2022 Chateau Virginie De Valandraud Saint Emilion Grand Cru

Walnuts, blackberries and roasted spices with a touch of cedar and dark chocolate. Almost full-bodied, this has a flavorful center palate and a dense, lengthy finish. Dusty tannins aplenty. Plush, voluptuous and judiciously made. Drink from 2027. ~95 James Suckling

Based on 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Virginie De Valandraud is a smoking good wine, offering layers of blackberries, currants, tobacco, and chocolate. Full-bodied and rich, it has a deep, velvety texture, terrific overall balance, and serious depth. Vinified and aged 20 months in new barrels, it will evolve nicely for 15+ years with ease. ~94 Jeb Dunnuck

Smells floral and lifted on the nose, pretty and pure, perfumed. Sleek and crisp, gorgeous personality and liveliness, bite and tang but such control and cool freshness. Really such excellent tannins, smooth but giving definition and weight to the palate with creaminess and chalkiness that is so appealing. Feels fairly serious and concentrated but so finessed. A beautiful wine, crunchy, sleek, forward, expressive and so utterly drinkable with freshness and a minty, wet stone, liquorice tang on the finish. Tension is apparent, it's still straight, but there's gorgeous potential. Harvest 12-29 September. Ageing 18-24 months, 100% new oak. 3.7pH. Production: 60,000 bottles. ~94 Decanter

Brilliant quality Virginie, has so much grain and depth, this is one to recommend. Black cherry, saffron, white pepper, sage, mint leaf, espresso, opulent but with fresh juice running right through it. Harvest 12 to 29 September. ~93 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Caressing and forward in feel, this offers up a warm ganache note draped over a core of plum and black cherry preserve flavors, with a subtle tug of earth at the tail end. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2032. 6,000 cases made. ~90 Wine Spectator