Valandraud

History of Château Valandraud

The history of Château Valandraud begins in 1989, when Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud decided to embark on producing their own wine, with limited means but boundless ambition. The couple bought a small 0.6-hectare plot located in the Fongaban valley, close to two great Bordeaux estates, Pavie Macquin and La Clotte, in Saint-Émilion. The name "Valandraud" comes from a subtle blend of "Val", which refers to the Fongaban valley, and "Andraud", Murielle's maiden name.

From their first vintage in 1991, they produced a wine that would later be described as a "garage wine", a term referring to micro-cuvées made with passion under modest conditions but with meticulous attention. Valandraud quickly distinguished itself, and the years 1993 and 1994 placed the estate at the top, even rivalling prestigious growths like Château Ausone and Cheval Blanc.

The success of Château Valandraud inspired many small producers in the region and participated in creating a veritable revolution in Bordeaux: the garage wine movement. Over the years, Jean-Luc Thunevin, nicknamed "the bad boy of Saint-Émilion" for his unconventional methods, continued to expand the estate. In 2012, after several decades of hard work, Valandraud was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B, a well-deserved recognition for this wine that had shaken up conventions.

The 2010 and 2009 vintages of Château Valandraud were awarded 97/100 by Robert Parker, underlining the remarkable quality of this Saint-Émilion wine.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Valandraud

The Château Valandraud vineyard now extends over about 10.7 hectares, mainly located in Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, on the clay-limestone plateau. This exceptional terroir, known for its ability to produce balanced and powerful wines, is a key factor in the success of Valandraud's cuvées. The diversity of soils (clay-limestone and siliceous-gravelly) allows for the cultivation of several grape varieties under optimal conditions.

The estate's grape varieties are mainly composed of Merlot (70%), which brings roundness and generosity to the wine, followed by Cabernet Franc (25%), and to a lesser extent Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The average age of the vines is 30 years, with some plots exceeding 50 years, ensuring depth and aromatic complexity in each vintage. The planting density is 6,500 vines per hectare, a choice that favours the concentration of aromas and the quality of the grapes.

The cultivation of the vines is a subtle balance between tradition and modernity. Valandraud relies on environmentally friendly practices, such as grass cover, ploughing, leaf removal, and double Guyot pruning, to ensure the best expression of the terroir. The harvest is carried out manually, with rigorous sorting of the grapes by the pickers, followed by densimetric sorting on a Tribaie machine upon arrival in the estate's bioclimatic winery.

Vinification at Château Valandraud

The vinification process at Château Valandraud is an example of expertise and innovation. The carefully sorted grapes are vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel and wooden vats, offering precise temperature control. Manual punching down, a traditional method consisting of pushing the cap of marc into the must, allows for optimal extraction of tannins and aromas.

Maceration lasts about three weeks, a slow and controlled process to obtain concentrated and harmonious wines. Malolactic fermentation, which transforms malic acid into lactic acid, takes place in barrels, contributing to the smoothness and silky texture of the wines.

Ageing is another key element of the Valandraud style. The wines are aged between 18 and 30 months in 100% new French oak barrels, a bold choice that guarantees aromatic richness and perfectly integrated tannic structure. Each vintage undergoes rigorous selection of the best batches, under the supervision of Jean-Philippe Fort from the Rolland Laboratory. The final blend varies depending on the vintage, ensuring each cuvée has a unique character and perfect expression of the terroir.

The cuvées of Château Valandraud

Château Valandraud produces a range of wines recognised for their exceptional quality, from their grand vin to the smaller, more confidential cuvées.

Château Valandraud

The estate's grand vin, resulting from a blend dominated by Merlot. It is distinguished by its dark, almost black colour, and its intense nose with aromas of black fruits, liquorice and chocolate. On the palate, the wine is powerful, with enveloped tannins and exceptional length. Valandraud is a rich and complex wine that improves with time.

Virginie de Valandraud

Initially conceived as a second wine, Virginie de Valandraud is now a cuvée in its own right, produced from vineyards located beyond those of Valandraud. With a more accessible style and lovely freshness, this wine retains the generosity characteristic of the estate's wines while offering a more immediate approach.

3 de Valandraud

This wine is produced from declassified fruits of Valandraud and Virginie de Valandraud, offering a more affordable alternative but still with the estate's signature quality. 3 de Valandraud is a gourmet wine, with silky tannins and aromas of red and black fruits.

Blanc de Valandraud N°1

This white wine is made from plots dedicated to white grape varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris. This wine offers great aromatic complexity with notes of citrus, exotic fruits and beautiful minerality.

Saint-Émilion, a jewel of the Bordeaux wine region, has produced vintages of exceptional quality over the years, delighting connoisseurs of fine wines. Among the legendary vintages, one can cite 1947, 1959, and 1961, true icons that have marked the history of Bordeaux wines. The famous 1982 remains an undisputable reference. The following decades were equally impressive, with remarkable vintages such as 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005, all acclaimed for their richness and ageing potential. More recently, the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 vintages have shone through their balance and depth, reaffirming Saint-Émilion's reputation as one of Bordeaux's most sought-after appellations, where each new year continues to captivate fine wine enthusiasts with its consistent quality and elegance.

The classification of Saint-Émilion's Premiers Grands Crus Classés B, reviewed every 10 years, highlights exceptional châteaux from the Right Bank vineyard. Among those that continue to feature in this prestigious category are emblematic names such as Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau Lagarrosse, Château Bélair-Monange, Château Canon, Château Pavie-Macquin, Château Troplong-Mondot, Château Trottevieille, and Clos Fourtet. Others, promoted in 2012, such as Château Canon-La-Gaffelière, Château Larcis-Ducasse, Château La Mondotte, and Château Valandraud, also illustrate the ever-increasing quality of the region's growths. However, some châteaux are no longer classified, such as La Gaffelière (since 2022) and Magdelaine (since 2006). This constant renewal ensures the excellence and evolution of the Saint-Émilion vineyard, where tradition and innovation blend harmoniously.

Château Valandraud embodies audacity, innovation and excellence in the world of Bordeaux wines. From its modest beginnings as a "garage wine", this estate has risen to become one of the greatest growths of Saint-Émilion, proving that passion and expertise can rival the oldest traditions. Today, each vintage of Valandraud, whether it's its grand vin or its more confidential cuvées, is the result of meticulous work, driven by love for the land and respect for the terroir. Thanks to this quest for excellence, Château Valandraud continues to amaze amateurs and connoisseurs, in France and internationally.