Château Lagrange Saint-Julien 2019 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

The estate produces wines that are increasingly refined, showcasing the excellence of its terroir and its now mature grape varieties. A classic nose of cedar, full-bodied, with well-defined tannins and high-quality oak aging. A classic vintage with excellent aging potential and outstanding value for money.

About the estate:

This vast vineyard estate, as consistent in character as its neighbor Gruaud-Larose, has seen its vines mature and lend an unprecedented intensity to its grand cru, while refining its style over the past three years thanks to the efforts of the current technical team. Its wine is a straightforward, classic, almost mineral expression of the finest terroirs of Saint-Julien, revealing an undeniable similarity in flavor and style to Léoville-Las-Cases—which is no small compliment. Excellent value for money.

Decanter

About the wine:

The wine has a beautiful deep red color with a pink rim. The nose offers such freshness and floral vibrancy, with lively, inviting aromas featuring a hint of fresh blueberries and subtle notes of licorice. The texture and mouthfeel are astonishing, with a good density of chalky, textured tannins that support creamy red fruit with such succulent and enticing juicy acidity. It has it all—lively, abundant, and generous fruit; creamy tannins with a velvety texture; brilliant acidity; and superb Cabernet characteristics. Round and full-bodied, with excellent winemaking. 2023–2037

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

It is often thanks to the owner’s dedication that Bordeaux châteaux are able to reach their full potential. Lagrange was not so fortunate, changing hands frequently. It was not until the arrival of the Japanese group Suntory in 1983 that the estate received the attention it deserved: restoration of the vineyard, a new winery, and above all, a dynamic team led by Marcel Ducasse—who was replaced in 2007 by Bruno Eynard, who had served as his assistant for 17 years. The new winery now facilitates even more precise plot-by-plot winemaking.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2019 Lagrange has developed beautifully in the bottle, filling the glass with aromas of cherries, blackberries, and blackcurrants intertwined with notes of loamy soil, pencil shavings, and bay leaf. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a generous core of vibrant fruit, powdery tannins, and succulent acidity, it is smooth and well-integrated, finishing with a long, lingering finish. The result of an extremely rigorous selection process and composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is the finest wine this château has produced in the modern era. Remarkably, it was sold en primeur at the same price as the 2005!

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Acquired by the Japanese group Suntory in 1983, the château quickly established itself as a reliable and consistent choice within the appellation, producing elegant, well-structured, and consistently affordable wines. A vast estate managed with great care, though its most recent vintages—while by no means lacking merit—seemed to us slightly less compelling. In a highly competitive landscape, facing neighbors who spare no detail in producing the finest wines possible, Lagrange appears somewhat stagnant, leading us to remove its star.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Classic aromas of graphite and blackcurrant. Deep, with layered fruit, freshness, and a powerful yet polished tannic structure. A long, firm finish. Solid and persistent.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2019 Lagrange, harvested over the longest period on record, offers an irresistible bouquet of beautifully defined black fruits, intertwined with notes of cedar and subtle hints of graphite. On the palate, it is smooth, fresh, and vibrant, with great depth, perfectly balanced acidity, and a brilliantly concentrated finish. Winemaker Mathieu Bordes has crafted the finest Lagrange of recent years, a benchmark for the estate.

James Suckling

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

An intense ruby red dances in the glass. The nose reveals a rich, full-bodied profile with fresh black fruit. Notes of blackcurrant, chalk, and blackberry play off one another. The attack is very lively; it’s full-bodied and supple, with the wine opening up to reveal black cherry. The tannins are still tight, but they’ll really pack a punch.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is elegant, offering a rich, luscious aroma with depth. It features notes of juicy, pulpy blackberry and strawberry, along with more subtle hints of blueberries, combined with subtle touches of lily and raspberry, as well as delicate hints of violet, tonka bean, toasted notes, and a subtle hint of cardamom. The palate is fruity, mineral, juicy, elegant, and refined, offering good definition, richness, tension, freshness, and a touch of depth. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, blueberries, and a hint of blackcurrant, combined with subtle hints of juicy/tart raspberry, as well as hints of tonka bean, nutmeg, sweet spices, and a very subtle hint of cardamom. Good length. The tannins are refined, elegant, and well-integrated.