely subtle persistence. Distinctly higher-pitched than Jean-Luc Thunevin's Virginie de Valandraud, and seemingly much more influenced by calcaire

Vinous Media | 92 VM

The wine made by Jean-Luc Thunevin, the original garage wine. Now a proper estate, with a chateau, it still follows the big, fruity model, but without the extraction of the past. Very fruity, it is also very approachable.

Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

Shows loads of coffee and berry on the nose. Full-bodied, with soft, clean tannins. Round and wonderfully textured. Very clean and well-made. Valandraud is modern and refined. Best after 2013. 1,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal	Bordeaux Blend
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.