08 Valandraud

2008 Château Valandraud;

Deep ruby, vanilla, sweet tobacco and some dark fruit. I'm not sure if Valandraud still does the 200% new oak treatment, meaning they put the wine in new cask's twice, once a year or so, before bottling! Because there is a lot of wood here, not on the texture, and thats remarkable, but on the nose and flavours. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, also some alcohol showing in the finish. Hopefully there is some more fruit hiding in the forest that will come out some day and shine on its own. There is more refinement, and the quality of the fruit seems impeccable, than in most wines, it's just seems to be wrapped in the wrong paper. It's like receiving a Hermes scarf, and the gift paper is cardboard. For now, 86