Chateau Lagrange 2015
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
One of the furthest west of the Saint-Julien estates, this property has been greatly improved with investment from Japanese owner Suntory. The wine from 2015 is dense and impressively concentrated, perfumed black-currant fruits working well with the crisp acidity and solid structure. Drink from 2025.
-
James Suckling
Anyone who thinks that modern Bordeaux has become too soft or easy should taste this seriously tannic yet sleek and vibrant wine. So much drive and energy that the weak of heart should better stand back. Better from 2020 and has a couple of decades of ageing potential.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Lagrange gives up fragrant notes of chocolate-covered cherries, cassis and blackberry pie with touches of violets, forest floor, truffles and cigar box. Medium-bodied with plenty of intense black fruit and firm, grainy tannins, it has a racy line and long, mineral-laced finish.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Château Lagrange is a heavenly little Saint-Julien that seriously delivers the goods. Based on 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot brought up in around 50% new oak, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by notes of cassis, toasty oak, black licorice and nori (the dried seaweed wrapper used for sushi). With medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, and ripe tannin, it’s still tight and reserved on the palate and will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age.
Rating: 92+ -
Decanter
Suntory bought Lagrange in 1983 and planted 60ha, so now more than 100ha are under vine. Lagrange is known for its freshness and accessibility. The 2015 is a delight, lean and oaky on the nose with blackberry fruit and great finesse. It’s sleek, not super-concentrated, but shows polished tannins and fair acidity. There’s a touch of chocolate and a long, spicy finish. Drinking Window 2022 - 2040
-
Wine Spectator
A sleek, pure style, with violet and anise notes running in lockstep from the get-go, offering a beam of raspberry, blackberry and cassis flavors. Features a light tug of graphite through the finish, but this is relatively accessible already. Best from 2019 through 2028.
Other Vintages
2022- Vinous
-
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Wong
Wilfred - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine - Decanter
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Wong
Wilfred
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James
-
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Spirits
Wine & -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine & -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spirits
Wine & -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
Grapes have been grown at Chateau Lagrange, St.-Julien, for over 600 years. Third Growth in the Classification of 1855, its vineyard stretches over two Gunzian gravel slopes where the highest point of Saint-Julien thrones on the beautiful estate. It was acquired in 1983 by Suntory, the family Japanese wine and spirits conglomerate, which has spared no effort or expense in extensively replanting and renovating the estate. The property is planted with 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. An uncompromising quest for excellence, such is the philosophy here. For several decades now the exceptional terroir has inspired a unique approach where precision and innovation are paramount. Today, Chateau Lagrange is under the direction of winemaker Matthieu Bordes since 2013.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
An icon of balance and tradition, St. Julien boasts the highest proportion of classed growths in the Médoc. What it lacks in any first growths, it makes up in the rest: five amazing second growth chateaux, two superb third growths and four well-reputed fourth growths. While the actual class rankings set in 1855 (first, second, and so on the fifth) today do not necessarily indicate a score of quality, the classification system is important to understand in the context of Bordeaux history. Today rivalry among the classed chateaux only serves to elevate the appellation overall.
One of its best historically, the estate of Leoville, was the largest in the Médoc in the 18th century, before it was divided into the three second growths known today as Chateau Léoville-Las-Cases, Léoville-Poyferré and Léoville-Barton. Located in the north section, these are stone’s throw from Chateau Latour in Pauillac and share much in common with that well-esteemed estate.
The relatively homogeneous gravelly and rocky top soil on top of clay-limestone subsoil is broken only by a narrow strip of bank on either side of the “jalle,” or stream, that bisects the zone and flows into the Gironde.
St. Julien wines are for those wanting subtlety, balance and consistency in their Bordeaux. Rewarding and persistent, the best among these Bordeaux Blends are full of blueberry, blackberry, cassis, plum, tobacco and licorice. They are intense and complex and finish with fine, velvety tannins.