The 2020 Valandraud has a deep garnet-purple color. It opens with overtones of cedar and lifted Morello cherries before giving way to a core of fruitcake, blueberry pie, chargrill, and Indian spices, with wafts of licorice and cardamom. The big, concentrated, full-bodied palate quivers with tension and shimmers with energy, framed by beautifully ripe tannins, finishing long and opulent. Gorgeous.

97 points, The Wine Independent (March 2023)

Juicy, perfectly judged, delicious brambled fruits, this is exuberant without being overdone, just oozing with pleasure, inviting you to come on board. Expect waves of liqourice, powerful damson brambled jam, lime blossom, orange peel marmalade and saffron. This needs a good five more years in bottle before approaching, but you want this in your cellar. Founders Arnaud-Thunevin now in a 50% ownership with the Lefevre family from Sansonnet, 100% new oak, 49hl/ha yield.

96 points, JaneAnson.com (January 2023)

One of the wines of the vintage is Jean-Luc Thunevin's 2020 Château Valandraud, which comes from the cooler, eastern side of Saint-Emilion. Exhibiting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, violets, new leather, and an almost Hermitage-like burning embers character, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, seamless tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and a finish that won't quit. A blend of 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's clearly in the same league as the 2019, if not slightly more concentrated. Give bottles 5-7 years in the cellar, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20-25 years or so.

99 points, JebDunnuck.com (March 2023)

The 2020 Valandraud is a stunner. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2020 possesses dazzling intensity from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plush dark red/black fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Even with all of its intensity, the 2020 is bright and wonderfully focused. Sweet floral and blood orange accents liven up the explosive finish. Magnificent.

98 points, Vinous (December 2022)

The 2020 Valandraud was a startling Saint-Émilion from barrel. Bottled in July 2022, it retains a very intense bouquet with blackberry, wild strawberry, licorice and star anis scents that remain beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent, plush, luxuriant tannins. There is a candied quality to this Valandraud, yet the trick is that Thunevin maintains balance and it does not overwhelm on the decadent finish. It sashays along with style. Give it several years in bottle.

96 points, Vinous (December 2022)