Wine of the Month - November 2021

Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month Selection for November 2021

• Virginie de Valandraud Blanc 2018, Saint-Émilion, Rated 91 (Lisa Perotti-Brown) -- This hard-to-find Bordeaux white wine, branded as the second wine of Château Valandraud, is a blend of 40% sauvignon blanc, 10% sauvignon gris, 50% Sémillon.  The team behind this creation is none other than husband and wife duo, Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud.  Château Valandraud was one of the producers that pioneered the garagiste movement and put several of the top producers in Bordeaux on their toes because of its outstanding critical reception and innovative viticultural techniques.  Even legends such as Jean Michel Cazes of Lynch Bages emphatically stated that Jean Luc, “woke us up and helped revolutionize Bordeaux.”  Jean Luc and Murielle favor small production wines and focus on environmental sustainability in their winemaking practice.  This renegade Bordeaux power couple have been breaking rules and challenging the establishment in Saint-Émilion since Château Valandraud’s inception, and Virginie de Valandraud is no exception.  This Bordeaux white is not your typical second wine and is able to stand on its own merit.
• Clos Romanile 2018, Saint-Émilion, Rated 90 (Lisa Perotti-Brown) --Clos Romanile is a personal project of Remi Dalmasso, the cellarmaster at Château Valandraud.  The vines are planted in a minuscule, under 1-hectare plot around Remi’s house in the center of Saint-Emilion, at the encouragement of Jean Luc Thunevin.  The wine is vinified at the facilities of Château Valandraud.  As one might expect, Jean Luc consults on this project. True to the spirit of the garagiste movement, Remi ages his wines in 100% French oak barrels behind his garage. 
• Château des Annereaux 2018, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Rated 90-92 (Lisa Perotti-Brown) --Château des Annereaux is a classically styled wine from the tiny appellation of Lalande-de-Pomerol. The des Annereau family is one of the oldest in Lalande-de-Pomerol, and has owned this property since 1390. This wine was selected for the French presidential cellar by an unexpected course of events. After hailstorms that destroyed part of his vines, the current owner, Dominique Hessel, wrote an email to French President Emmanuel Macron to vent about the adverse impact of climate on his vineyard. The last thing he expected was a letter from Virginie Routis, the Head Sommelier at the Élysée Palace, inviting him to present his wine for as tasting at the presidential cellar.  Further to his pleasant surprise, the Presidential Sommelier found the 2012 and 2015 vintages “excellent” and bought cases for the presidential collection.  This remarkable story made Château des Annereaux a much-talked about wine overnight. If it's good for the  Élysée Palace, we feel, it's good for your palate.
• Château Larcis Ducasse 2017, Saint-Émilion, Rated: 95 (Lisa Perotti-Brown) -- Château Larcis Ducasse is a gem that is becoming more and more sought after each year.  For years, it was managed by David Suire, a protégé of the legendary vigneron Nicolas Thienpont. David is now managing another Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé property in the spotlight: Château Laroque.  Nicolas Thienpont seems to have the Midas touch when cultivating vineyards as he has taken properties such as and Le Pin and Château Pavie Macquin to new heights in terms of quality and critical acclaim.   Before Nicolas Thienpont began working at the estate in 2002, Larcis Ducasse was essentially unnoticed.  The property had a long history that dated back to the Roman Era, but the wines were unremarkable.  Once Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt were brought into the operation, this would all change.  Both accomplished vignerons knew of the potential of this land and managed to transform this once forgotten property into a Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru that would join the ranks of illustrious estates like Château Figeac.  At Château Larcis Ducasse, the grapes are 100% organically farmed and harvested when ripe to produce a concentrated and rich wine.  Larcis Ducasse  has renowned neighbors like Château Troplong Mondot and Château Pavie Macquin who are just a stone’s throw away.  Undoubtedly, this rising star of a wine just keeps getting better with each passing vintage! 

Virginie de Valandraud Blanc 2018 - "The 2018 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc opens with invigorating notes of freshly squeezed lemons, grapefruit and Granny Smith apples plus hints of struck flint and wet slate. The medium-bodied palate delivers a crisp line of freshness cutting through the clean citrus flavors, finishing on a chalky note." - Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (04/22/2021) Rating: 91, Drink: 2022-2028

Clos Romanile 2018 - "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Clos Romanile springs from the glass with juicy black plums and boysenberries scents, followed by nuances of tobacco leaf, tilled soil, charcoal and Indian spices. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly styled with beautiful freshness supporting the taut black fruits and a fine-grained texture, finishing on a lingering anise note." - Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (4/22/2021) Rating: 90, Drink: 2021-2032

Château des Annereaux 2018 - "The 2018 Des Annereaux is deep garnet-purple colored and a little closed, opening to reveal raspberry coulis, blackberry preserves and chocolate-covered cherries scents plus hints of wild thyme and lavender. Medium to full-bodied and understated, with lovely freshness and restraint, it has soft tannins and a mineral-tinged finish." Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (04/23/2019) Rating: 90-92 

Château Larcis Ducasse 2017 - "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Larcis Ducasse (a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc) has a very enticing nose of kirsch, warm blackberries, baked plums and wild blueberries with hints of pencil lead, tar, tilled soil and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is tightly knit with great poise and subtlety, offering bright, energetic fruit and loads of minerally sparks, finishing with great length." - Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (03/16/2020) Rating: 95, Drink: 2021-2039