Chateau La Lagune

Château La Lagune is an estate ranked as a third growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification – the highest rating for any property in the Haut-Médoc. Its grand vin, made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot and Petit Verdot, is elegant and aromatic, and made in a similar vein to the wines of Margaux. Most vintages can be approached at a relatively youthful age. (© Copyright material, Wine-Searcher.com)

The organically farmed vineyard covers 80 hectares (200 acres) on a south-facing gravel hill of well-drained white pebbles which reflect the sun back onto the fruit to aid ripening. It is planted 60 percent to Cabernet Sauvignon, with 30 percent Merlot and an unusually high 10 percent of the demanding Petit Verdot. A second wine, Moulin La Lagune, is produced from younger vines which do not make the grade for the grand vin. Since 2004, a third wine, Mademoiselle L, has been made from another 30-ha (74-acre) plot further down the La Lagune slope. It is a 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is intended to be drunk young.

In the gravity-fed winery the grapes pass along three separate sorting tables for strict selection before being dropped in to one of 72 thermo-regulated stainless steel vats, which vary in size between 2200 and 20,000 liters to cater for different vineyard plots. The grand vin is blended before being placed for 18 months in French oak barrels, 55 percent of which are new each year. On average 18,000 to 20,000 cases of the various wines are produced per year.

The property was founded in 1724, and boasts a beautiful mansion house built in that time. However, by the 1950s the property was nearly derelict as a result of World War II, economic depression and the frosts of 1956. It was rescued in 1958 by Georges Brunette, but the rising costs forced him to sell the property on within a few years. It is currently owned by the Frey family whose other wine interests include Maison Jaboulet and a 45 percent stake in the Champagne house Billecart-Salmon.