Lagrange

Château Lagrange

Classification: Third Growth (3ème Cru Classé)
Château Lagrange is an ancient estate and is reputed to have been home to an order of the Knights Templar in the early 14th Century. It lies next to Château Gruaud Larose and its vineyard is the largest single vineyard of a classified growth in the Medoc at 279 acres. In 1842, the owner of Château Lagrange was Count Duchatel who had been a minister in the French court. The Count vastly improved and increased the vineyards and installed a drainage system which lead to the Château being recognised at the time as one of the most progressive and technologically advanced properties in the Medoc.

It is a similar case today as the Château was bought by Suntory of Japan in 1983. As the largest drinks conglomerate in Japan, Suntory had the resources to bring Lagrange to a “state of the art” level of quality. Experts such as Emile Peynaud, Michel Delon, Marcel Ducasse and Michel Rolland were consulted and the entire estate was renovated and transformed with massive investments. The vat house at Château Lagrange is one of the most sophisticated in Médoc and the Château is now a model estate. The leap in quality since 1983 has been nothing short of astronomical and the wines are ridiculously under priced.

The vineyards at Château Lagrange are situated on 2 mounds of Garonne gravel over the highest point in Saint Julien. The grapes planted include 10 acres of white varieties: 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon and 10% Muscadelle. The reds are 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot.

Wine Style
The wines from Château Lagrange are classical, full and rich with strong tannic structure and notes of cherry, black currants and cedar. The aromas are of plums, violets and liquorice. The wines can be drunk young but age very well and are ready from 8 – 15 years.

Owner: Suntory (also owns Châteaux Beychevelle and Beaumont )
Château Website: www.chateau-lagrange.com
Oenologist: J Boissenot