3rd Grand Cru Classé in 1855
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A magnificent property of the Saint-Julien appellation, Château Lagrange now occupies an almost intimate place in the hearts of wine enthusiasts. Although its history begins in the seventeenth century, it was not until 1796 that Château Lagrange experienced a tremendous expansion under the impetus of its owner Jean-Valère Cabarrus, the Minister of Finance of Napoléon I in Spain.
The Château Lagrange would achieve the rank of Third Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification for the Paris World's Fair.
Japanese group Suntory will acquire Domaine in 1983, and spectacular technical renovations will be undertaken in the winery and vineyard to restore Lagrange's reputation.
Located on two gravelly ridges, the vineyard of Château Lagrange reaches an area of 118 hectares of vines, of which 68% are Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. The wines are aged for 18 to 20 months in French oak barrels, 60% of which are new wood.
The property produces a Second wine, the Fiefs de Lagrange, as well as a third wine in Haut-Médoc, the Pagus de Lagrange.
The vineyard also has 11 hectares of white grape varieties for the production of their white wine Sec, the Arums de Lagrange, of which 80% is Sauvignon blanc, 10% Sémillon and 10% Sauvignon gris.
The wines of Château Lagrange are renowned for their elegance and complexity, where the finesse of the tannins coat a fully fruity palate.
2016 is a great vintage for the Bordeaux vineyard, punctuated by several climatic acts. The vines broke bud early thanks to a mild spring. The summer was hot and dry, thus favorable to a good development of the vine. The maturation of the grapes was slow and complex, and will have given rise to a very fine harvest at Château Lagrange.
Blend of the 2016 vintage: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot.
The robe is a pretty dark red color with ruby highlights.
The nose is complex and refined, with notes of black cherry, blueberry, peppery spices and licorice, enhanced by a floral hint of rose.
The attack is smooth, revealing a rich and complex wine. It evolves on a juicy mid-palate, marked by flavors of small red fruits and a nice minty freshness. The tannins are elegant and racy, allowing it to melt on a long perfumed finish. A particularly successful Château Lagrange with great drinkability.
Food and wine pairing:
Château Lagrange 2016 would be a wonderful accompaniment to a beef tenderloin with Chimichurri sauce, a slab of doe with a mushroom crumble, a snacked veal sous la mère, a pigeon cooked in fine pastry or one of the fresh tagliatelle with Perigord black truffle.
For a pairing with cheese, choose uncooked pressed cheeses: Edam, Gouda, Saint-nectaire, morbier, Tomme de Savoie or Salers.
For dessert, enjoy it with a tiramisu, an Opéra cake or a praline entremet.
Cellaring potential and tasting:
Château Lagrange 2016 is a great Saint-Julien nectar promised to keep well, able to wait another ten years to refine. Its peak will be reached between 2030 and 2035.
However, it lends itself perfectly to tasting today. To do so, take care to place the bottle the night before in the serving room at a room temperature of between 15 and 18°C. Open and decant ideally 4 to 5 hours before tasting.
The bottles should be kept in the cellar, protected from the light, lying down, with an optimal hygrometric degree of 70%.
