Château La Lagune 2022

Deep, noble, very complex, finely spicy, with red and dark berries, spices, floral notes; dense palate, plenty of structure, crisp fruit, a cool, stony finish. An excellent La Lagune that will mature beautifully.

Dried herbs, fragrant black berry fruit and soft accents of violets. Juicy and clean, this has a lovely, almost delicate fruit profile with the focus on clarity and purity rather than richness or concentration. Tannins are fine and filling and give a layer of powdery, chalkiness that lingers on the tongue. Feels restrained and well worked. Enough frame and body to present power but with an elegant gloss of fruit on top. Stylish and sophisticated with plenty of character. Organic.

52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Reserved nose with a floral edge. Pure and layered on the palate with balancing freshness. Tannins finely honed. Builds to a long and persistent finish. Potential for ageing. (JL)

The 2022 La Lagune feels a little overripe on the nose, tobacco mixed with light figgy scents, but improves greatly with aeration, becoming quite Graves-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, a dash of white pepper and bay, building with a sense of confidence towards the finish. Give this three or four years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Flowers, spices, white and black cherries, espresso, and tobacco crowd the nose. On the palate, the wine is elegant, silky, and fresh, with sweetness and lift. The refined finish leaves you with soft-textured, fresh, ripe red berries and touches of herbs on the back end. Drink from 2026–2045. 93–95 pts.

This is an exceptional vintage at La Lagune, really benefiting from the heat in terms of ripening the fruit, but retaining the reserved character that you often find here. Precision within a dark-berry frame, with hints of opulence in waves of cocoa bean, cigar box and espresso, all tempered by slate-textured tannins and grip, savoury and full of personality, one of the best I have tasted from this estate. Caroline Frey owner, harvest from September 9 to 26. A single-point upgrade.

An inviting, complex bouquet, self-assured, where dark fruits reveal an almost Zen-like serenity. Harmonious notes of tobacco, iris, and lilac add to its refinement. On the palate, extreme smoothness and a velvety texture, carried by fine nuances of dark chocolate, humus, and again that touch of iris.

Plenty of finesse and depth in the bouquet of La Lagune 2022, with notes of black berries, spices and peonies complemented by a refreshing hint of citrus. Dense and structured, the wine is supported by compact, perfectly integrated tannins that provide appreciable power. An inviting, elegant and mouthwatering wine that can certainly be enjoyed in its youth, yet has respectable ageing potential.

The nose is well crafted, elegant, complex, and benefits from decanting. It reveals notes of Boysen blackberry, wild berries, and, more discreetly, Kampot pepper, together with hints of infusion, touches of cornflower, a sappy/cypress/sense-of-place character, and a subtle accent of bergamot. On the palate, the wine is well crafted, fresh, juicy, supple, with a pulpy texture. Precision, control, and delicacy. It expresses notes of pulpy blackcurrant, pulpy/juicy cherry, and, more lightly, bright red berries, combined with hints of infusion, bergamot, a fine touch of elegant roast, and delicate notes of racy minerality, fresh gravel, as well as hints of tobacco and nutmeg. The tannins are soft, elegant, and indulgent. Very fine finesse and delicacy in its grain, silky and delicate. This wine offers a discreet, almost sappy note and cardamom in the background on the finish.

Black color. Intense, refined, fruity, subtle, and complex nose. Hints of dark fruit, vanilla, and cherry when the glass is swirled. I have never known it to be so hedonistic. Fleshy from the attack, flavorful mid-palate, generous; the wine unfolds with power and plenty of aromatic brilliance. It finishes deep and long, with an intense dark-fruit flavor. Tannins are present but perfectly wrapped. Blend: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 13.7%.

Opening on a subtle, delicate aromatic palette with minimalist fruit, this 2022 from La Lagune confirms all the efforts made at the estate over the past several years. The palate is finely honed and vibrant, supported by a firm yet refined tannic frame. The whole is streamlined, precise and easy to drink.