Château Lagrange 2020

A fresh Cru Classé of Saint-Julien with great finesse

The estate

In the Médoc, Château Lagrange is one of the iconic references of Saint-Julien. The property boasts ancient origins dating back to Gallo-Roman times, when the estate housed the "Villa Rustica". It was back then that the Order of the Templars first began producing wine at the property. Château Lagrange experienced a real golden age in the 18th century and earned the title of 3rd Classified Growth in the Official Classification of 1855. It was in 1983 that Château Lagrange was acquired by the Japanese group Suntory and its president Keizo Saji. Following a major renovation and investment project carried out by the dynamic new team, Château Lagrange has become one of the top producers of the Saint-Julien appellation.

The vineyard

The exceptional Château Lagrange vineyard covers 118 hectares of vines in one piece. The vineyard enjoys a superb location on two low hills. The vines are 45 years old on average. They face north-south and are planted in silica-gravelly soils with a clay-limestone subsoil. The vineyard enjoys a temperate climate with oceanic influence.

The vintage

As in 2019, a record-breaking total amount of rainfall was recorded. The warm winter favoured early bud break and this early character was maintained until the harvest. The summer conditions, marked by very hot weather, impacted the yields. While 2020 was the estate's smallest harvest for 30 years, the small grapes revealed skins very rich in polyphenols. The Merlot was generous and the Cabernet Sauvignon, through its tannins and aromas, lent the blend a power, as well as a beautiful freshness and a nice persistence on the palate.

The vinification and ageing

Plot and intra-plot selection. 102 thermoregulated stainless steel vats for 103 plots of vines. A variety of tank capacities: From 36 to 220 hl. Lots classified according to the grape variety, age of the vines, terroir and ripeness of the grapes. The thermoregulated vinification is accompanied by moderate daily pump-overs, releases or punch-downs. Malolactic fermentation by co-inoculation. The 21-month ageing is carried out in barrels, 50% of which are new oak barrels. The final blend is done before bottling.

The blend

The Château Lagrange 2020 is made from a blend of cabernet sauvignon (74%), merlot (24%), petit verdot (2%).

The tasting

Product of the hottest vintage in modern history, the Château Lagrange 2020 seduces with its freshness as well as the precision of its fruity (sour cherry, blackcurrant) and liquorice aromas. Extremely pure, this wine combines a smooth touch with a chiseled and radiant palate. With its beautiful tension, the tannic structure is reminiscent of the exceptional 2010 vintage.