Château Lagrange, classified as a Troisième Grand Cru Classé, is located on the Médoc peninsula in the Saint-Julien appellation. Its history as a wine estate actually (only) began in the 18th century. Langrange experienced a heyday in the mid-19th century: Count Duchâtel, King Louis Philippe's Minister of the Interior, had the massive tower built in the Tuscan style. Above all, however, together with estate manager Galos, who also managed Mouton Rothschild, he introduced new methods, for example to combat mildew or for drainage in the vineyard.
The château has belonged to the Japanese Suntory Group since 1983. It was invested in, renovated and restructured. Expertise and new vineyards were purchased with the aim of restoring the former glory.
The vineyards of Château Lagrange cover 118 hectares and are located on two Gunzian gravel slopes, one of which is the highest point of the appellation. The majority is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (67 %), Merlot (28 %) and Petit-Verdot (5 %). These vines are on average 40 years old, with the oldest dating back to 1952. 11 hectares are planted with white grape varieties: 80 % Sauvignon Blanc, 10 % Sauvignon Gris and 10 % Sémillon.
In the fermentation cellar, 102 stainless steel fermentation tanks await the multi-selected grape material - one for each parcel. This preserves the individual character of each terroir and creates a wide range of possibilities for "fine-tuning" the final wines. For the blending of the individual lots, the in-house oenologists consult with star winemaker Eric Boissenot.
The aim is "a powerful Bordeaux wine that shines in its youth and whose slow and calm development gives it great finesse. You can detect fruit flavours such as blackcurrants and black cherries, spicy and smoky nuances and elegant tannins. Over the years, the wines also develop notes of cedar wood, liquorice or tobacco."
© Photos: Château Lagrange
