Valandraud Blanc 2019

Special Price $79.85 Average US Price $80.00
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SKU
5482B-2019
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• Domaine: Château Valandraud
• Appellation: Saint-Emilion
• Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux, France

In Bordeaux, there was one man who broke all the rules and created wines that kept industry giants on their toes.  His name was Jean-Luc Thunevin.  His wine? Château Valandraud.  Though an undeniably excellent wine, Château Valandraud is important not simply because of the contents in the bottle but because of the story behind it.  It was a wine that changed a lot of established traditions in Bordeaux -- a wine for oenophiles and renegades alike.

Château Valandraud is the home property of the dynamic husband and wife duo Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud.  Prior to becoming a vigneron Jean-Luc was a successful négociant.  In 1989, Jean-Luc and Murielle purchased a tiny 0.6-hectare plot close to Château Pavie Macquin.  They bought an additional 1.2 hectares of vines further east in Saint Sulpice.  The name “Valandraud” is an interesting one.  The “Val” portion comes from where the grapes are planted, a place called Vallon de Fongaban.  The latter part of the name, “Andraud,” is the last name of Jean-Luc’s wife, Murielle.  Murielle is the gifted individual who makes all the wine for Château Valandraud, and Jean-Luc runs the business and is the face of the operation.

Château Valandraud was the property that started the Garagiste movement in modern winemaking.  Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle started their winemaking operation with virtually no money, so they made their first few vintages in a garage, hence the name Garagiste.  Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud started breaking the rules fairly early on.  In the 2002 vintage, Jean-Luc covered his vines with plastic tarping to protect them from potential water damage during the rainy season before harvest.  The French National Institute of Appellations forbade this practice and declassified his wine as a table wine in retaliation.  They also forbade Jean-Luc and Murielle from putting their name on the bottles.  No matter for the plucky power couple, as they simply sold their wines as "L’Interdit de V…D."  The label literally translates as "The Forbidden of V & D." Its use was pioneered by the fashion house Givenchy as a brand for a new perfume launched in 1957.  Who is to be fooled?  Everybody who knew Château Valandraud knew this clever labeling hack would be their way of skirting around the rules and regulations.  This earned Jean-Luc the title of the Bad Boy, of Saint-Émilion.

The plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Carmenere thrive in clay and limestone terroir.  Château Valandraud also produces a white wine, which comes from a 2-hectare plot planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Sauvignon Gris.  The wine is vinified depending on the needs of each varietal, and the materials vary from temperature-controlled wooden vats, stainless steel, or concrete fermenters.  Everything at Château Valandraud is specialized to create the best wine possible, and the techniques are working – Château Valandraud was classified as a Premiere Grand Cru Classé Class B estate in 2012, joining the ranks of Château Figeac and Château Troplong Mondot.  Without a doubt, Château Valandraud produces not one but a series of world-class wines that cater to the oenophile and rule breaker in all of us.  

Tasting Notes

"Another brilliant white from Jean-Luc Thunevin, the 2019 Château Valandraud Blanc has a stunning array of pineapple and melon fruit as well as complex notes of spice, white flowers, and a chalky, earthy mineral character. It's beautifully balanced, full-bodied, has integrated acidity, and a great, great finish. I'd put it up with the top whites in the vintage." - Jeb Dunnuck, Jebdunnuck.com, Ratings: 95-97

"The 2019 Blanc requires a fair bit of swirling to release the locked-down aromas of green apples, fresh limes and tangerine peel with hints of honeysuckle, crushed rocks and oyster shells plus a waft of coriander seed. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with citrus and apple-inspired flavors, with a beautiful satiny texture and a racy line supporting the intense layers through the long finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, Ratings: (93-95)

More Information
Stock Status In Stock
Appellation Bordeaux
Vintage 2019
Brand Château Valandraud
Shipping Weight 3.000000

Saint-Émilion is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in the Bordeaux region of France, renowned for its exceptional red wines and rich viticultural history. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, Saint-Émilion is a place of great beauty and a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its remarkable blend of natural and cultural attributes. The Saint-Émilion appellation is characterized by a diverse terroir featuring a mix of limestone, clay, and sandy soils that provide the foundation for its distinctive wines. The unique microclimates and elevations within the appellation contribute to the variety of flavors and styles found in Saint-Émilion wines.

The primary grape varieties used in Saint-Émilion wines are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot often dominating the blends. These grapes thrive in the region's favorable climate, moderated by the proximity of the Dordogne River and the buffering effects of the limestone plateau.

Saint-Émilion is famous for its unique wine classification system, which divides the vineyards into four tiers: Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Premier Grand Cru Classé B, Grand Cru Classé, and Grand Cru. This classification reflects the quality and prestige of the individual vineyards and châteaux within the appellation, with only a select few achieving the highest ranking of Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Until the re-classification in 2022, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Ausone, Château Angelus, and Château Pavie were the only four members of the Premier Grand Cru Classé A tier. Out of disagreement with the standard-setting governing body, Cheval Blanc and Ausone voluntarily dropped out. Angelus followed suit shortly after. With Pavie remaining the only member, Premier Grand Cru Classé A saw the addition of Château Figeac following a long-expected and well-deserved promotion.

Saint-Émilion wines are known for their finesse, complex aromas, and beautiful balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. While they share some similarities with wines from the neighboring Pomerol appellation, they often have a slightly more structured and tannic character due to the higher proportion of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blends. With age, these wines develop a velvety texture and reveal an array of flavors, including dark fruits, floral notes, and hints of earthiness.

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