Château Valandraud
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Château Valandraud, or Château de Valandraud, is an unclassed Bordeaux wine from the Saint-Émilion appellation. The winery is located on the Right Bank of France’s Bordeaux wine region in the commune of Saint-Émilion.
The winery also produces the second wines, Virginie de Valandraud and 3 de Valandraud, and a Kosher wine Château Valandraud Kosher.[1]
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[edit] History
In 1989 Jean-Luc Thunevin and his wife Murielle Andraud bought a 0.6 hectare plot in Saint-Émilion near Château Pavie-Macquin. Further plots in the region were acuired over the years, in locations such as Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens and Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, and a former garage to be used as a winery, releasing the first vintage in 1991 of 1,500 bottles priced at €13,72. Exemplified as a typical "microchâteau",[2] Thunevin is closely associated with the "garagiste" movement, and the wine is described as the pioneer "Vin de garage".[3][4] In 1995, Valandraud was given a better rating by Robert Parker than Château Pétrus,[5] and by 1997 the Valandraud bottle price was set at €91,46. The 2005 vintage was set at €165,00.[6]
The Thunevins have since taken on several projects, including 'Médoc's first "garage wine"', Marojallia,[3] and acting as négociant distributor for several estates from Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon and elsewhere, including Château Ausone, Gracia and Harlan Estate.
[edit] Production
The vineyard area currently extends 8.5 hectares, with a grape variety of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The annual production of the Grand Vin is typically 15,000 to 20,000 bottles.[6]
[edit] References
- Château Valandraud fact sheet thunevin.com
- Footnotes
- ^ Arnold, Eric, Wine Spectator (April 10, 2006). Château Valandraud Tries to Take Kosher Wine to New Heights.
- ^ winepros.com.au. Oxford Companion to Wine. microchateau.
- ^ a b Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (April 10, 2004). Bordeaux 2003 - such mixed fortunes.
- ^ Kissack, Chris, thewinedoctor.com. Chateau Lezongars.
- ^ Jefford, Andrew, Waitrose Food Illustrated. Garage Guidance.
- ^ a b Thunevin, Jean-Luc, Jean-Luc Thunevin's Blog (May 1, 2008). Transparency.
