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Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château Valandraud is based on 88% Merlot and the balance an even split of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has incredible purity in its cassis and darker, almost blue fruits as well as notes of candied violets, licorice, and spicy oak. Full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, it has perfect tannins, a great mid-palate, and flawless balance. It reminds me of hypothetical blend of the 2010 and 2009, with perhaps plenty of similarities to the 2020 as well.
97/99 Jeb Dunnuck
This is very rich and flamboyant yet it remains bright and vivid with a lovely fine tannin structure running through the wine. Bright acidity with a pH of 3.55 gives this energy and focus. 88% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 6% cabernet sauvignon.
97/98 James Suckling
The 2022 Valandraud is magnificent. Rich and sumptuous to the core, the 2022 offers up inky red/purplish fruit, blood orange, spice, mocha and espresso, with nearly seamless texture and fabulous balance. Bright acids and beams of tannin lend shape and energy. Jean-Luc Thunevin and Muriel Andraud crafted a wine that captures the textural opulence that first turned heads here, but with an added kick of energy that reflects a more contemporary approach and also the style of the year. There is absolutely no sign of the 100% new oak, always a good measure of balance. I imagine this full throttle Saint-Émilion will need a number of years to shed some of its considerable baby fat. The 2022 showed beautifully at Thunevin, but showed even better in a large comparative tasting. Yields were a very generous 50 hectoliters per hectare, very much on the high side here. Jean-Luc Thunevin adds that he may opt for slightly shorter élevage in barrel than the norm of around 18 months.
96/98 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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