Tasted blind at the Valandraud vertical at the property, the 2001 Valandraud is a vintage that I had tasted previously but had not impressed. Well, here it gave a totally different impression (paired blind against a superb 2001 Opus One incidentally). It has a deep color with very little ageing. The bouquet offers intense black cherries, mulberry, orange rind and cedar aromas that are vigorous and very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and superb tension. The texture feels slightly chalky, almost as if from calcareous soils, and you can feel the energy towards the vivid red cherry and raspberry coulis-tinged finish. This is only just beginning to show what it can do. This is equal to the 2000 Valandraud and might actually be the better long-term bet. Tasted December 2016.

As hard as it may be to believe, Valandraud’s 2001 is better than their 2000. One of the great efforts from proprietors Murielle Andraud and Jean-Luc Thunevin, the 2001 Valandraud boasts a saturated plum/purple color as well as a sumptuously sweet nose of Varhona chocolate intertwined with espresso roast, blackberries, cherry jam, and currants. Full-bodied, opulent, voluptuously textured, pure, rich, and seriously endowed, this is a brilliant effort from Bordeaux’s leading revolutionary. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. By the way, the kosher cuvee of this wine merits 91-92 points. It is undeniably the finest kosher wine I have ever tasted.

(70% merlot, 25% cabernet franc, 2.5% malbec and 2.5% cabernet sauvignon; harvested on October 22 and 23 with 14% potential alcohol and a pH of 3.7) Saturated ruby. Kirsch, violet, licorice and minerals on the aromatic nose, along with sexy Taransaud spice. Dense, lush and concentrated, with enticing, pure dark berry flavors. Long, building finish features very fine tannins. A major mouthful of wine. There will be roughly 9,000 bottles of this juice, down sharply from 15,000 in 2000.

Oxidised nose. Loose and dusty and over the top on the nose and then very tough on the finish. Oak tincture. (JR)