Château Lagrange Saint-Julien 2020 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This vast wine estate, which is as consistent as its neighbor Gruaud-Larose, has seen its vines age and give the grand wine an unprecedented intensity, 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 best soils of Saint-Julien, revealing an undeniable similarity in flavor and style with Léoville-Las-Cases, which is no small compliment. Excellent value for money.

Decanter

About wine:

Aromatically very expressive on the nose. Fragrant with ripe fruit and floral character. Supple and juicy, it is full of life and bounce. The tannins are sumptuous but fleshy, giving roundness to the expression and allowing the red fruits to shine and the acidity to keep everything in suspension. A joyful quality, so easy to love—refreshing and enjoyable. The texture and weight are excellent, with lovely medicinal edges and a certain salinity, refreshing hints of mint, and a long finish. It is really well crafted and delivered with confidence. It is slightly structured in terms of texture, more layered vertically than broadly, which gives it an airy freshness throughout the tasting. 2025-2040

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

It is often thanks to the determination of the owner that Bordeaux châteaux are able to find their expression. Lagrange was unlucky, changing owners frequently. It was not until the arrival of the Japanese group Suntory in 1983 that it received the attention it deserved: restoration of the vineyard, a new winery and, above all, a crack team led by Marcel Ducasse—replaced in 2007 by Bruno Eynard, who had assisted him for 17 years. The new winery is now used for even more sophisticated plot-by-plot vinification.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Lagrange 2020 is a beautiful follow-up to the excellent 2019. It offers aromas of crème de cassis and plum mingled with notes of violet, licorice, pencil shavings, and vanilla bean. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a deep core of ripe but vibrant fruit, framed by powdery tannins that assert themselves with a soft grip on the finish. 2027-2055

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 performer within the appellation, producing elegant, well-structured and consistently affordable wines. A vast estate run with great professionalism, but whose latest vintages, while still worthy, seemed a little less convincing to us. In a highly competitive world, faced with neighbors who spare no detail in their quest to produce the greatest wines possible, Lagrange seems a little static, which has led us to remove its star.

James Suckling

About wine:

Attractive nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, walnuts, ink, and kaffir lime leaves. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, firm and structured, with chewy, tight tannins. Dark and intense, with a long, persistent finish. It evolves towards graphite and cedar. It needs time to open up and soften. Try from 2026.

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

On the nose, bright, straightforward red fruits. "Come in, come in! Welcome!" it seems to say. Smooth and supple on the palate, soothing, it knows where to take you, right to the indulgent finish and its delicious aftertaste.

Terre de Vins

About wine:

Rather discreet, the nose takes time to open up. Then comes a lovely concentration of black and red fruits, slightly jammy (strawberry, raspberry), creating an undeniable seduction. Without exuberance, Lagrange displays very ripe fruit, clothed in firm tannins, which will need time to mellow.

Yves Beck

About wine:

In terms of authenticity and consistency, this vintage is very strong! Year after year, Lagrange's style is highly acclaimed. The Cabernet Sauvignon brings out its freshness, while the Merlot rounds out the edges. Lagrange is sapid, full-bodied, and perfectly supported by creamy tannins. The acidic structure provides good support and highlights the aromatic expression on the finish. An expressive and persistent Lagrange with revitalizing freshness! 2026-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

The aroma opens with notes of mint, cigar box, black and red currants, black cherries, and tobacco leaves. And with all that, the wine is just getting started, because it's even better on the palate with its multiple layers of supple, fresh, vibrant, sweet, and ripe fruit, silky and elegant tannins, length, and purity. Since the 2016 vintage, Lagrange has been on a roll, and 2020 could be the estate's best vintage to date. If you haven't tasted what they do yet, you need to get yourself a bottle and uncork it! Drink between 2027 and 2055.