{"product_id":"2019-chateau-valandraud-saint-emilion-grand-cru","title":"2019 Château Valandraud Saint-Émilion Grand Cru","description":"\u003cp\u003e2019 Château Valandraud Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a lavish yet impeccably balanced Right Bank Bordeaux, crafted by one of the region’s most celebrated “garagiste” estates. This cuvée is known for its sensual richness, luxurious texture, and precision, bringing together opulent fruit with polished structure. Born from meticulously tended vineyards and masterful élevage in new oak, the 2019 vintage continues Valandraud’s reputation as a modern icon in Saint-Émilion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2019 Château Valandraud shows a deep, saturated ruby-purple hue, hinting at both concentration and youth. The nose is immediately expressive, bursting with layered aromas of ripe blackberries, black cherry and plum, laced with notes of licorice, dark chocolate, sweet spice and fine new oak. Subtle hints of violets and graphite add complexity and lift.\n\nOn the palate, this is full-bodied, dense and remarkably sensual, with a velvety, almost creamy mouthfeel. A generous core of succulent dark berry and plum fruit is framed by ripe, ultra-fine tannins and a vibrant, juicy acidity that keeps everything perfectly in balance. The influence of new oak is lush but controlled, adding cocoa, espresso and toasted spice without overwhelming the fruit. The tannins are layered and silky, spreading across the palate with real class and refinement, leading into a long, resonant finish that lingers for minutes. Still youthful, this 2019 has excellent aging potential and will continue to gain complexity and nuance over the next 15–25 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Valandraud’s vineyards lie on the limestone and clay slopes of Saint-Émilion, a terroir famed for producing intensely flavored yet refined Right Bank wines. The estate is known for extremely careful vineyard practices, including low yields, meticulous canopy management and selective hand-harvesting in small batches at optimal ripeness. In the cellar, the grapes are vinified parcel by parcel, typically with a Merlot-dominant blend supported by Cabernet Franc and other Bordeaux varieties, to capture both richness and freshness. Fermentations are closely monitored to extract fine, ripe tannins rather than harshness, and the wine is then matured in a high proportion of new French oak barrels, where it gains its signature depth, polish and complexity before being bottled at the château.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis powerful yet refined Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a superb partner for richly flavored dishes such as roast lamb with herbs, dry-aged ribeye, beef Wellington, duck breast, or slow-braised short ribs. It also pairs beautifully with truffled dishes, wild mushroom ragout, game birds, and aged hard cheeses like Comté or Parmesan. Serve at 16–18°C (about 60–64°F) for optimal expression. Decanting for 2–3 hours in its youth helps the aromatics unfurl and the tannins soften; more mature bottles can be decanted gently for 30–60 minutes to remove sediment and allow the wine to open up.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Valandraud was founded in the late 1980s by Jean-Luc Thunevin and quickly became the flagship of the so‑called “garagiste” movement in Bordeaux—small-scale, quality-obsessed producers who challenged the region’s traditional hierarchy. From tiny beginnings, Valandraud rose through the ranks thanks to obsessive vineyard care, low yields, and luxurious yet precise winemaking, earning top scores from critics and the prestigious Premier Grand Cru Classé status in the Saint-Émilion classification. Today, Château Valandraud is regarded as one of the most important and innovative estates on the Right Bank, a benchmark for modern, high-end Saint-Émilion that combines opulence, precision and terroir expression.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Valandraud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54255167799633,"sku":"GCW-MMUI-1970307","price":181.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/valandraud_2023_-_bottle_shot_hd_1_1.png?v=1783456911","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/2019-chateau-valandraud-saint-emilion-grand-cru","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}