Jamessuckling.com | JS 92-93
Published: Apr 5, 2018 

A firm and silky young wine with beautiful currants, blackberries, cedar and tobacco. Full-bodied, juicy and long. Love the lively acidity and freshness to this. Fine tannin structure. Higher percentage of cabernet sauvignon in the blend this year gives it a pretty pureness.

The Wine Advocate | RP 89
Published: Mar 16, 2020

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 la Lagune rolls out of the glass with notes of cherry pie, Black Forest cake and warm cassis plus hints of pencil lead, new leather and spice box. Medium-bodied, the palate has great vibrancy with loads of red berries and earthy layers and a firm, chewy frame, finishing lively. 
Drink Date: 2020 - 2034

chateau-lalagune.com

Wine Blend : 70% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot

In 1855, La Lagune joined the very strict circle of Grands Crus Classés and became the 3rd Grand Cru Classé. On the road to the Médoc, it represents the first and one of the most beautiful gravelly hilltops. The story begins in 1525, around the natural water points where the «village of La Lagune» was built, and transformed into a wine-producing estate around 1587. The Chartreuse was built in 1730 and completed by Baron Victor Louis, architect of the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux. Since her arrival in 2000, Caroline Frey and her team have instilled an energy whose key word is excellence. The making of a great wine requires a great terroir but also the passion and skills of the men and women, in the care of every detail. Finesse, harmony, elegance and balance express themselves wonderfully through this 3rd Grand Cru Classé.

SITUATION / TERROIR
AGE OF THE VINES: from 20 to 60 years old
SOIL GEOLOGY: THE FINESSE OF THE GRAVES AND THE STRENGTH OF THE MÉDOC. The terroir of La Lagune is considered by the famous geologist René Pijassou as «the Medoc island model». The light gravel (pink, yellow and white quartz, calcite, agates) and silica diffuse the sunlight and help to give the Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot the grace, balance and finesse that characterise the wines of La Lagune.
VINEYARD MANAGEMENT: Double Guyot / Medoc pruning
VINE DENSITY: 6,666 vines/ha and 10,000 vines/ha.

WEATHER COND IT IONS AND PHENOLOGY
After a mild and lightly rainy autumn in 2016, the winter of 2017 followed an exceptionally dry and cold trend. The end of winter and the beginning of spring, which was milder and wetter, favoured an early budburst. During the first two weeks of April, the vines were actively growing, with very well-developed shoots and clearly visible inflorescences appearing in mid-April. On 27 and 28 April, the morning temperatures turned negative in the early hours. Fortunately, the most beautiful terroirs of the estate were spared. With dry and warm conditions, vegetative development was very rapid and flowering became widespread from the 20th of May in excellent conditions. The first berries began to ripen in mid-July. During the month of August, rainfall was low and conditions were excellent, combining moderate water stress and, at the end of the month, strong daily temperature variations.

HARVEST DATE: 12 SEPTEMBER TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2017
HARVEST
The grapes are picked by hand and then transported to the vat room in small crates. The date of harvest is determined for each plot after numerous tastings of the grapes and additional analytical controls.
AGEING
Château La Lagune is aged in French oak barrels, 50% of which are renewed every year. The wines are racked several times during their maturation, in order to eliminate the large lees and favour maturation on fine lees.
GENTLE WINEMAKING
After a very meticulous triple manual sorting, completed by an optical sorting, the most beautiful berries are delicately sent to the vats for the plot vinification. The extraction of tannins and anthocyanins is carefully measured to obtain the most elegant wines. The final blend is made during the ageing process with the wines from the best parcels.