2015 Château Lagrange, St Julien, Bordeaux

Blueish crimson. Light and neat. A bit tight and restrained but certainly not flashy! A bit drying on the end but ambitious for the long term. A slightly minor key for the vintage. Drying end.

Drink 2025 - 2038

The 2015 Lagrange is terrific. A rush of red plum, blood orange, menthol and pomegranate flesh out in a bold, succulent Saint-Julien that has really come together nicely since I first tasted it. During the en primeur tastings, Lagrange and Fiefs were not all that different. Ageing, and perhaps further selection, has addressed that nicely. This exotically ripe, racy Saint-Julien will drink well for the next 15-20 years or more.

Drink 2020 - 2035

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 colour is followed by notes of cassis, toasty oak, black liquorice 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.

Drink 2021 - 2041

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. It's 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.

Drink 2022 - 2040

Hold +3 years or carafe for 4 hours.

The fruit flavours from the first moments are plump, rich, round, and clearly successful, majoring on blackberry and loganberry, if a little soft through the mid-palate. Fine tannins, attractive mint leaf finish. The lowest percentage of Merlot to date; this is good quality and will be approachable soon. Overall, it was a great vintage, despite the excellent summer being threatened by a huge September rainstorm where 97mm of rain fell in St Julien compared to 120mm in St Estèphe and 180mm in the most northerly stretches of the Médoc). It meant that the team at Lagrange brought in 85ha of grapes in 5 days, the quickest time on record although in total the harvest stretched from September 21 to October 12). 35% of production in the 1st wine, 60% new oak.

Drink 2022 - 2040

Medium to deep garnet-purple in colour, 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.

Drink 2019 - 2040

The 2015 Lagrange is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it sashays out with opulent scents of creme de cassis, redcurrant jelly, and blackberry pie plus hints of Chinese five spice and rose oil. The medium-bodied palate is plush and juicy, with a lively line and a peppery kick on the finish.

Drink 2024 - 2037

Tasted at the Lagrange vertical at the estate.

The 2015 Lagrange was picked from 21 September until 12 October. This has improved since its last showing a few months ago. The nose still needs more vigour, but the palate is fleshy and velvety in texture with superb harmony on the finish. It continues to meliorate so afford this young Lagrange another three or four years in bottle.

Drink 2024 - 2044

Anyone who thinks that modern Bordeaux has become too soft or easy should taste this seriously tannic yet sleek and vibrant wine. There is so much drive and energy that the weak heart should stand back better.

Better from 2020 and has a couple of decades of ageing potential.