CHATEAU DE VALANDRAUD

Valandraud is home to husband and wife team Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud. Initially Valandraud started off as a small Saint-Émilion property, but over the years, Thunevin and Andraud have doggedly increased their holdings through continued purchases, and it can today boast 10 hectares of vineyards.

Located in various parts of Saint-Émilion, their varieties include Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Carménère. Jean-Luc Thunvin has a reputation for not towing the Bordeaux line and doing things his own way, something that has earned him the title of 'the bad boy of Saint-Émilion'. But for all that, never has any other wine with so short a track record enjoyed such commercial success (and at such high prices).

The wine is vividly rich and concentrated, wonderfully delineated. Winemaking duties have been solely the domain of Murielle Andraud since the 2008 vintage, and with its wines never better, Valandraud was upgraded to Premier Grand Cru Classé B status in the official 2012 Saint-Émilion Classification.