Chateau Lagrange Saint-Julien Grand Cru 2020
(Bordeaux, France) - [JD 95+] [WA 95] [VM 95] [JL 95]

About the Winery:

Château Lagrange boasts a rich history that dates back to the Moyen Âge (Middle Ages), making it one of the oldest estates in the Médoc. Classified as a Third Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the estate has long been recognized for its exceptional wines. In the 1980s, Château Lagrange underwent a renaissance under the ownership of the Suntory Group, which invested heavily in modernizing the vineyards and winemaking facilities while preserving the estate’s historic charm. Today, under the guidance of Technical Director Matthieu Bordes, Château Lagrange continues to produce wines that honor its storied past while embracing innovation and excellence.

Terroir: Located in the commune of Saint-Julien, the Château Lagrange vineyard extends over 118 ha of red vines in one piece planted on two gravelly outcrops, facing north-south. The estate has a clay-limestone subsoil, a silicogravelous soil, and the climate is temperate and
oceanic.

Winemaking Process: The grapes, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with supporting roles from Merlot and Petit Verdot, are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness to ensure the highest quality. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for 18-20 days, allowing for precise extraction of color, tannins, and flavor. The wine is then carefully aged in French oak barrels for 18-20 months, with 60% of new oak to add complexity and structure. This thoughtful approach to winemaking results in a wine that is both powerful and elegant, with a perfect balance of fruit, tannin, and acidity.

Ratings & Reviews

95+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
Coming from depressingly low yields of just 26 hectoliters per hectare (the lowest since 1991), the 2020 Château Lagrange checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. It's a gorgeous, complete Saint-Julien offering remarkable purity in its cassis, violets, chocolate, and leafy tobacco-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with terrific balance, a pure, focused mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and beautifully integrated oak, it's going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise over the following 2+ decades in cold cellar. (Drink between 2027-2047)

95 Points - Vinous:
The 2020 Lagrange has wonderful control and mineralité on the nose, very precise and well defined, a touch of dried rose petal emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, white pepper and a saline undertow. Very complex and persistent on the finish, this is one of the more cerebral wines of the vintage. It's not to be underestimated (though too often, it is). Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2030-2060)

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
The 2020 Lagrange is a fine follow-up to the excellent 2019. Offering up aromas of crème de cassis and plums mingled with hints of violets, licorice, pencil shavings and vanilla pod, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a deep core of ripe but vibrant fruit that's framed by powdery tannins that assert themselves with gentle grip on the finish.

When Matthieu Bordes arrived at Château Lagrange in 2006, he had the good fortune to take over a vineyard that had been extensively replanted in the 1980s and was just arriving at maturity. Since Suntory acquired this estate, no expense has been spared, nor has any selection been considered too severe. As the fruits of that investment over the years met Bordes' talents, the results have been exceptional. 2027-2055.

95 Points - Jeff Leve:
The perfume kicks off with mint, cigar box, black and red currants, black cherries and tobacco leaves. And with all that, the wine is just getting started because it is even better on the palate with its multiple-layers of supple, fresh, vibrant, sweet, ripe fruits, elegant silky tannins, length and purity. Starting with the 2016 vintage, Lagrange has been on a hot streak and 2020 could be their best vintage yet. If you haven't tasted what they are doing, you need to grab a bottle and pull a cork! Drink from 2027-2055.

94 Points - James Suckling:
Attractive nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, walnuts, ink and kaffir leaves. It’s medium- to full-bodied, firm and structured, with chewy and tight tannins. Dark and intense, with a long and persistent finish. Turns to graphite and cedar. Needs time to open and soften. Try from 2026.

94 Points - Decanter:
Aromatically very expressive on the nose. Perfumed with ripe fruits and floral characters. Supple and juicy, a lovely lifeforce and bounce. Tannins are plush yet plump giving a roundness to the expression letting the bright red fruits shine and acidity keep everything lifted. Has a joyous quality, so easy to like this - refreshing and enjoyable. The texture and weight is great, lovely medicinal edges as well as some salinity with cooling minty touches and a long finish. Really well worked, not pushed and delivered with poise. It’s lightly framed in terms of texture, more layered vertically than wide, giving an aerial freshness throughout.  (Drink between 2025-2040)