2003 Château Lagrange
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2003 Lagrange is similar to the previous bottles at the vertical. The nose shows desiccated red fruit, fig and dusty bureau. It's just missing a little presence and vitality now at 20 years of age. The palate is medium-bodied with a savory entry, quite leathery (though there are no Brettanomyces). It's nicely balanced, although I cannot see this repaying continued cellaring. Tasted at the château.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The earliest vintage since 1989, with picking beginning on September 11 through to 25. Cigar box, clove and turmeric spice on the nose. The lower natural acidity is replaced by an oyster shell salinity, and although the fruit has faded a little, it is still mouthwatering and ready for sharing. 48% 1st wine in this vintage. 3.6ph. Eric Boissenot consultant.
The 2003 Lagrange was an early vintage picked from 11 to 24 September, the second earlier ever. For a 2003 it has an attractive bouquet with red cherry, cranberry, fig confit and dates, perhaps lacking typicity but there is nothing overblown. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy and rounded with light spicy notes, though it runs out of ideas towards a rather monotone finish. Nevertheless, it is not bad for the vintage. The alcohol was kept to 13% thanks to early picking. Tasted at the Lagrange vertical at the estate.
An attractive juicy, medium-bodied, dark ruby-colored effort, the 2003 Lagrange offers some cassis fruit, but not a great deal of complexity, especially compared to the finest wines of St. Julien. Still well-made and intact, it can be drunk over the next 5-7 years.