2025, Château Valandraud, SAINT-ÉMILION, 1er Grand Cru Classé 'B'

84% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet FrancThe 2025 Valandraud is breathtaking. It’s the first vintage made by Jean-Luc Thunevin and Marie Lefévère together. It therefore represents a changing of the guard, now that Lefévère and her husband, Christophe, have taken full ownership of the property after many years holding a minority stake. Vibrant and explosive in the glass, the 2025 Valandraud offers an exotic mélange of dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and mocha. There's gorgeous precision here, much of that coming from more finesse in the tannins. The 2025 is utterly magnificent. 96-99 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.As ever with Valandraud, this has impressive depth and concentration. Inky colour, sea spray aromatics, high sandalwood oak on the nose that it is completely eaten up on the palate, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, powerful iris and violets, estate signature, with breadth and depth of flavour. Marie and Jean-Christophe Lefévère (of Sansonnet) now are the official owners of Valandraud, as of this vintage. This is a great wine and a clear potential upscore in bottle. 95 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux.