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THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Chocolate-covered black raspberries, flowers, espresso, mocha, and black cherries present themselves prominently in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, creamy, supple, forward, and rounded. The fruits fill the palate, lingering with their sweetness, plushness, and a strong sense of minerality. Give it just a few years of bottle age, and it will be quite enjoyable. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV. Harvesting took place September 26 - October 7. Drink from 2029-2045."
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ANSON: "There are very few wines in this vintage where you see these grilled, smoky aromatics that are backed up by fruit, but Valandraud delivers, and here you feel that owner Jean-Luc Thunevin stepped in and said, keep going, I want a Valandraud that I recognise. There is still acidity, but it is shaped into austerity and sapidity, with slate tannins, good quality plum and damson fruits. Estate signature, with ageing ability. Harvest 26 September to 7 October, 3.5pH. 100% new oak. Jean-Philippe Fort and Alexandre Béra from Rolland Consultants. Less leaning in to the vintage than railing against it, and there is clear oak here - but it works."
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VINUM: "Sehr dichte Farbe; deutlich vom Ausbau geprägt, Rauch, schwarze Schokolade, Süssholz über Brombeeren, Cassis und Pflaumen; am Gaumen strukturiert, auch hier mit merklich Holz, die Frucht aktuell im Hintergrund, feinkörnige Gerbstoffe, stimmige Säure; im Abgang von guter Länge und mit rotfruchtigem Finish."
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FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, sehr zarte Randaufhellung. Attraktive Nuancen von Lakritze und Cassis, Brombeerkonfit, Orangenzesten, feine Edelholznuancen sind unterlegt. Saftig, elegant und frisch, mittlere Komplexität, sehr lebendig, zitronig-salzig im Abgang, hat Charme, bereits gut entwickelt, ein lebendiger Speisenbegleiter mit Ribiselfinale."
