Chateau Lagrange 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 2019

Great St Julien character and finesse, this is well balanced and restrained, with juicy damson and cassis fruits, great quality. Lovely expansion through the mid palate, with cigar box spice and slate, and it hugs on at the end of the palate, stretching out the experience. Absolutely delivers on its En Primeur promise. Highest level of Cabernet in the estate's recent history, longest harvest ever from September 24 through to October 14, and only 1/3 of overall production in the 1st wine.

The 2019 Lagrange has an open-knit, classic Saint-Julien nose with black fruit, chimney soot, tobacco and a light sprinkling of white pepper. There is a little more earthiness here. The palate is understated and fleshy, gentle grip, more approachable than its peers, pure but without the same grip and backbone on the finish. Very seductive. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

The 2019 Lagrange has turned out beautifully in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, blackberries and cassis mingled with hints of loamy soil, pencil shavings and bay leaf. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with an ample core of lively fruit, powdery tannins and succulent acids, it's suave and seamless, concluding with a long, expansive finish. The result of an extremely rigorous selection, and incorporating fully 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is the finest wine this château has produced in the modern era. Remarkably, it was released at the same price en primeur as the 2005!

While I don't think the 2019 Château Lagrange matches the 2018, it's not far off, with a more elegant yet still concentrated style. Beautiful crème de cassis, spicy oak, tobacco, chocolate, and new saddle leather notes all emerge on the nose, and it stays tight, compact, and focused on the palate, with plenty of firm tannins. It opens up beautifully with time in the glass but merits 4-6 years of bottle age, and it should evolve for 20-25 years or more.

A deep, fleshy Saint-Julien, the 2019 Lagrange builds beautifully with time in the glass. Sweet red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, sage, mint, lavender and cinnamon are finely delineated, and yet this mid-weight Saint-Julien impresses with its super finessed personality. The 2019 is so inviting. It is an especially fine Lagrange. Tasted two times.

A red with dark fruit and plenty of dark chocolate, as well as spice undertones. Full body. Juicy finish. Extremely balanced and refined.