CHATEAU LAGRANGE 3eme Grand Cru Classe Saint-Julien 2021 Bottle

Description

The 2021 Château Lagrange offers a fresh, vibrant expression of Saint-Julien, with bright red and black fruit notes like cherry, raspberry, and cassis. Subtle hints of floral, cedar, and a touch of spice add complexity. Silky tannins and lively acidity provide structure and balance, making it approachable and enjoyable now. Elegant and refined, this vintage promises both immediate pleasure and excellent aging potential, showcasing Lagrange’s consistent quality.

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Château Lagrange was for many years perceived as a tired, underperforming St Julien château that was unworthy of its 3ème Cru Classé status. In 1983 it was purchased by the Japanese Suntory Group which set about renovating the vineyards and the winery. Lagrange rose to become a model estate and even today few Bordeaux properties can match Lagrange, with its huge barrique chais and its state of the art cuvier with its 56 temperature-controlled, stainless steel cuvées.

THE WINE ADVOCATE Rating (92 - 94)
Representing only 39% of the estate's production, the 2021 Lagrange is very promising indeed, mingling aromas of wild berries and blackcurrants with notions of loamy soils, pencil shavings and violets. Medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, with fine depth at the core, powdery tannins and lively acids, it saw a cool vinification and contains a record 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, much of which was picked late, between the seventh and 12th of October. It's a brilliant effort from Matthieu Bordes and his team. Tasted five times, twice at the estate. - William Kelley 04/22

DECANTER 93
Super-floral on the nose, a celebration of peony, violet and rose flowers. Juicy and supple with a real life-force. The starts off bright and upfront with strawberry and red cherry notes that merge into a darker, more savoury mid-palate full of slate and chocolate. I like the persistence here, the clarity of the fruit expression and the brightness. It's not the most expansive but the individual elements are so well presented with detail on show. A great effort in the vintage with no drop in the mid-palate, acidity in check and nice floral fruit. Drinking Window 2025 - 2045 - Georgina Hindle 04/22

JAMES SUCKLING Score 92-93
A firm and silky red with medium body, fresh acidity and an orange-peel and berry aftertaste. Refined and bright.