2009 - Lagrange, Saint-Julien

Finessed, displaying St Julien balance, even a little reserved at first, but studded with oyster shell salinity, firm cassis and blackcurrant fruits, cocoa bean and liquorice. Great quality, impressive depth through the mid palate, a wine for sharing that will make your friends extremely happy. Plenty of appellation typicity, with a juicy finish, this is a buy. 42hl/h yield, 60% new oak. Eric Boissenot consultant.

The 2009 Lagrange was picked from 28 September to 6 October. This has a sensual and very floral bouquet with lavender and violet aromas infusing the plush and generous red berry fruit. It retains fine delineation despite its concentration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, velvety smooth with layers of red berry fruit laced with clove and thyme, gently fanning out towards the caressing finish. Superb. Tasted at the Lagrange vertical at the estate.

The 2009 Lagrange, 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, is deep garnet in color. It prances out with pretty suggestions of potpourri, forest floor, garrigue, and tilled loam over a core of creme de cassis and blackberry pie. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of gregarious black fruits supported by a solid frame of grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing with great length.

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Lagrange rolls out of the glass with beautiful redcurrant jelly, warm blackcurrants and blueberry preserves notions plus hints of fallen leaves, camphor and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with red and black fruit preserves and lively herbal sparks, with a firm grainy backbone and great freshness on the finish.

Full bottle 1,312 g. Part of a special bottling of a series of vintages of Ch Lagrange in ancient oaks. This wine was matured in oak from the Morat trees in the famous Colbert section of the Tronçais forest that dates from 1656 during the reign of Louis XIV. Blackish garnet. Aromatic, still quite marked tannins and acidity; I would not have guessed this was from the ripe 2009 vintage. Neat and fresh but far from the opulent. Would need decanting if served in the early part of the decade of 2010s. Quite a delicate texture. Not heavy or concentrated at all. (JR)