Château Valandraud 2018 – Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Premier Grand Cru Classé

The nose is elegant, racy, beautifully built and offers power, a beautiful finesse of the grain as well as a fine silky side. It reveals notes of ripe wild cassis, blackberry, violet and small notes of small fleshy fruits associated with touches of raspberry, cherry blossom, nutmeg as well as small hints of tonka bean, pepper, mild tobacco, a very discreet hint of saffron (in the background) and grilled bread. The palate is fresh, fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/finely acidulous frame, minerality, a very beautiful finesse of the grain, structure, definition, power as well as a certain aromatic purity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cassis, juicy blackberry, small notes of violet, juicy/fresh blueberry, juicy raspberry associated with touches of juicy/fresh redcurrant, lilac, lily as well as hints of chocolate/tonka bean, toasted, nutmeg, cardamom, mild tobacco, a discreet hint of Sichuan pepper, an imperceptible hint of saffron, coffee and bourbon vanilla pod. Tannins are beautifully fine and supple. A wine full of delicacy and sensibility! Congrats!