Château La Lagune 2023

Very delicately aromatic and fresh, expressive, lots of florality, clear dark fruit; silky on the palate, crisp fruit, supported by finely knit tannins—this has life, breed, and polish. An excellent La Lagune.

Dark nose, really quite vivid and vibrant, lots of blackberries and some herbal markers. Beautifully fragrant, smells so expressive and really ripe. Smooth and clean, a lovely crisp texture to this with super-fine tannins that coat the mouth in a soft chalkiness with really high menthol, herbal Cabernet markers. Although this has a tight core with a focused line from start to finish it’s not austere or too serious. Finessed and detailed, strawberries, cranberries and blackcurrants, a real mixture of ripe fruit and cool freshness. Very drinkable with delicate fruit and high acidity. This will age extremely well. No Petit Verdot in the blend this year. 18 months’ ageing, 50% new oak. pH 3.75. 1% press wine. Two-thirds grand vin production. A yield of 30–35 hl/ha.

The 2023 La Lagune, incidentally a wine that for some unfathomable reason I did not taste from barrel, contains no Petit Verdot this year as Caroline Frey, who has since stood down from running the estate, found it did not contain the finesse she was looking for. It has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, bilberry and light iodine scents that unfold nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with powdery tannins. Gentle grip, quite linear and certainly saline, it has a briny finish that just needs a touch more persistence as it feels a bit hard on the landing. Time will soften that up. Pleasant black pepper notes mixed with bay leaf linger on the aftertaste. Fine, but give this three years in bottle.

Indian spice, flowers, smoke, red pit fruits, and a drop of espresso fill the complex nose. The medium-bodied palate is elegant, refined, and silky, with lift and sweetness to the red berries, finished by a touch of chocolate on the end note that rounds it out. Drink from 2027-2045. 92-94 pts.

Dark ruby colour, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Fresh cherries, fine cassis, inviting wild berries, attractive bouquet. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherry fruit, fine fruitiness, round tannins, good freshness, remains persistent, mineral, with good prospects.

Charming red-berry bouquet, noble violet perfume, light tobacco, blackcurrant nectar and lilac. On the complex palate, with a soft texture, taut and straight, good reserves, a tightly knit tannic framework and a well-trained body. In the concentrated medium finish, black-berry contours, graphite, refined cassis spice and fine-grained astringency.

Rose petals, cassis, bilberry, charcoal, slate. This is good quality, with a real muscularity to the tannic frame and this needs a good five to eight years in bottle from here. Serious, intense, concentrated, powerful, with a floral lift on the finish; a great vintage at this property. Caroline Frey owner, 30hl/ha yield. Tasted twice.

Score: 90–92. A slightly reserved, refined nose with aromas of blue fruits and forget-me-nots, enhanced by spicy notes (nutmeg, white pepper). Sumptuous and more immediate on the palate, with great intensity, featuring rich, thick tannins that make you want to lick the inside of your mouth.

Fine and subtle, the bouquet reveals a wealth of nuances, none of which dominates. Harmony leads the way! This is echoed on the palate, which forges the link between power and freshness in a velvety, sustained texture. With its structuring acidity, the wine is elegant, refreshing and persistent. It owes this to tannins that deliver power perfectly framed by tension. A delightful wine that deserves a little time to open up.

(Biodynamics) A lovely, elegant, precise nose, supple and gourmand, offering a delicate touch of richness/supple roundness with finesse and accuracy, precision and measured indulgence, a fine grain on the nose with a textured feel and a subtle, elongated lift. It reveals notes of pulpy/bright blackcurrant, bright cherry and, more subtly, bright raspberry, combined with hints of cornflower and lily, along with a subtle touch of sweet pepper and tobacco. The palate is beautifully juicy, fruity, fresh, mineral and balanced, with a zesty backbone, energy, vibrancy, lovely purity, delightful gourmandise and very pure fruit, with a certain breadth. It shows notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, camphor, bright red berries, with touches of pulpy blackcurrant and hints of roasted-juicy raspberry, cardamom, tonka bean, and fine toasted and infusion-like nuances, with floral tones. A lovely powdery grain, delicate and velvety. Pleasant suppleness and gourmandise on the finish. A delicious wine, all about precision and delicacy, with chew and a lovely mouth-coating texture, and an airy quality within its richness. A nice hint of pleasant cocoa and coffee bitterness in the background. Good length, a touch of glycerol-like roundness, a lovely infusion-driven gourmandise. Fine, well-judged tannic charge

Logo on the cork: inverted T (Trescases) Deep, intense, beautiful red color. Very aromatic nose, refined and pure, with ripe fruit. A nice woody undertone. Complex overall. Precise on the attack, with a fleshy body and plenty of flavor, the wine gradually settles on the palate and melts. Long, savory finish, with a touch of oak that still needs to integrate. With this score, this is the greatest La Lagune just after the 2022.