Virginie de Valandraud - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/16/2023

Aromas of blackberries, walnuts, dark chocolate, and currants follow through to a medium body, with very fine, soft and polished tannins and a delicious finish. Very attractive now but will improve beautifully. Second wine of Valandraud. Needs four to five years to soften. Better after 2026.

TASTED

93 / 100

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

High ripeness with plum, fig and blackberry notes, a hint of oak and toast. Good volume, rather rich in tannin, still with a firm bite but no hard edges, unctuous dark fruit notes with balanced acidity fine oak integration and a long dense finish.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe7/1/2021

Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Virginie de Valandraud charges out of the gate with bold baked plums, boysenberries and blackberry pie scents, followed by hints of mocha, cedar chest, clove oil and dried Provence herbs. The full-bodied, oak-laced palate is rich and concentrated, the dense black fruits countered by wonderful freshness and plush tannins, finishing long and spicy.

Le Figaro

89-91 / 100

the6/2/2021

Au premier regard, toujours cette couleur intense à reflets violacés. Au nez ,des notes légèrement mentholées et d’herbes aromatiques se mêlent à des arômes fruités. Tout d’abord harmonieuse, moelleuse, la bouche, dotée de tanins conséquents, se développe ensuite avec intensité et volume, avant que le côté juteux rebondisse, lui donnant une aura glorifiante, et piquante !

Vinous

93-95 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Virginie de Valandraud is a serious wine endowed with real depth. Broad and ample in feel, it has so much dimension. Bright red berry fruit, spice, rose petal and cedar add an attractive aromatic upper register; I very much like the sense of energy here. Pretty floral and savory notes perk up the finish. All the 2020 needs is a bit of time in bottle. I suspect it will age well based on its brightness.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

The 2020 Château Valandraud Virginie De Valandraud is also beautiful, with an up-front, charming yet balanced and layered style. Revealing notes of smoked tobacco, leafy herbs, chalky minerality, and both darker currant and cherry fruits, it’s ripe, medium to full-bodied, and already hard to resist.

Vinous

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Virginie de Valandraud has a well-defined and quite complex bouquet of blackberry, briar, mint and light cedar scents. The palate is medium-bodied with dark chocolate and mint on the entry and grainy in texture, displaying a fine bead of acidity, and leading to an almost Left Bank–inspired finish that feels long and tender. Very fine.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

This is enjoyable, with powerful chocolate and mocha notes, clove and white spice coming in from the mid-palate, sappy and plenty of forward motion. 100% new oak. 1% Carmenère completes the blend.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Earthy, savory, fresh and filled with fruit, the wine is ripe, bold, sweet, juicy and rich. The voluptuous layers of fruits in the finish, along with their cool touch of mint really sticks with you. You can drink this young, or age it for 3-5 years and enjoy it over the following decade. 91-93

Bernard Burtschy

94-95 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

My Bettane + Desseauve

94-95 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/14/2021

Beautiful depth of fruit here with blackberry, chocolate and walnut flavors. The tannins are nicely folded into the wine. Lots of intensity. Rather fine texture.