Chateau Lagrange 2022

Introduction

Chateau Lagrange is a red wine from the Saint Julien subregion of Bordeaux, France. This historic estate was classified as a Third Growth in the 1855 Classification and is currently owned by the Japanese liquor group Suntory. Since 1983, under the vision of uncompromised quality, the winery has undergone a spectacular restructuring of its vineyards and cellars to achieve the highest precision in its winemaking. The team, led by winemaker Matthieu Bordes, focuses on a plot-by-plot approach to vinification to faithfully express the diversity of its gravelly soils.

Wine Description

Chateau Lagrange 2022 exhibits a deep garnet-purple colour. The nose is expressive and elegant, offering bombastic notions of crème de cassis, blackberry preserves, and redcurrant jelly alongside nuances of violet, peony, and graphite. On the palate, the wine is full bodied and structured with a dense core of black fruit infused with blood orange and light spices like cinnamon and star anise. It is characterized by its opulent yet refined texture, vibrant freshness, and polished, fine-grained 'cashmere' tannins. This blend reached a new estate record of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by 12% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. The ABV is 13.5%, and the optimal drinking window is from 2027 to 2055.

Accolades

• Vinous - 97 points.

• Decanter - 96 points.

• The Wine Independent - 96 points.

• Wine Advocate - 94+ points.

• James Suckling - 95 points.

Food Pairing

This Saint Julien is beautifully suited to classic French meat dishes such as roasted lamb with rosemary, duck breast with cherry sauce, or beef tenderloin. Its structured profile also pairs well with veal, game birds, and hearty grilled or braised dishes. For a cheese course, aged varieties such as Comté or aged cheddar are recommended to complement the dark fruit and spicy nuances of the wine.

Vintage Quality

The 2022 vintage in Saint Julien is described as an exceptional but extreme year, being the hottest on record in Bordeaux. Despite the challenging conditions, the vines' resilience on gravelly soils resulted in small, concentrated grapes with surprising acidity and freshness. Yields were low at 34 hl/ha, but the quality is regarded as brilliant, ranking the 2022 among the estate's finest recent vintages alongside 2016 and 2020.