2025 Valandraud (St-Emilion)

The 2025 Valandraud is breathtaking. It’s the first vintage made by Jean-Luc Thunevin and Marie Lefevere together. It therefore represents a changing of the guard, now that Lefevere and her husband, Christophe, have taken full ownership of the property after many years holding a minority stake. Vibrant and explosive in the glass, the 2025 Valandraud offers an exotic melange of dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and mocha. There`s gorgeous precision here, much of that coming from more finesse in the tannins. The 2025 is utterly magnificent. Elevage is 90% new oak and 10% 15HL foudres). Tasted two times. 96-99 points

The 2025 Valandraud was picked from September 12 to October 4 and matured in 90% new oak, the rest in wooden casks. It has an intense nose with black cherry, cassis and violet scents, more bold than the Virginie de Valandraud but perhaps slightly less delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins, very well balanced with good depth of fruit, spicier than the Virginie towards the finish. Good grip, more than the Virginie, this will require three to five years in bottle, but it has great potential. 94-96 points

As ever with Valandraud, this has impressive depths and concentration. Inky colour, sea spray aromatics, high sandalwood oak on the nose that it is completely eaten up on the palate, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, powerful iris and violets, estate signature, with breadth and depth of flavour. 90% new oak, plus 10% new oak casks. Marie and Jean-Christophe Lefévère (of Sansonnet) now are the official owners of Valandraud, as of this vintage. This is a great wine and a clear potential upscore in bottle. 3.5ph, 20% less than usual in terms of plot selection, 36hl/h yield. 95 points