Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Tonight's wine is another Right Bank gem. This is the second wine from Chateau Valandraud the 2009 Virginie de Valandraud. A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc from Jean-Luc Thunevin.

The nose brings wonderful notes of black plum, black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, cedar, licorice, spice, smoke and black earth.

On the palate there a notes of bbn lack cherry, black plum, blackberry, green bell pepper, kitsch, coffee, a pleasant oak, violet and earth.

The wine is full bodied that has a smooth velvety mouth feel with medium+ acidity and medium+ sandy tannin that leads right to a long dark fruit finish. The weekend has wonderful wines in store so stay safe and enjoy yourselves. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 years ago

Elliot Parfitt

9.5

Exceptional.
Had it with roast beef but very drinkable on its own too. On the fuller side of medium bodied. Great without decanting. — 8 years ago

Justin McGlothin

9.2

Paired with ground turkey and vegetables. Wine was great but didn't pair well. — 9 years ago

John Van Trijp

8.9

Bad boy blanc 2015 — 10 years ago

Eric Floyd

9.0

Robust Grenache blend. Deep, dark and inky wine. Notes of stewed prunes, black cherries with notes of damp wood. Well balanced fruit, relaxed tannins, nice spice, medium complexity with a nice finish. Firm acidity; will pair well with roasted meats and a variety of cheeses. — 10 years ago

Fraser Reid

9.0

Nigel told me this would be special. I was also over the moon to find a toy brontosaurus in the bottom. — 10 years ago

William Barton

9.8

Frederic's 80 year old family made spirit. Made by his grandfather. — 12 years ago

Ken Z

8.9

Drank 5/17/19. Paired with bacon cheeseburgers.

Nose of sweet plums, blackberry, and a touch of earth. Palate of blackberry liquer, over ripe plums, and a touch of leather. Perhaps it's the food pairing, but this came across as a bit ripe tonight. More of a napa palate, despite the more old world nose.

4/23/6/3/3 +50 =89 pts — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Our main course was Jenny’s, Flannery Beef’s Jorge Cut “Prime Rib Style”. Beef Jus and Saba Pan Sauce. Herb Garlic Smashed Baby Heirloom Potatoes Roasted Feral Hearts Farm Rapini in a Rapini Pesto. Winter Citrus and Roasted Nantes Carrots with Urfa. Quite delicious and well paired with this 98 Chateau Magdelaine. This was a little silky austere at the beginning. My fault as it needed a longer than 30 minute decant out of magnum. Once it opened up it showed the beauty of the 98 Right Bank Vintage. The fruit started to shine after being shy to start. Layers of soft complexity silky and velvety. The beef and the wine pushed & pull evenly on each other; which is key element in any pairing. Chateau Magdelaine is made with 90% Merlot & 10% Cabernet Franc. Chateau Magdelaine is aged in an average of 40% new French oak barrels for about 18 months. When the 2012 St. Emilion Classification was announced, the owners of Chateau Magdelaine, Ets. Moueix, declared that 2011 would be the final vintage for the property. From that point forward, the vineyard of Chateau Magdelaine would be merged into their other estate in the appellation, Chateau Belair-Monange. — 8 years ago

Michelle Baker

9.4

Big inky and brooding. New world save for the sanguine quality, chewy dark berry and mineral. Nowhere near its peak! — 9 years ago

Nikki Erpelding

8.9

I love Cremant and this vintage Cremant over delivers, very creamy with citrusy and refreshing acidity. — 10 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

The 2015 L’Amourette is a pretty showing, this 100% #GrenacheGris comes from vines planted in the hilly black schist soils of eastern #Maury, in the #Roussillon. It delivers is fresh and clean with aromas of lemon zest, white peach, acacia flowers and chalky minerals. Shows nice balance and focus with a crisp edge to the finish. A fantastic effort and drinking excellent right now. (Best 2016-2018) — 10 years ago

Lee Quessy

9.1

Pleasant ripe plum with coffee notes. Silky smooth tannins. — 11 years ago

Jesse Lanzon

9.2

A great wine. Elegant, refinesd, affordable. Stinky nose od leather vege/shroom. Unique architecture of taste peaking up front and midpalate along bilateral tongue. Currant and blackberry throughout with eounded tannins. Finish still happening while inwrite this. If you can get this wine it is a great find. 12€ — 13 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

Bright, nice tannns and finish, earthy, luscious mouthfeel. Curious how it might develop. — 7 years ago

Matt Harper

9.4

Fantastic #sofrench — 8 years ago

with Adam

Nadea Mina

9.4

Juicy, ripe red fruit. Soft tannins. — 8 years ago

Sean Trapani

Founder/Educator Wine Fluent, Consultant ABC Fine Wines & Spirits

9.2

Sugar plum with black pepper. Sweet but refreshing. Reminiscent of a Porto, with a lighter body. — 10 years ago

Wojciech Bońkowski

Bloger bonkowshi.me

9.7

I love #Grenache &always pursue it. But this one is really special. Heady depth. — 10 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.0

Brilliant and subtle and can only get better. — 10 years ago

Carlos Toro

9.1

At Thunevin with owner Jean-Luc Thunevin. Very fresh and powerful. Loved it. Needs aging. — 10 years ago

Hajime Fujii

9.2

このボルドーはカシスのような果実の香りがしてしっかり — 13 years ago