In what was a great year for Bordeaux, the prestigious Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion – Château Valandraud – has produced in 2018 a vintage that will mark the history of the property.
Spread over 8.88 hectares, the vineyard of Château Valandraud is planted in an exceptional clay-limestone soil on the right bank of Bordeaux. The vines are 30 years old on average.
Fruit of a blend of Merlot (90%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Cabernet Sauvignon (3%) and Malbec (3%), the Château Valandraud 2018 is matured between 24 and 36 months in 100% new oak barrels.
Unanimously acclaimed by international critics, the Château Valandraud 2018 ranks among the elite Grands Crus Classés of Saint-Émilion in a very good vintage for Bordeaux.
Deep purple-black in color, the 2018 Valandraud develops slowly from a base of warm black cherries, blackberry compote and preserved plums with a perfume of sandalwood, Indian spices, lavender, wilted roses, mocha and fruitcake plus wafts of woodsmoke and camphor. Full-bodied, the palate is rich, ripe and flamboyant with tons of opulent black and blue fruit layers, wonderfully curtailed by a firm frame of velvety tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and very seductive.