CHÂTEAU LA LAGUNE

The 2020 La Lagune is a real standout. Intense, soaring aromatics give this racy Haut-Médoc tons of allure. Graphite, dried herbs, leather, menthol and licorice explode from the glass. A wine of unreal dimension, pedigree and class, the La Lagune is simply lights out in 2020. Time in the glass brings out gorgeous red/purplish fruit intermingled with sweet floral notes that add striking inner perfume. Drinking range: 2030 - 2050 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)

The 2020 La Lagune offers intense Cabernet scents on the nose, the black fruit, tobacco, humidor and light cedar scents bursting from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins that frame the crisp black fruit. This is a classic Médoc with just the right amount of structure and dryness, partnered with assiduous sapidity that gets the saliva flowing. It should gain a little flesh during its élevage. You might call this "proper Claret." Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 La Lagune strides confidently out of the glass with bold, fantastically pure black fruit notes of crushed black plums, ripe blackcurrants and juicy blackberries, plus hints of tar, dried Provence herbs, star anise and smoked meats, with a hint of black truffles. The medium-bodied palate delivers tightly wound, bright, crunchy black fruits with plenty of freshness and an approachable, grainy texture, finishing long with loads of earthy and herbal sparks. Drinking range: 2026 - 2042 Rating: 92-94 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (May 2021)

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot 50% new oak 14% alc 35 hL/ha This is a stunning La Lagune with sensational energy, grandeur and poise. The fruit is lusty, dark and resonant and the oak adds to this wine’s flair as opposed to masking its promise. The finish is prodigious and the flavour barely falls away as it ticks along. Fabulously classy and laser-sighted to this wine’s precise location, this is a must-buy in 2020, assuming that the pricing is fair. It manages to sum up everything that I both like and respect about this historic property in just one glass. Rating: 18+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2021)

This comes in strong with both grip and attitude. Some austerity that shows through in the abundant tannic frame, but there is a juiciness that runs through the palate, a sense that it is light on its feet. Liquorice, black chocolate and a spiced tomato leaf adds layers, but things close down on the finish. This is certified organic and in biodynamic conversion. A yield of 30hl/ha. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

A firm, polished red with tight, focused tannins that flow across the palate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with good length and a gorgeous finish. From organically grown grapes. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2021)

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Certified organic and in conversion to biodynamic farming. Very dark with purplish rim. Pure left-bank Cabernet aroma that is both intensely cassis but also with a layer of cedar and a hint of stone-dust minerality. A freshness to the aroma without obvious herbaceousness. Super-fine tannins. Pure and fresh on the palate, a hint of dark chocolate and already showing real elegance in the finesse of the dry almost sinewy tannin texture. Lovely young wine without extremes. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 16.5 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)