Château de Valois

Pomerol

2018 Château de Valois

APR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice nose. Floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, fresh, bit short. 86-88

2018 L'Eclat de Valois

APR 19 Ruby. Anise, blueberries, spices nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, jammy, some alcohol, good length. 85-87

2017 Château de Valois

APR 18 Ruby. Scented, blueberries, anise, lighter but floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, elegant if leaner. 86-88

2016 Château de Valois

Ruby. Blackberries, coffee, dark fruits nose. Vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some spices, anise, good length. 86-88

2016 L'Eclat de Valois

About 1800 bottles made from 60 year old vines. Ruby. Blackberries, blueberries, fruity, dark berries, some spices and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise, some spices. 88-90

2015 Château de Valois

APR 16 Ruby. Dark fruits, ripe, blackberries, some floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh  fruity, rounded, lively, lovely balance, good length. 88-90

2015 L'Eclat de Valois

APR 16 About 1800 bottles made from 60 year old vines . Ruby. Vanilla, raspberries, fruity nose, dark berries and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, fruity, dark berries and spices. 88-90

2014 Château de Valois

MAY 17 Ruby. Fruity, red berries, light scented nose, fairly light overall. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, light, fresh and fruity, good length. 87

2009 Château de Valois
OCT 11 Ruby, floral notes, lovely red and darker berries, perfumed and elegant nose. Fresh acidity, pure, elegant, nice balance, nuanced, long finish. 93

2008 Château de Valois
OCT 11 Ruby, intense, blackberries, needs time to open in the glass, nice texture, elegant acidity, ripe tannins, lively finish, long. 92

2006 Château de Valois

MAY 13 Deep ruby. Some blueberries and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, a bit rustic first, ads fruit with air but never refined. 83

At Château de Valois, a splendid Pomerol estate, I got the chance to taste samples from different barrels. This is a rare treat, and something that is of great fun to the wine geek. After a barrel tasting from different barrels, one admirer the people, and the skill of those who decide on the final blend.

2010 Merlot from Château de Valois, all sampled, fermented in the same tank.

Tonneliere Remond Medium toast; (Allier)
Soma vanilla, perfumed, nuanced, very elegant fruit, nice texture, pure and floral.

Tonneliere Remond Medium+ toast (Allier)
Somewhat more coffee and tea, chocolate behind, immediately a deeper expression, or let's call it darker. Still perfumed, more structure, more difficult to enjoy fully.

Tonneliere Taransaud Medium Toast; (Allier)
Flirting roses, blueberries and touch of chocolate, very fresh, seductive.

2010 Cabernet Franc from Château de Valois, all sampled, fermented in the same tank

Tonneliere Remond Medium Toast (Allier)
Cassis, floral, violets, nice acidity and texture, fine balance, refined, pure, long and elegant.

Tonneliere Taransaud Medium Toast (Allier)
Cassis, some woody high-notes, touch of smoke. Fresh, fruity, feels slightly more intense, nice texture.

Tonneliere Francis Medium Toast (Allier)
Cassis, fruit driven, pure, some seductive floral notes. More fruit forward palate, very elegant lovely texture.

Then Merlot from fifty year old vines from Château de Valois, fermented in barrel;

Tonneliere Baron Medium + Toast (Allier)
Intense, chocolate, blueberries, sweeter fruit, lovely balance and very long indeed.

Tonneliere Cavin Medium Toast (Allier)
More chocolate but also red berries, but wood is hovering over the fruit.