Château La Lagune 1999 (Red)

Château La Lagune may owe its name to its unusual location on a strip of land between the Gironde river and the sea. This fine gravelly elevation, with its particularly favourable microclimate, was cultivated in the 16th century. The domaine remained in the hands of the Sèze family, who were well-known in Bordeaux. In the early 19th century, its wines had an excellent reputation and La Lagune was ranked 3ème Cru Classé in 1855, as a matter of course. However, a century later, in the late 1950s, the domaine was on its knees. The ravages of World War Two, the economic crisis and frosts of 1956 finished off the vines. A new buyer, Georges Brunet, invested significant sums, but was swiftly forced to give up his beautiful charterhouse and vines. By the late 1960s, La Lagune had re-established its reputation beyond doubt. But it was at the dawn of the 21st century that La Lagune opened a new chapter in its history, when Jean-Jacques Frey, founder of the Frey Group (Mondial Pêche, Azzaro, etc.), who already owned vines in the Champagne region, bought the domaine in 1999. His daughter Caroline took over the helm. This top graduate from the School of Oenology in Bordeaux in 2003, and prize-winning horsewoman (former member of the French junior riding team), took up a new challenge at less than thirty years of age. Since the 2004 harvest, she has been supervising vinifications, with advice from her former teacher, oenologist Denis Dubourdieu. The domaine harvests and vinifies one parcel at the time, vines are elevated, yields controlled and integrated farm management techniques are used right across the 80-hectare vineyards, 60 hectares of which are in a single location. A magnificent brand new 2,000 m2 cutting-edge winery now receives the harvest. The wines have been certified organic since 2016, something by which Caroline Frey sets great store.

La Lagune is located in the Haut-Médoc appellation a few kilometres south of Margaux. Its top wine has certain similarities with Margaux grands crus in fine vintages. It is aged for 18 months in oak barrels of which 55% are renewed every year. This is a structured wine with a superb nose which is redolent of blackberry, raspberry and menthol. It has a very fine concentration on the palate and recent vintages are more delicate. A fine Bordeaux to be savoured after 12 to 20 years cellaring.

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