Tasting Notes
Vinous 90
The 1999 Valandraud has a surprisingly dark color and seems very youthful for its age. It is concentrated and heady, offering copious dark cherry and black currant fruit, a touch of camphor, crème de cassis and, later, a hint of Japanese nori. The medium-bodied palate presents a sweet core of ripe, rounded black fruit tinged with charcoal. Quite caressing in mouth, with moderate acidity, but missing the complexity that I was hoping for. Perhaps it will develop a little more personality with bottle age, as there is good substance here. Tasted December 2016.
Anticipated maturity: 2019-2028
Robert Parker 90
Tasted at the Valandraud vertical at the property, the 1999 Valandraud has a dark color and seems very youthful for its age. It is very concentrated and heady with copious dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit, a touch of camphor, crème de cassis and later, a hint of Japanese nori. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, rounded black fruit. It has a sweet core of black fruit tinged with charcoal, moderate acidity, quite caressing in mouth albeit missing the complexity that I was hoping for. Perhaps it will develop a little more personality with bottle age, as there is good substance here. Tasted December 2016.
Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027
