In Bond Fine Wine. 2020 Château Lagrange Lagrange (St Julien), St Julien, Bordeaux, France. Third Growth • Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 94/100 (NM). Drinking window: 2021–2060. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Chateau Lagrange has come a long way. Thanks to major investment and vineyard work, Lagrange is now one of the most consistent and best value wines in St Julien, led by the talented Matthieu Bordes. Classic Saint-Julien with more depth and refinement but with a modern polish that makes it equally enjoyable younger. Recent vintages like 2016, 2019, and 2020 have shown just how far Lagrange has come, winning praise from critics and drinkers alike.
Jeb Dunnuck (JD) — 95/100 · JebDunnuck.com, 29/03/2023 · Drink 2027-2047
Coming from depressingly low yields of just 26 hectoliters per hectare (the lowest since 1991), the 2020 Chateau 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…
Neal Martin (NM) — 93–95/100 · Vinous, 27/05/2021 · Drink 2028 - 2050
The 2020 Lagrange has a sensual, beautifully defined bouquet of mineral-infused black fruit, briar, touches of wild mint and crushed stone, conveying wonderful energy and precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, tensile and focused, delivering plenty of energy and an almost steely but persistent finish. This is a classy Lagrange from winemaker Matthieu Bordes and his team…
Jeb Dunnuck (JD) — 94–96/100 · JebDunnuck.com, 25/05/2021
A wine that excels in the appellation, the 2020 Chateau Lagrange has a slightly modern vibe, with plenty of oak, yet still brings classic Bordeaux tobacco, lead pencil, and earthy minerality as well as pure cassis fruits. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and just about seamless, it's going to require 5-6 years of bottle age but should cruise for 20-25 years in cold cellars.