La Lagune

[Comte Flaneur]

A vertical from Jane Anson at Decanter, published today:

2004

Pretty classic old school Médoc flavours here; soft undergrowth, earth and cured leather alongside soft brambly fruits with a lovely juicy finish. In a quiet way it shows you exactly why these estates give so much pleasure for so many decades - this is eminently drinkable, sappily delicious and is likely to stay at this plateau for another decade or more. A yield of 48hl/ha. 50% new oak.
91

2005

Much deeper in colour than the 2004, this is more concentrated than the previous vintage but still showcases elegant balance, and again is such a drinkable, beautiful wine. A reflection of just how good the 2005 vintage is, with plenty of tannins and freshness at 15 years old. Blackberry and raspberry fruit still plentiful, merging with a gentle smattering of earth and autumn leaves that float you through the finish. A yield of 30hl/ha. 50% new oak.
93

2006

A more complicated vintage than the 2005 that needed careful handling in the vineyard and cellar. This starts out with welcoming damson and blackberry fruits but struggles to build concentration. Majors primarily on soft undergrowth and leather, with the fruit a little softer than I might have expected. A lingering mouthwatering finish is lovely and suggests this wine is not done yet. 50% new oak, yield 30hl/h.
89

2007

Surprising perhaps, but this is tasting better than the 2006 right now and was in fact one of the surprises of the lineup. It's extremely balanced and delicate but with autumnal berry fruits and gentle spice adding interest. A lovely wine, with rustling leaf aromatics, grilled cedar, tobacco, white pepper, and a menthol finish. Ready to drink but not going anywhere for another decade or so. A yield of 48hl/ha. 50% new oak.
91

2008

This has a lot in common with the 2006 in terms of its gentle construction that takes time to unfurl, and its slightly subdued character right now. As it opens in the glass, the intensity of the cassis fruits becomes clearer, and the fine tannins begin to do their work of giving shape and focus to the body of the wine. A yield of 40hl/ha. 50% new oak.
90

2009

The greater power and intensity that comes from the 2009 vintage is hugely seductive, lending an extra dimension to a wine that feels similar in shape and feel to the brilliant 2005. Again, it's the brambly blackberry fruits that are so striking, and the unfussy way that it builds through the palate and hangs on. A yield of 45hl/ha. 50% new oak.
93

2010

This is showcasing La Lagune at the level of the best 3rd growths, with plenty in common with the aromatic complexity of Margaux that lies just over the border from Haut-Médoc. Deeply textured brambly fruits, beautifully balanced with tons of menthol crushed mint leaf notes and fine tannins. This is aromatic elegance and juiciness, but with grip and character. A yield of 30hl/ha.50% new oak.
94

2011

Once again an extremely drinkable 2011, with soft tannins, touches of liquorice and chocolate and soft leather. More evolved than the 2010 but I see it easily lasting as long as the 2009, and giving great pleasure along the way. The mineral character that La Lagune displays on the finish is clear here, making a mouthwatering finish. 50% new oak.
92

2012

A great quality 2012, these are pretty serious tannins that are still very much on form, holding the cassis and bilberry fruit together, with clear black pepper and saffron notes filling out the mid palate. Packed with gourmet richness, a lovely wine. 50% new oak.
91

2014

The 2104 is closed right now - it takes a good 15 minutes to really open, revealing an excellent wine with layers of liquorice and black chocolate alongside some crushed stones with clear minerality on the mouthwatering finish. This is good quality. The tannins now are regularly taking on a weight that was less evident earlier in the lineup, even in bigger vintages, and speaks to the extra work that La Lagune has been doing in vineyard and cellar. 50% new oak.
93

2015

This showcases just how well the Margaux (or Margaux-adjacent) area did in 2015. The finessed quality of the tannins stands out as a signature of the estate throughout the entire vertical, and is on display again here. As the wine opens there is a slow and unhurried peeling back of layers, with an unrolling of menthol and cassis-laced Cabernet aromatics (there is a full 70% in the blend this year, and it works extremely well). Excellent balance and grip with touches of violet aromatics. 50% new oak.
94

2016

Another step up here, this is extremely powerful with clear tannic hold. It's closed right now, as you would hope in such a young Cru Classé, but this is full of cassis and bilberry, black truffle and exotic allspice notes. There's tons of layered complexity while never losing the estate's signature balance and elegance, as well as its juicy finish. This has bedded down and expanded over ageing, and is starting to look more like a long term contender than the 2015, although both are excellent quality. This was also the first certified organic vintage of La Lagune, with harvest going right through to October 17.
95

2017

This majors on floral aromatics, as can often be the case with the 2017s as it is a lighter-framed vintage than the two preceding years. As I felt when tasting in bottle last November, the fruit is autumnal and appealing, with soft tannins and touches of hawthorn and brambles. Carefully handed, with impressive aromatics and the trademark finesse. 50% new oak. Harvest a full two weeks earlier than in 2010, finishing on September 30.
92

[robert goulet]

I have the 2006 as a birth yr wine for my son Cage .....but 6 mos ago I had the ‘07, and man this sucker was right in Goulet’s wheelhouse, wonderfully classic and charming claret...absolute sleeper.

[stefan]

I wish Anson had reviewed the 2013, and only the 2013.

People "discovering" La Lagune have driven the price up to the point that I won't open a bottle of it for Lucie to drink with her breakfast of bananas and cheerios.

[Comte Flaneur]

Yes the ‘13 was conspicuously absent from the line up!

[JimHow]

A fine showing for Chateau La Lagune.
I drank through a case of the 2004.
The first six bottles sucked.
The last six bottles were sublime.

[greatbxfreak]

Jane Anson's TNs resembles mine a lot.

It's worth to add that Caroline Frey took over management of LL in 2004. In 2013, a young woman from Beaujolais, Maylis de Laborderie, became cellar master and her first vintage was 2013, which I doubt was released commercially as it was almost 100% CS. Her work in the cellars definitely helped the further rise of LL in next vintages.

It costs app. the same as Meyney and Phelan Segur. Awesome qpr for money!

I've purchased it every year since 2014. No 2018 because of hail in July 2018 which destroyed the vineyard. On the other side of the road, no hail!!

From my website:

2016 La Lagune 96p

Tasted three times - last time in April 2019. Consistent notes. Truly distinguished and remarkable wine because of its stunning structure, minerality, elegance, length, balance and immensely seductive approach. All in silk and velvet. This wine is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

[JimHow]

Every once in a while I like to pull out the video of the 2015 BWE visit to Chateau La Lagune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3kZaUnaPF8

[stefan]

We had a nice visit with Maylis de Laborderie at BWE-France-2015. She said that they had thought about declassifying the 2013, which bears no resemblance to a real La Lagune. They bottled the juice with La Lagune labels but added the words "Cabernet Sauvignon", possibly to warn La Lagune lovers that this wine was a fake La Lagune.

[JimHow]

Yes, we see Maylis in the video and Stefan and others opining on the 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3kZaUnaPF8

[Ianjaig]

I had the 2011 not that long ago and I thought it was beautiful!! Very much my type of Bordeaux. I was more generous and gave it 94pts. Luckily I've also grabbed a few of the 16s which I have high expectations for.

[Nicklasss]

La Lagune is a great wine, always being made in a claret style.

By it balance, get some age beautifully.

In the recent vintages, the 1995 is very classic, complex. The 1996 is excellent withat 1996 vintage extra cassis and freshness tannic style. 2015, glorious in a 2015 Margaux style, so perfumed and complex mix of red berries. The 2016 is clearly one of the greatest recent La Lagune, in that concentrated complex Médoc style. 2017 isn't far away from 2016, one of the excellent wine at UGC tasting in Montréal.

La Lagune rocks!

Nic

P.s. 2013 is far away from all other La Lagune i had. I would like to taste it back around 2022-2025, but i think it will nevet happen.

[Comte Flaneur]

I realise I don’t have enough La Lagune. I have a half case of the 2016 and odd bottles of 1982, 1983 and 1985.

Based on what Nic wrote my target vintages are 1995, 1996 and 2015 but also 2000, 2001 and 2014.

Any thoughts stefan on which ones I should go for? The 2015 is actually the lowest priced.

[stefan]

Ian, Lucie says she wants them all!

I am not the person to advise you on recent vintages as what I own are in wooden cases and the only time I tasted recent vintages was with you at the estate. I did taste 2000 early on and was unimpressed. I bought some later at auction at a low price, drank a bottle, and was unimpressed. However, within the last 2-3 years, it has come around a lot. While not a great example of La Lagune, it is nevertheless quite good and I am happy to have it.

1996 was great early on and is still great. I am into my third case. This is one of my favorite vintages of La Lagune. OTOH, 1995 was backward for years. It is very good now, but for my taste behind the 1996.

I neglected to buy 2001.

Of course, you should not pass up La Lagunes from the 1980s. Bottles of 1982 are variable, but the good ones, such as the bottle that Jacques brought to Fort Lauderdale, are fantastic. I love the 1985s and drank through three cases. Recent reloadings have mostly been good. I have not come across 1989 and 1990 recently at auctions but will bid if I do. I have only a bottle or two of each left. 1986 is good but behind 1989 and 1990. I actually prefer 1983 to it and lucked into a case at auction a year or two ago.

[Comte Flaneur]

Thanks stefan, the prices are still quite reasonable here although the prices have been rising by more than inflation. I can get a case of the 2015 for $525 ex tax, but that is 24 x 375s and I want to get something from the 90s too. Can get a case of mags of 1995 at a good price too and 750 bottle cases of 1999 and 2014 for very reasonable sums.

What is your impression of the 1999 and 2002? I ask about the latter because it is a Jim How special BWE vintage.

[stefan]

I don't own 1999 La Lagune. I wrote a note on the 2002 way back in 2013. "The bouquet is wonderful and Margaux like. Although very tasty, the wine was not as intense as I expected after smelling." Since then I drank the 2002 a couple of times and had more or less the same reaction. In other words, the 2002 is a good rather than great La Lagune, but one I like because of the bouquet, and I don't think of 2002 as being a floral year in Bordeaux.