Virginie de Valandraud 2018 (750ML)

91-93 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Deep purple-black in color, the 2018 Virginie de Valandraud opens a little broody with notes of damp soil, truffles and chargrill, opening up to display stewed plums, blackberry tart and plum preserves plus nuances of espresso, Marmite toast, tapenade and wild sage. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness lifting the rich, decadent fruit to a long finish." 4/19

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." 03/21

92-95 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2018 Virginie de Valandraud emerges from a collection of unclassed parcels around Valandraud and on the plains below the core holdings. Powerful, dense and explosive, with an almost shocking level of richness, the Virginie is positively stellar in 2018. Blackberry jam, chocolate, licorice, new spice and leather all saturate the palate in a Saint-Émilion endowed with tremendous textural richness and resonance. The Virginie is superb in 2018. It should be a terrific relative value as well." 4/19

94 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "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." 01/21

92 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator: "Bright and lively, with straw, peach, yellow apple and lemon peel flavors racing along together, backed by a long quinine note on the finish. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. Drink now through 2024. 1,083 cases made." 03/21

95 Points, Jane Ansen, Decanter: "Polished gourmet fruit right from the first nose, this is an accomplished and powerful Valandraud that has seductive and appealing notes of burnt caramel and pencil shavings set against rich black cherry and damson fruits. Clear ripeness through the finish, with full concentration of fruit. This is a big wine, confident and sure to please, but worth noting it's at a full 15.5%, higher than many in the vintage. 100% new oak." 11/20

92-95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck: "The inky colored 2018 Virginie De Valandraud is a rounded, full-bodied Saint-Émilion from Jean-Luc Thunevin that offers tons of richness and depth, notes of chocolate-laced fruits, smoked herbs, and tobacco, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a pleasure-bent beauty to drink over the coming 15 years or more." 5/19