CHATEAU LAGRANGE 3eme Grand Cru Classe Saint-Julien 2021 Bottle 13.5%abv MV*

Description

MV* = Market Value - No Further Discount Possible

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)
Reviewed by William Kelley
Issue Date 29th Apr 2022
Source Issue 260 End of April 2022, The Wine Advocate
"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."

JANCIS ROBINSON 16.5
Drink 2028 - 2040
84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Even more Cabernet than 2019 (80%). Cask sample.
"Open and aromatic with dark fruit to the fore. Palate shows good density, again with attractive fruit and a firm but ripe tannic frame. Drives on the finish. Some potential here."

DECANTER 93
Tasted by Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)
"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."

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."