Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
This is the second white wine from Chateau Valandraud and famous "garagiste" Jean-Luc Thunevin. We also tasted this tropical white after our beautiful lunch at his home. With just a few hundred cases produced, this is rare stuff!
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 90-93
WA 93
Sweet berry and coffee aromas follow through to a full body, with reserved yet silky tannins and a long and juicy finish. Balanced and refined. Dense. Score range: 90-93 –JS
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Pessac-Léognan
WA 91
Another impressive offering from proprietor Stephan von Neipperg, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot displays classic notes of wet gravel as well as jammy, smoky, sweet red and black currants, raspberries and forest floor. A classic Pessac-Leognan with the lush, opulent style of 2009 well-displayed, this is a seductive, full-bodied, fleshy wine to drink over the next 10-12 years.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
Only 800 bottles (less than 70 cases!) of this superb wine were produced by Jean-Luc Thunevin's cellarmaster, Remi Dalmasso, as his "pet project." Incredibly dark in color and made in a modernist style, the nose has intense aromas of crushed black fruits and vanilla. On the palate the flavors of dark fruit and spices are intense and powerful, but well defined and superbly balanced. Very limited quantity available!
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Côtes de Castillon
WA 91
The 2009 vintage of this stunner from the home estate of star consulting winemaker Stephane Derenoncourt is dark, almost inky in color, with ripe, dark berry fruit and new oak on the nose. It is full-bodied with excellent concentration and flavors of cassis, vanilla, and earth on the palate. Robert Parker has described the wines from this estate as "hedonistic" in past vintages and the 2009 continues that trend. We tasted many Right Bank wines that were over the top, but this was showing perfect balance with excellent length and good acidity on the finish.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 90-93
Intense aromas of mineral, toasty oak and dried flowers, with cool and dark fruits. Full-bodied, with a lovely silky texture and a racy, fine finish. Serious for the second wine of Valandraud. Score range: 90-93 –JS