Virginie de Valandraud red AOC Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2018

94 POINTS

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.

94 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

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.

93 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Offers ample fun fruit in the making, with waves of plum sauce, cassis and boysenberry reduction starting to roll in. Polished and easy in feel. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now. Score range: 91-94

93 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - 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.

93 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter Magazine

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.

92 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2018 Virginie de Valandraud has a beautiful bouquet of very pure blackberry, raspberry and rose petal scents, very nuanced in style with neatly integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, revealing touches of spicebox and dark chocolate on the entry before segueing into quite a structured middle and finish. Very focused and poised. This is a lovely, Virginie de Valandraud.