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Virginie De Valandraud Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2018 750ml

size
750ml
country
France
region
Bordeaux
appellation
Saint Emilion
WE
95
VM
94
JS
94
DC
93
WA
93
JD
93
WS
90
Additional vintages
WE
95
Rated 95 by Wine Enthusiast
Barrel Sample. This Merlot-dominated wine from the Valandraud vineyards is seriously structured and packed with black fruits. Its texture is full in feel, with chocolate flavors that are balanced by succulent acidity. Good for medium-term aging. ... More details
Image of bottle
Sample image only. Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description

Virginie De Valandraud Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2018 750ml

SKU 871971
Case Only Purchase
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$630.36
/case
$52.53
/750ml bottle
Quantity
min order 12 bottles
* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.
Professional Ratings
WE
95
VM
94
JS
94
DC
93
WA
93
JD
93
WS
90
WE
95
Rated 95 by Wine Enthusiast
Barrel Sample. This Merlot-dominated wine from the Valandraud vineyards is seriously structured and packed with black fruits. Its texture is full in feel, with chocolate flavors that are balanced by succulent acidity. Good for medium-term aging.
VM
94
Rated 94 by Vinous Media
The 2018 Virginie de Valandraud is superb. Silky, pliant and expressive, the 2018 is wonderfully caressing right out of the gate. Crushed red berry fruit, mocha, spice and new leather all meld together effortlessly. From bottle, the 2018 is more refined and delicate than it was from barrel, and every bit as compelling. The Virginie is made from a collection of unclassed parcels around Valandraud and on the plains below the core holdings.
JS
94
Rated 94 by James Suckling
Aromas of dark berries, dried violets, toasted hazelnuts, dark chocolate and coffee. It’s full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Muscular and intense, yet still tight. Try from 2026.
DC
93
Rated 93 by Decanter
Sinewy but with salinity and plush red and black fruits, this finishes with a twist of salinity that gives a mouthwatering finale. This is a beautiful Virginie de Valandraud, the best that I have tasted to date. It's just so drinkable, this is one to savour and share with friends. Valandraud now incorporates an extra 10ha in St Etienne de Lisse, so the estate is 40ha in total, with 9ha in the grand vin and the rest in this second wine. Drinking Window 2027 - 2040.
WA
93
Rated 93 by Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Virginie de Valandraud comes barreling out of the glass with powerful scents of stewed black plums, Black Forest cake and blueberry preserves, plus hints of cedar chest, menthol and hoisin. The big, rich, full-bodied palate (15% declared alcohol) is still sporting a fair bit of oak, delivering a firm, grainy texture and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. Give it another 3-4 years in bottle for the oak to integrate and the generous fruit to fully emerge, then drink it over the next 15+ years.
JD
93
Rated 93 by Jeb Dunnuck
Loads of cassis, chalky minerality, flowers, and lead pencil notes emerge from the 2018 Château Valandraud Virginie De Valandraud, which is full-bodied and has a layered, seamless texture, silky tannins, and a great finish. Showing more tobacco and even a hint of white truffle with time in the glass, this beautiful, elegant Saint-Emilion brings plenty of fruit and texture. It's going to keep for 10-15 years.
WS
90
Rated 90 by Wine Spectator
Juicy and compact, with a core of steeped raspberry and blackberry paste flavors. Nice length here, as well as depth provided by a mix of dark earth, tobacco and apple wood on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028. 4,200 cases made.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
France
region
Bordeaux
appellation
Saint Emilion
Additional vintages
Overview
Barrel Sample. This Merlot-dominated wine from the Valandraud vineyards is seriously structured and packed with black fruits. Its texture is full in feel, with chocolate flavors that are balanced by succulent acidity. Good for medium-term aging.
green grapes

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.
barrel

Region: Bordeaux

Of all the wine regions in France, the mostly highly esteemed and famous is surely Bordeaux. Most commonly associated with their superb examples of blended red wines, usually made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot varietals, Bordeaux consistently demonstrates that their mix of traditional and modern wine-making styles is the recipe for fame and success. The region benefits greatly from its humid climate, and the fact that its clay and gravel based soils are perfect for growing the fine grape varietals which flourish there. The region is split into quite distinct sub-regions, with the finest generally believed to be the Left Bank and the Médoc region, where many of the most well known chateaux are based and produce their wonderful red and white wines.
fields

Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.
bottle and glass

Appellation: Saint Emilion

Saint Emilion is a very special sub-region found in France's Bordeaux, and is situated on the highly esteemed and world renowned right bank of the Gironde river. Here, the mineral rich gravel and clay based soils provide plenty of nutrition and character to the grape varietals which are grown, and the warm and sunny climate helps them ripen each year to their fullest. The majority of the chateaus in Saint Emilion produce blended red wines, using a carefully balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. The result is something truly wonderful – finely crafted red wines which express all of the finest points of each varietal, and holding plenty of fascinating and complex character, flavors and aromas which have helped make this sub-region one of the best in the world.
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More Details
green grapes

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.
barrel

Region: Bordeaux

Of all the wine regions in France, the mostly highly esteemed and famous is surely Bordeaux. Most commonly associated with their superb examples of blended red wines, usually made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot varietals, Bordeaux consistently demonstrates that their mix of traditional and modern wine-making styles is the recipe for fame and success. The region benefits greatly from its humid climate, and the fact that its clay and gravel based soils are perfect for growing the fine grape varietals which flourish there. The region is split into quite distinct sub-regions, with the finest generally believed to be the Left Bank and the Médoc region, where many of the most well known chateaux are based and produce their wonderful red and white wines.
fields

Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.
bottle and glass

Appellation: Saint Emilion

Saint Emilion is a very special sub-region found in France's Bordeaux, and is situated on the highly esteemed and world renowned right bank of the Gironde river. Here, the mineral rich gravel and clay based soils provide plenty of nutrition and character to the grape varietals which are grown, and the warm and sunny climate helps them ripen each year to their fullest. The majority of the chateaus in Saint Emilion produce blended red wines, using a carefully balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. The result is something truly wonderful – finely crafted red wines which express all of the finest points of each varietal, and holding plenty of fascinating and complex character, flavors and aromas which have helped make this sub-region one of the best in the world.