1996 Château Lagrange
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Tasting notes
The 1996 Lagrange has long been my favourite vintage from the 1990s. It was picked from 26 September to 11 October. This is a level up in quality over the previous vintage with far more delineation and complexity: blackberry, wild hedgerow, sandalwood and light dried blood aromas. The palate is fully matured with firm tannin, but sufficient fruit to back it up. This is well balanced with plenty of freshness, tart cherries, allspice and light Moroccan spice notes on the harmonious and persistent finish. Excellent. Tasted at the Lagrange vertical at the estate.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Bright youthful crimson. Scented. Very direct and youthful with marked acidity. This tastes as though the grapes were not as ripe as in most of the other 1996 St-Juliens tasted alongside it. (JR)
Very direct and fresh and tight and classic with a great spread over the palate. Just a bit more fleshy than the Fiefs 1996 (which I kept to compare). This has more energy and fruit than the Fiefs 1996 but there didn't seem to me to be an enormous difference between them. Very refined. Direct. (JR)