| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 2014 Lagrange was picked from 25 September until 17 October. It has an impressive bouquet with ample red cherry, cranberry and crushed strawberry fruit mixed with sage and cedar, good vigour and gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and plenty of freshness thanks to that silver bead of acidity. This is a vivid and vivacious Lagrange, one of the most charming and pretty in recent years. Superb. Tasted at the Lagrange vertical at the estate. Drink 2023-2040.
This is a classic St.-Julien with red fruit and delicate herbs on the nose. The oak is quite discreet both there and on the mid-weight body. Then the serious but rather elegant dry tannins come through on the long finish. Drink in 2022.
Richly concentrated plum, cassis, and damson, this is powerful, with the highest amount of Cabernet Sauvignon than any vintage since 2000. Firm but fine in its architecture, this combines succulent tannins with a gourmet edge of sweet fruit. The structure is beginning to soften but it needs another few years to fully open, so give it either a good long carafe of three hours or more, or wait. 40% of production in the 1st wine, with 60% new oak. Eric Boissenot consultant.
Tasted blind. Rather marked acidity and tannin and very much fashioned for the long term. All on the finish with its peacock’s tail. Some iodine.
Drink 2025-2042
This Chateau is the largest of all the classed growths with 117 hectares of vines (4 of which are planted with white varieties). Top quality Saint Julien has been produced here since the late 1980's when it was bought by the Suntory group of Japan. This quality level is partly achieved by the production of a very good second wine, Les Fiefs de Lagrange, which in most vintages makes up more than 50% of production. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Deep purple colour. Attractive nose of cherry fruit. Medium weight on the palate. Ripe and rounded tannins. Quite firm and cedary in style in a classic St Julien way. Finishes fresh and cedary, with a little spice.
A fruitcake note leads the way, followed by warm plum sauce, crushed blackberry and cassis details. A firm graphite edge holds the finish, leaving a taut feel in the end. Best from 2019 through 2026. 23,335 cases made.
Floral fragrant spring violets the nose has lots of charm the start of the palate fresh and bright. Richer in the middle with depth of flavour but at the back the freshness gives a lighter feel bright but lacking a bit of richness. 2026-38
The 2014 Lagrange has one of the most exotic bouquet from the flight of Saint Julien wines with red cherries, kirsch, blueberry and press flowers, almost Margaux-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, quite saline in the mouth with a hint of black olive, a very crisp bead of acidity. Nice grip here, quite firm and dense. One to watch. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2020 - 2045
The 2014 Lagrange has indeed pulled its socks up, as I opined when I tasted the wine from barrel. Now in bottle, it has a conservative, tertiary nose with introverted black fruit mixed with cedar and sandalwood aromas. It feels tight at the moment but there is satisfying focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin on the entry, though the Merlot component becomes more prominent towards the finish and offers a lovely fleshy, poised finish with a dab of black pepper on the aftertaste. Modest but stylish Lagrange, which is exactly what you expect. Drink Date 2020-2045
The Château Lagrange 2014 has a perfumed nose with blackcurrant pastille. It is well defined with nicely integrated oak, black rather than red fruit with a pleasant touch of graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe black fruit and a keen line of acidity. It does not quite possess the weight and concentration of its peers. It is balanced but it needs to muster more substance during its élevage. A second and third example confirmed my findings, a Lagrange that needs to pull its socks up by the time of bottling.
Drink: 2018 - 2030
A tight and very fine wine with a blueberry and blackcurrant character. Medium to full body, firm tannins. Polished Lagrange style here.
Dark crimson. Rather indistinct nose. Though it seems as though there is a lot hidden here. Just a bit austere. Not the full ripeness that some have achieved. Falls away a bit. Hint of iron filings. Pretty severe finish.
Drink 2024-2034
