Winemaker Description
The 2020 is a vintage of contrasts, a vine grower's vintage. They harvested the smallest crop in 30 years. The extraordinary freshness in this wine, produced the hottest vintage in modern history, is real proof of the buffer effect of their terroir. The precision of the fruit transpires with lovely notes of black cherry, black currant, and licorice. The tense tannic structure is reminiscent of the great 2010, with a more creamy, smoother mid-palate. A truly classic vintage that will be enjoyable earlier yet maintain a remarkable aging potential. A focused, finely tuned expressive wine showing great purity.
Expert Reviews
95+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | Coming from depressingly low yields of just 26 hectoliters per hectare (the lowest since 1991), the 2020 Chateau Lagrange checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. It's a gorgeous, complete Saint-Julien offering remarkable purity in its cassis, violets, chocolate, and leafy tobacco-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with terrific balance, a pure, focused mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and beautifully integrated oak, it's going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise over the following 2+ decades in cold cellar. Best After 2027. (2020).
94 Points Wine Enthusiast | This wine, with its red plum and spice flavors has an initial smoothness that is belied by the wine's dry, firm core. Its dark tannins are there to ensure a fine future. Barrel Sample | 92-94. (2020).
94 Points James Suckling : Attractive nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, walnuts, ink and kaffir leaves. It’s medium- to full-bodied, firm and structured, with chewy and tight tannins. Dark and intense, with a long and persistent finish. Turns to graphite and cedar. Needs time to open and soften. (2020).
93 Points Decanter | A perky, bright and enjoyable Lagrange, showing some angularity and austerity to the tannins but at the same time it is bright with clarity of direction, firm and concentrated fruits and juicy on the finish. A little subdued, but this is a quality Lagrange with extremely carefully placed fine tannins and fruit - it shows the essence of St-Julien balance, and one that will not need the full 10 years to come around. 50% less volume than usual. (2020).
92 Points Wine Spectator | Very sleek, with a racy iron edge driving through in lockstep with cassis and cherry coulis flavors. Reveals a subtle black tea accent on the finish, with the minerality eventually holding center stage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. (2020).
91 Points Robert Parker | The 2020 Lagrange (Pomerol) wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, loamy soil and new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and fleshy palate with a gourmand core of fruit framed by powder tannins that assert themselves on the finish. Best after 2025. (2020).
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