2020 Château Lagrange En Primeur (1)
Released this morning at £424 per dozen bottles in bond, Lagrange has been performing well in recent vintages and receives excellent scores in the 93-96 point range from a number of critics. Neal Martin provides the headline comment, describing it as a wine which "will challenge the best 2020s from the appellation (93-95 points).
Bordeaux En Primeur, Landing in spring 2023
Limited availability. To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
Château Lagrange, St.-Julien
Château Lagrange is a Troisième Grand Cru Classé estate in St.-Julien.
Lagrange dates to the middle ages, but it became famous under the ownership of Count Dûchatel from 1842 to 1874. One of King Louis- Philippe's Ministers, Dûchatel improved the estate with new drainage and his reputation brought the wine to prominence.
Lagrange was purchased by the Suntory group in 1983, a Japanese wine and spirits firm. They invested heavily in the vineyard and vat room. More recently, a new management team of Matthieu Bordes and Keiichi Shiina have taken on the running of the estate.
The 118 heactares of vineyards are planted to 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. The soils are mainly Gunzian gravel and are at some of the highest elevations in the commune. The second wine is Fief de Lagrange.
| RED | 2020 | 2 cases | Château Lagrange | 75cl | £424 per case of 12 | Château Lagrange 2020 / 2 cases / 75cl £424 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes“Cask sample taken 2 April. 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, aged for 21 months in barrels of which 60% were new. Bright, deep crimson. Nose a little smudgy with a hint of acidity and then sweetness. Tannins notably well masked. Very dry, even austere, uncompromising finish. 13.5%. Drink 2028 – 2043. 16 points” Jancisrobinson.com, Apr 21------"A perky, bright and enjoyable Lagrange, showing some angularity and austerity to the tannins but at the same time it is bright with clarity of direction, firm and concentrated fruits and juicy on the finish. A little subdued, but this is a quality Lagrange with extremely carefully placed fine tannins and fruit - it shows the essence of St-Julien balance, and one that will not need the full 10 years to come around. 50% less volume than usual. Tasted twice. Drinking Window 2027 - 2042. 93 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine------"Blackberry and currant with light graphite undertones. It’s medium-bodied with fine, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2020 Lagrange has a sensual, beautifully defined bouquet of mineral-infused black fruit, briar, touches of wild mint and crushed stone, conveying wonderful energy and precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, tensile and focused, delivering plenty of energy and an almost steely but persistent finish. This is a classy Lagrange from winemaker Matthieu Bordes and his team. I always feel this Saint-Julien is underrated, but it will challenge the best 2020s from the appellation. 93-95 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"A wine that excels in the appellation, the 2020 Château Lagrange has a slightly modern vibe, with plenty of oak, yet still brings classic Bordeaux tobacco, lead pencil, and earthy minerality as well as pure cassis fruits. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and just about seamless, it’s going to require 5-6 years of bottle age but should cruise for 20-25 years in cold cellars. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Lagrange leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of redcurrant jelly, ripe blackcurrants and minted blackberries, followed by nuances of dark chocolate, star anise and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is both super intense and super elegant, featuring exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness to frame the bright, crunchy black and red fruits, finishing long and mineral laced. Drink 2025-2050. 94-96 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, RobertParker.com |
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