Ch�teau Valandraud Ch�teau Valandraud

黑莓、黑醋栗、黑李子，甘草、香草和甜玉米的香气，少许的巧克力和烟熏味，入口的集中度也相当出色。优秀的酸度勾勒出清晰立体的曲线，单宁依旧相当紧致，整款酒充满年轻的活力感。

Valandrau vertical (1991-2020) (Fribourg) : Selected tasting notes from a complete Valandraud vertical (1991-2020) hosted by a collector with an estate representative. Main observation was that both the work the estate did during the transition phase 2000-2012 is clearly bearing fruit in more recent vintages, further helped by warmer growing seasons that are favorable for this cool site in St Emillon. Additional comments included in the tasting story. Tasting note: Red cherry fruit with a more prominent herbal layer. Swirling …

This is a very good Valandraud for a weak vintage like 2002. The wine is soft and supple with coffee, cassis, blueberries, forest floor, cedar and smoke. Palate has good freshness and vibrancy with medium stuffing and length. Nevertheless, everything is in the right place. Very enjoyable. 92-93

2002 Bordeaux 20 years on tasting (Fribourg) : 2002 Bordeaux 20 years on tasting. Key takeaways: 1/ 31 out of 32 wines were in flawless condition which indicates either luck or less bottle variation in the vintage, 2/ On average still early days with the fruit predominantly primary, 3/ solid hedonistic quality with only few laggards, but also no blow-outs, 4/ structures built on both tannin and acidity, but common mid-palate weakness, 5/ best wines were Valandrau, Palmer and a …

Relatively promising nose of blackcurrant, raspberry, forest floor and cedar. Unfortunately it proved to be disappointing. Insipid and dull in the mouth. Overwhelmingly dry sawdusty presumably from abusive oaking with a short finish and mildly unpleasant aftertaste. See John Gilman's review of this which is bang on in my opinion.

Ch�teau Valandraud, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2002: Dark garnet towards ruby at the rim, the aromas on the nose are concentrated with aromas of smoke, ripe raspberries, wet forest floor, barnyard funk and freshly rolled cigars. Full-bodied with nice extraction, showing mature flavors of dried wild mushrooms, raspberries, cherry compote, earthy minerals, pencil shavings, black pepper, sweet tobacco and mocha with high acidity and still mouth coating, ripe tannins and more earth on the long, elegant and plush finish. Very impressive …

Medium garnet. Nose of blueberry, sandalwood, some spices. Enters the palate with a very soft mouthfeel and good overall balance. Lots of round Merlot fruit with excellent, mature aroma on the finish. Unfortunately the finish is also a bit drying, the 2002 vintage cannot be hidden after all... Fully mature, will do great with food.

A Labor of Love (and wine and beer) (Our home) : This was a treat. for whatever reason, there is still a glass or two left in the bottle that I look forward to tonight. This is a mature Bordeaux. The nose has cassis, cherries, chocolate and some leather. On the palate, the oak seems integrated. Complex layers of fruit and earth and leather. Long finish. A really excellent mature Bordeaux.

7/5/2014 dinner

Impressive color and an impressive wine but not really my cup of tea, but would be nice to se this in about 20 years from now. The nose is clearly the best now, with massive dark fruit flavors and a bit of balsamico. A bit too young in the mouth, coating the mouth nicely but a bit hard tannins. Spend 1 hour on a decanter before beeing drunk.

This earthy, plum and dark cherry wine is a success for the vintage. Soft on the palate and already showing well, this is a wine to drink on the young side.

A very gentle wine. Nice fruit, balance and structure but maybe a little too restrained.

Jean-Luc Thunevin Dinner (Chanterelle, NYC) : Lovely nose of big, dark red fruit. On the palate, this is very green with sharp tannins and acids marring the lovely fruit. Others liked this quite a bit more than I did.

An Evening with Jean-Luc Thunevin (Triomphe Restaurant, NY) : Nose of black fruits, menthol, lavender and spice. Very complex on the nose. It's a big, herbal wine on the palate as well with young tannin. Excellent stuff.