2019 Valandraud

Tasted blind. Very rich, ripe fruit with a suggestion of dried fruit. Then just a little sour on the palate. Sweet and sour elements as yet unknit but there is quite a bit of tannin (and acid) so presumably they will eventually. Long. (JR)

Ripe black fruits, graphite, chocolate, and spicy herbs define the 2019 Château Valandraud, a round, supple, lush, and layered beauty that's still deep purple-hued and incredibly youthful, yet oh, so satisfying and seductive. Full-bodied, rich, and opulent on the palate, it has sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a tremendous finish. This is a powerful, truly Grand Vin that will shine for another 30 years if well stored. Drink 2026-2056.

Rich and dramatic, the 2019 Valandraud bursts with aromas of berry fruit, plums and licorice, framed by a lavish but far from exaggerated application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, fleshy and sensual, it's broad and enveloping, its lavish core of fruit framed by ripe, polished tannins and succulent balancing acids. Seamless and integrated despite its ripe, hedonistic style, this has turned out beautifully and has the balance to perform well for at least two decades, even if there's no youthful asperity to preclude near-term enjoyment.