Chateau Lagrange 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 2022

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.

Juicy and intensely ripe in terms of texture - tannins are fleshy but also really cool giving this a push-pull of bright acidity and actually quite serious mineral elements of flint and liquorice. Such an appealing weight in the mouth, layered and structured with expressive fruit and lively juiciness all combining to a stylish and inviting whole. So much going on but managed with finesse and elegance. A clear success in 2022. Harvest 8-30 September. Ageing 21 months in French oak, 60% new. Tasted twice.

Cassis, ripe black cherries, freshly sharpened pencils, leather, and violet notes all shine in the 2022 Château Lagrange, a remarkably pure, concentrated, powerful Saint-Julien with fine tannins and a seamless, balanced mouthfeel. It has the fruit to shine even today. As with many of these top Médocs, I wouldn't be surprised to see this close down with 2-3 years of bottle age. It's going to be long-lived. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot that spent 21 months in 60% new French oak.

The 2022 Lagrange is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts forth with bombastic notions of creme de cassis, blackberry preserves, and redcurrant jelly, leading to alluring nuances of cinnamon stick, clove oil, star anise, and violets. The medium-bodied palate is densely laden with black fruit and baking spices layers, supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and opulent. 40% of the year's production went into the first wine and yields were 34 hl/ha. pH 3.53.

The 2022 Lagrange has turned out nicely in bottle, offering up classic aromas of crème de cassis, plums and pencil shavings, framed by a deft touch of oak vanillin. Medium to full-bodied, dense and velvety, with lively acids and chalky tannins, it's an especially muscular, rich Lagrange that will reward a bit of patience.

The 2022 Lagrange has an intense nose with hoisin and blackcurrant scents, a little VA perhaps, though it calms down in the glass with touches of pencil box emerging. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, though the acidity keeps this fresh and focused. Not the most powerful Saint-Julien but certainly one of the more elegant. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.