| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Campfire, charcoal and sweet brioche notes, blackcurrant pasille, still plenty of tannins at 14 years old, with structure and architecture, mint leaf and bitter chocolate as it unrolls. It holds its nerve from start to finish, offering unwavering flavours and excellent persistency. Good quality, ready to drink but no need to hurry. An important year for Lagrange, where the new vat house had double the capacity of the previous one. Although not entirely finished until 2010, the technical parts were ready for the 2008 harvest, allowing for far more precise plot by plot picking, with 102 vats in the cellar for 103 plots in the vineyard, eliminating the need for a 3rd wine. A beautiful late harvest vintage also (after a cool summer), with picking beginning on October 6 through October 23. 40% of production went into the 1st wine, 60% new oak for ageing.
The dark ruby/purple-hued 2008 reveals an angular, austere personality along with medium to full-bodied, deep, concentrated fruit. An unusually backward and highly tannic 2008, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for 20 years. It is a very good wine, but it is not pleasant to drink at present.
The rather overt oak often found in this cuvee seems to have been considerably tamed in the 2008. It is more charming, displaying a plush texture along with sweet cassis and black cherry fruit intertwined with intriguing notes of Christmas fruitcake, spice box, and herbs. There is plenty of sweet tannin in this medium-bodied effort, but unlike the tannins in the right bank wines, the tannins in most of the northern Medocs are more prominent, largely because these wines possess high percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon. Five to eight years of patience will be required, and the 2008 Lagrange should last for 25 years.
Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. With yet another strong performance under blind conditions, the Lagrange 2008 continues as one of the most consistent performers in this consistent commune. It has a slightly bretty nose that subdues the fruit, notes of iodine and violets emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, ripe tannins, well balanced with a much cleaner entry than the nose suggest. It improves all the time in the glass but those tannins will take years to melt. Impressive. Tasted January 2012.
A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot with just 40% of the Grand Vin. Harvest: 6th October finished 23rd October. The nose is far more introverted than in previous years but well defined with blackberry, cassis, just a touch of mocha and cedar. Tightly coiled. The palate has it all going on: beautifully fine tannins, wonderful balance and purity, this is an exquisite Lagrange that is bursting with energy. Bon vin! Tasted twice with consistent notes. Tasted April 2009
Crimson. Sweet and aromatic on the nose. Very flattering. Fine tannins and lots of flesh without being specious. A bit forward but attractive in the short term.
