2025 Chateau Lagrange Saint-Julien FUTURES Prearrival

"Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Château Lagrange offers up ripe blue and black fruits, spicy wood, smoky tobacco, violets, and graphite on the nose. Based on 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that will spend 21 months in 50% new French oak, it checks in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.5. On the palate, it's rich and medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered, graceful mouthfeel, velvety and integrated tannins, ample mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's another brilliant wine from this château, which has been making absolutely world-class wines for some time now without the recognition they deserve. Barrel Sample: 95-97+" ~ 97, Jeb Dunnuck

"The 2025 Lagrange shows excellent potential, offering up notes of cassis, dark berries and violets, framed by a subtle touch of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, deep and dense, with a concentrated core of fruit, sweet tannins and a long, penetrating finish, it's a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, checking in at 13.6% alcohol. Representing half the estate's production, its mid-palate depth and amplitude reflect the decision to harvest the estate's Cabernet Sauvignon late, between September 21 and October 10. Barrel Sample: 94-96" ~ 96, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"Beautiful vibrant colour in the glass, bright pink. Fragranced blue fruit and floral aromas on the nose. Soft and supple, a nice vibrancy and energy straight away with such juicy acidity – blueberry and cranberry - with salty, crushed stone-edged tannins that give a dense grip and linger on the finish. Good balance of power and energy with sleekness and finesse. Freshness is there as is layering of elements. Powdery milk chocolate and flint on the finish. 3.52pH. Ageing 21 months, 60% new oak, 40% one year old. Barrel Sample: 95" ~ 95, Decanter

"The 2025 Lagrange was cropped at an average of 30 hl/ha, lower for the Cabernet, with 13.56% alcohol. It was picked from September 8 until September 24 and matured in 60% new oak barrels. This has a sublime bouquet that actually reminds me of the 2020, beautifully defined with blackcurrant, iodine and touches of violet petals. The oak is very well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with granular tannins, fine acidity, gentle but insistent grip. Quite compact towards the finish, this has a linearity that I really admire, imparting a sense of classicism and "coolness". This is an excellent Lagrange from Mathieu Bordes and his team. –Neal Martin Barrel Sample: 93-95" ~ 95, Vinous

"Aromas of blackberries, tar and a touch of violets. Medium- to full-bodied with good concentration and expressive dark fruit, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and a persistent finish. Barrel Sample: 93-94" ~ 94, James Suckling