In 1989, Jean-Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud acquired a small plot of 0.6 hectares in the valley of Saint-Emilion between Pavie-Macquin and La Clotte. In 1991, they produced their first vintage bottled by themselves. Since then, they have acquired other plots and properties, in Saint-Christophe-Des-Bardes, Saint Sulpice de Faleyrens and Saint-Etienne de Lisse. While the first critics called it "garage wine", Château Valandraud, although still unclassified, is nevertheless considered by almost all wine professionals, including Robert Parker, as one of the very first wines of Bordeaux. Château Valandraud was promoted to 1er Grand Cru Classé de Saint Emilion in 2012. Member of the Union of Grands Crus of Bordeaux since 2017. The 2009 Valandraud is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc matured in 100% new oak for 22 months.

Product Information: A blend of four regions – Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Padthaway and McLaren Vale – from a cool vintage. The Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a remarkable wine that has been matured for 16 months in American oak hogsheads that are 100% new. This wine has been crafted using exceptional grapes grown in Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, and Barossa Valley regions. The 2022 season was generally cool, with the prevailing conditions delaying harvest by several weeks. The extra hang hang-time allowed the grapes to develop lovely varietal characters and balanced ripe tannins. Bin 707 is a perfect cabernet sauvignon representation of Penfolds ‘House Style’: intensely-flavoured fruit; completion of fermentation and maturation in new oak; expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing. Inspired by the iconic jet that took it to the world. The rich and powerful Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, our first commercial release of a single cabernet-based wine, is linked to Max Schubert’s dream of making a great Australian red wine that could last at least 20 years. During the ‘50s and early ‘60s cabernet sauvignon was mostly used for blending, but Schubert’s breakthrough with the varietal as a stand-alone wine came in 1964 with inaugural vintage. Early Bin 707s were typically open fermented under wax-lined header boards and matured in seasoned old oak (rather than new oak). The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 (when fruit was directed to other wines) nor in 1981, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2011 or 2017 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Full-bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 retains a secure place among the ranks of Australia’s finest cabernets. Maker: Penfolds has been a pioneer in the world of winemaking since its establishment in 1844 by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold. The company's success has been driven by a lineage of visionary winemakers who have pushed the development of the company to extraordinary, bold new heights. Mary Penfold's reign at the helm of Penfolds saw years of determination and endeavour, experimenting with new methods in wine production. In 1948, Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker and he propelled Penfolds onto the global stage with his experimentation of long-lasting wines - the creation of Penfolds Grange in the 1950s. Soon, the medals began flowing, and Grange quickly became one of the most revered wines around the world. In 2012, Penfolds released its most innovative project to date - 12 handcrafted ampoules of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Penfolds continues to hold dear the philosophies and legends that have driven the company's success since its establishment in 1844. Vineyard: In Coonawarra, spring's cooler temperatures led to nine days of sub-2°C weather. The deployment of frost fans proved effective in safeguarding vine shoots against these cold snaps. Warm weather prevailed in December, setting the stage for superb flowering and fruit-set conditions. Veraison was uniform across vineyards, leading to consistent grape development allowing flavour, tannin, and colour to flourish during the final ripening phase under near-perfect conditions. The Barossa Valley experienced cooler-than-average temperatures coupled with spring thunderstorms. Despite this, yields and grape quality surpassed expectations even among vines impacted by hail. A particularly arid yet cool December slowed down fruit-set, however, robust canopies played a pivotal role in driving up sugar levels and physiological maturity without the risk of dehydration at harvest time. The cooler growing season also fostered excellent acid retention which translated into grapes that were both finely structured and balanced. Padthaway encountered a frost event in October, but enjoyed an otherwise gentle growing season, free from extreme heat spikes or rain delays at harvest time. McLaren Vale reported only three days exceeding 35°C - half what was recorded for the previous year's vintage - resulting in a gradual harvest that allowed Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to be picked at their peak condition. Nose - Peppermint, Blackcurrant, Woodsmoke Peppermint, vanilla, blackcurrant, bay leaves and woodsmoke, peppercorns wrapped in milk chocolate. Palate - Cherry Chocolate, Sage, Savoury Olives Blackberry compote, cherry chocolate, nutmeg, bay leaf, sage herbals, iodine and Mediterranean black olive savoury notes. Finish - Thyme, Intense, Lingering Woodsy Spice This is a muscular red wine with the smoothness of oil. It looks good for drinking even now, as intense as it is, but it will outlive most of us.