Chateau Valandraud Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009, 2010, 2011 Vertical (3-Pack OWC)

Bordeaux’s O.G. Vin de Garage, Chateau Valandraud!! The wine that started a movement – instantly shattering centuries of classicism in Bordeaux to prove that the best wines aren’t simply the grandest Chateaus or the oldest names – this 3-pack vertical of 2009, 2010, and 2011 is a sample of the estate’s greatest vintages, drinking perfectly now, but with decades of life to live – all at our exceptional price that is over $200 less than retail!

This is simply Saint-Emilion GRAND CRU at its sexiest...but please, if this just made the hair on the back of your neck stand up...go now! Only 16 of these exceptional 3-packs to be had, and sure to move quickly. Lots of info about Valandraud HERE, but Jean-Luc Thunevin, the proprietor, is famous in Bordeaux and particularly Saint-Emilion as the man that kickstarted the “garage wine” movement – he literally made the first few vintages of this wine in his garage and was outscoring First Growths in no time.

Originally a small, 0.6-hectare parcel of land in Saint Emilion, next to the revered Chateau Pavie, Chateau Valandraud has grown over the years to over 9 hectares of vineyards. Once an infinitesimally small 100-case production, the winery has slowly expanded over the decades, with a still small production of only a few thousand cases per year, and vineyard parcels throughout Saint Emilion that have swelled to 9 hectares. Still certainly a micro-production for Bordeaux, and with quality that has simply run roughshod over the established Bordeaux estates.

Mostly merlot, followed by cabernet franc and then small amounts of other Bordeaux varieties, these are Bordeaux’s Right Bank at its most powerful, opulent, and let’s be honest...hedonistic. One of the first heralded producers in Bordeaux to use 100% new French oak, for 18-24 months, Jean-Luc Thunevin has long caught the eye of critics who praise his modern approach to what had typically been a region of very austere wines. No more. Whether it is global warming, new and improved viticulture, or simply a consumer preference (or, most likely, a combination of all this and more), there is no doubt that Bordeaux is more modern in style than ever before. This wine certainly has contributed to that, and we’d argue, in the best possible way. This is a stunning collection of three of Bordeaux’s best, and worthy of any ultimate collection of wines. Read the critic notes for more on the taste, as I got one 3-pack for myself and I’m not quite done showing it off yet, so I’ll refrain from drinking for now! Good luck!