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Valandraud Blanc 2021 (750ML)
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Critic Scores, Reviews & Descriptions
95-97 JD / 96 JA / 94-95 JS / 93-95 WI / 94 AG / 94 VM / 94 DE / 89-91 WA
The Grand Vin 2021 Château Valandraud Blanc is mostly Sauvignon Gris but includes 30% Sauvignon Blanc and a splash of Semillon. Crushed stone, pineapple, and bright citrus give way to a medium-bodied, concentrated, incredibly pure, precise white displaying everything that makes this vintage so promising for the whites. As with all the whites here, it has a low pH, racy acidity, yet terrific mid-palate depth, beautiful balance, and a gorgeous finish. This will stand up to the best whites in the vintage. - Jeb Dunnuck
Full of pleasure, this is flesh on flesh with just the right amount of restraint. White peach, pear, textured, supple, saline, pared back and juicy, Valandraud has over-delivered in both colours in this vintage. September 7-20, 80% new oak, 20% jars. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
A full-bodied, serious white with complex notes already of flint, crushed stones, white pears, white lavender, cedar, fennel and lemon grass. Mineral and subtly spicy finish. Structured. Nicely done. - James Suckling
The 2021 Valandraud blanc is made from 50% Sauvignon Gris, 35% Sauvignon Blanc, and 15% Semillon, aging in 80% new oak barrels. It has a serious nose of pear tart, white peaches, and cedar, giving way to suggestions of fresh ginger, allspice, and coriander seed. Medium-bodied, the palate is wonderfully intense with impressive tension and loads of mineral accents coming through on the long finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
The 2021 Valandraud Blanc is rich, deep and super-expressive. There is a level of intensity here that is beguiling. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, crushed rocks and slate abound. All the Blanc needs is time—a recent bottle of the 2017 was outstanding. Light tropical notes and white flowers linger on the resonant close. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
The 2021 Valandraud Blanc has a well-defined bouquet with yellow plum, kaki fruit and light crushed stone aromas, touches of smoke in the background. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a fine bead of acidity and a hint of sour lemon. Grapefruit and pineapple notes grace the satisfying finish. Excellent. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
Gorgeous nose, perfumed peach, pear and floral notes - so appealing and welcoming. Graceful and charming on the palate, this has depth of flavour with a lovely core of juicy white fruits with a steely saltiness giving it that push-pull of fruit and minerality. This has character - it's not a massively weighty wine but has precision and refinement, presenting the elements delicately but still with structure and frame. The flavours linger and they are all perfectly balanced. I love the shot of lemon, bitter orange and cool stone saline touches. Both the red and white grand vins are delicious and successful in 2021. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter
The 2021 Valandraud Blanc is a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine bursting with aromas of orchard fruit, confit citrus and pastry cream. As ever, it's one of the fatter, more textural white wines produced in Bordeaux, even in this cooler vintage. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate