Château Lagrange, 3ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2022

The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot, with a 2% dash of Petit Verdot. Lovely classicism and freshness on the nose here, dark and brooding, yet perfumed as well, with fragrant red cherry, blackberry, olive and toast, nuanced with white peach and mint, and a perfumed streak of sandalwood oak and crushed chalk. This is delightful, and the palate continues in the same vein, with a lightly grained structure which underpins the dark veins of fruit, accompanied by fresh acidity. A lovely sense of vigour here, good drive too. This is one of the best examples of Lagrange I have tasted in recent years, a wine with great drive, energy, vitality and length. Tasted twice. The alcohol on the label is 13.5%.

DRINKING WINDOW 2029 - 2059

date of review 06/2025

Continuing a run of exceptional vintages where everything seems to be going right at this property. High Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, and it comes across in the sleek black fruits and peony character, very much floral and finessed. Good stuff, this is impressive, enjoyable, very St Julien and very good. 50% new oak for ageing, Eric Boissenot consultant, Mathieu Bordes director since 2013.

DRINKING WINDOW 2029 - 2044

date of review 03/2025

The 2022 Lagrange (Saint-Julien) has a serious Saint-Julien bouquet: quite dense compared to previous vintages, with potent black fruit, cedar and freshly rolled tobacco that all dovetails into more estuarine-influenced aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe entry, quite bold in flavor yet there is also control and focus. This is a more muscular Lagrange, grippy with a tarry finish. To repeat, the 2022 is a "serious" Lagrange in a positive use of that word, one that will demand bottle age, ranking alongside the 2016 as the best Grand Vin from this estate.

DRINKING WINDOW 2029 - 2055

date of review 02/2025