Virginie de Valandraud Bordeaux Blanc 2019

93 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter Magazine

I love this, and although the first wine is hugely impressive, it's hard not to fall in love with this sappy, nuanced and beautifully textured 2nd wine, that is layered with citrus and lime notes, and juicy finish. No new oak but aged in barrels.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

Aromas of lemon pith, dried pear, fennel and crushed stones. Some white lavender and praline, too. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and a layered, focused and compact palate. Mineral and subtly spiced. Serious, yet very fresh. Drink now or hold.

93 POINTS

Georgina Hindle - Decanter

Sauvignon nose with a faint minerality. Gorgeous texture, sleek, defined and direct with a core of white fruits and a touch of nutty nuance that just adds a bit of texture and body. Delicious, precise and persistent. Great weight, almost light it's so direct with a lovely lift and purity. You know there's concentration there but it's delivered so well with the aromatics giving weight and texture too but all supremely balanced.

93 POINTS

Georgina Hindle - Decanter

Full nose, expressive and concentrated with some petrol aromas, lanolin, lemon peel, lime and crisp green apple. A wonderfully round and exotic wine, this is heady, it's high alcohol at 14.5% which comes across as richness and this has seen some time in aged oak barrels but isn't unbalanced. This is a heavy hitter but with finesse and good drive of white fruits. Energy and intensity, good length, this is well made. A lovely and nuanced second wine.

92 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2019 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc offers a terrific interplay of texture and vibrancy. Lime, mint, pineapple and white flowers lend striking aromatic presence. The 2019 Virginie is a total knock-out.

91 POINTS

Wine Spectator

There's just a light kiss of toast along the edges of this vibrant and racy version, with tarragon and thyme notes leading off, followed by light lime and lemon pith hints on the quinine-stitched finish. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. Drink now through 2023. 1,000 cases made.

91 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2019 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc has a well-defined bouquet featuring touches of wild peach and honeysuckle, and a faint hazelnut scent that emerges with time. The oak here (20–30% new) is well integrated. The balanced palate delivers a fine bead of acidity, notes of pear, nectarine and orange zest, and a lively, fresh finish. Very fine.

90 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

The 2019 Virginie de Valandraud Blanc rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notes of white peaches, fresh grapefruit and lime leaves plus hints of yuzu, chalk dust and lemon drops. The medium-bodied palate is crisp, clean and purely fruited with bags of fresh lemons and stone fruit flavors with a zesty finish.