Caroline Frey - has been taking care of La Lagune since 2004
La Lagune is situated on the right side of the road, called Route des Châteaux, after you pass the Bordeaux suburb of Blanquefort (a 15-20 minute drive), in the commune of Ludon. The soil here is primarily composed of gravel, with some sand present in the upper layer. The 80-hectare vineyard houses 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot. La Lagune can be mistaken for a classy Margaux wine when tasted blind, due to its sheer elegance and finesse.
My first visit there was in 1985, and I could have been more well-received as the owner was morning sour for an unknown reason, but she became much happier later on during the visit, as she found out that I knew a lot about wine. Since then, I have rarely visited La Lagune, but this changed in March 2004, when I was accommodated at La Lagune for a couple of days by the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux during primeur week. I met young and charismatic Caroline Frey by then. She began managing La Lagune after her parents purchased the property in 2000. Caroline has steadily improved the quality, acquired additional land, and implemented numerous enhancements. She has also made wine at the family's other winery, Paul Jaboulet, in Côtes du Rhône, since 2006. I've visited La Lagune frequently since 2004 and every year since 2010.
In September 2013, Caroline Frey appointed a young, qualified oenologist, Maylis de Labordière, as the new cellarmaster at La Lagune. She wasn't a native of Bordeaux, but from Beaujolais. On my question, "Why did you choose Bordeaux and not Burgundy to work with wine?" Maylis answered, "Many friends of mine have told me to go to Bordeaux and get an education there, as it is considered the best place to do so." It was tough for her to start with such a challenging vintage as 2013, but she then assisted with every single vintage until her last, in 2020. Some exceptional vintages between 2014 and 2020! She left in February 2021, and Caroline Frey appointed a new cellar master.
Initially, 2018 was deemed not to be a productive year, but apparently, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from several parcels survived the frost, ripened exceptionally well, and were of excellent quality. These grapes produced a limited quantity of the 2018 vintage. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. However, with 2019 and 2020, it returned to the usual blend, and there was no frost.
La Lagune - pretty little chateau, isn't it?!
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Three vintages to taste!
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2023 La Lagune (barrel sample) 95+p
Tasted at the property and Cité du Vin in April 2024. Consistent notes. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon + 35% Merlot. I won't deny that La Lagune is one of my favorite wines. It's unbeatable in terms of quality for money. This property usually offers a precise, elegant, and refined wine. In 2023, it is very aromatic, with spicy blackcurrants and violets, great acidity, vibrancy, and a long finish. It's so classic and almost on par with 2022. It may even be better after bottling.
2022 La Lagune (barrel sample) 96p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2024. Consistent notes. 52% C. Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 3% P. Verdot. 13.85% alcohol. The 2022 blend contains more Merlot. This property offered a precise, focused, elegant, and refined wine, as usual. It was layered. Fresh, aromatic with blackcurrants and violets, tension, and a meaty finish. It is on par with 2020, and it may excel after bottling. It's one of my favorite wines!
2021 La Lagune 94-95p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2024. Consistent notes. 70% C. Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% P. Verdot. 12.8% alcohol. It was tasted twice with the same impression. It is neither a blockbuster nor a skinny wine, just a precise, elegant, stylish, and classy one. Fresh and aromatic, with notes of violets and redcurrants, this wine is lively, velvety, and has a persistent finish. Fine effort.
2020 La Lagune 95-96p
I tasted it three times, the last time in April 2023. Consistent notes. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit-Verdot. 13.5% alcohol. Wow, this was great stuff! It had a fabulous and pure nose of blackcurrants, luscious berries on the palate, tension, vibrancy, great complexity, sheer finesse, and elegance. The long, caressing aftertaste perfectly complements this sensual wine. Pure class. Caroline Frey has made a riveting trilogy of excellent vintages (2018, 2019, and 2020), and 2020 fits in perfectly!
2019 La Lagune 95+p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2022. Consistent notes. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, with an alcohol content of 13%. A dense and deep nose of fragrant blackcurrants, with scents of roasted bacon and graphite on the palate. It displays splendid acidity, creamy berry notes, and fine-grained tannin. Full-bodied yet elegant with finesse. It is complex, with terrific structure and length. Long aftertaste. This is stunning and excellent value for money!
2018 La Lagune 95-96p
Tasted in December 2020. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. On the label below the property's name, it's written, "Les Cabernets Sauvignons". It was a big surprise to receive this bottle for tasting, as I didn't expect it to be produced in 2018, given that two hailstorms occurred during the summer, one in May and the second in July. The first one didn't affect the best plots, but the latter was quite destructive by ravaging through the main vineyard. Some Cabernet Sauvignon plots remained unscathed by the hail and met La Lagune's manager, Caroline Frey's, quality-wise demands. It's a tremendous effort and 100% in the property's style, despite missing the contribution of other grape varieties in the blend. I can't praise Caroline Frey enough for maintaining the property's style! You have a fabulous and pure nose of blackcurrants here, with the same classy fruit on the palate, accompanied by energy and vibrancy, as well as fabulous complexity, sheer finesse, and elegance. The excellent, lingering finish perfectly complements this sublime wine.
2017 La Lagune (barrel sample) 95p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2019. Consistent notes. 75% C.S. + 20% Merlot + 5% Petit Verdot. It is very captivating on the nose, fresh with splendid acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon was stealing headlines with a remarkable contribution of finesse, silkiness, and velvety texture. A charismatic wine and an impressive effort from the property and its winemaking team!
2016 La Lagune 96p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2019. Consistent notes. It is a truly distinguished and remarkable wine, thanks to 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.
2015 La Lagune 96p
Tasted four times - last time in April 2019. Consistent notes. In April 2016, there were two blends to taste. The usual blend, comprising 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, was well-packed with fruit, very stylish, sappy, and refined, with a silky texture and precise, well-composed flavors. Excellent effort, comparable to the 2010 and 2005 vintages in quality. Rated 94p. The Cabernet Sauvignon blend from different parcels exhibited significantly more acidity, power, and depth than the usual blend. My rating is 94+p.
In April 2017, I retasted the 2015 and was informed that the final blend consisted of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. I upgraded this wine's rating because it tasted better than those two cuvées from a year ago! I retasted it again in April 2018, and the final blend was slightly corrected to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Wonderful stuff, as sophisticated, elegant, and pretty as its owner. I had the same impression in April 2019.
2014 La Lagune 94p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2017. Consistent notes. This wine was delicious with splendid acidity, freshness, precise, enchanting sweetness, superb balance, and a long, fruity aftertaste. There is a great style here, and this wine is a big success for the vintage. In April 2017, this wine had a pretty nose of black cherries, remarkable acidity, strong structure, and a long finish. A classic Bordeaux/La Lagune wine. Fail-free wine work.
2013 La Lagune 89p (barrel sample)
Tasted twice - last time in April 2015. Consistent notes. In April 2014, I tasted four different blends, and Caroline had already considered declassifying 2013 La Lagune. She didn't do it anyway and chose the cuvée, which was almost 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, as the Grand Vin. She admitted that the 2013 vintage was the most challenging and complex since she became the property manager. I wouldn't say it's a typical wine of the property. Well-balanced, light, and round, it compensates for the lack of concentration and depth with charm, elegance, and a seductive approach.
2012 La Lagune 92p
I tasted it four times, the last time in April 2016. Consistent notes. This is a fine display of delightful wine, characterized by a very aromatic nose, a seductive and tasty palate, fine acidity, complexity, and a long-lasting aftertaste. It is a heartbreaker of a wine, and it has been a big success for the vintage.
2011 La Lagune 92-93p
I tasted it three times, the last time in April 2016. It has consistent notes. It had a splendid nose of black cherries, fine depth and intensity, strong structure and backbone, great acidity, and a persistent finish.
2010 La Lagune 95p
I tasted it three times, the last time in April 2016. Consistent notes. This wine was tightly knit, with excellent intensity and concentration, a long, fruity finish that is quite firm, and rich fruit and tannin. It is a very expressive wine with a beautiful future.
2009 La Lagune 93-94p
I tasted it twice, the last time in April 2016. It has consistent notes. It has sweeter fruit on the nose and palate than in 2010. It is less deep and concentrated but elegant and tasty, with a meaty finish. Impressive effort.
2005 La Lagune 94+p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2016. Consistent notes. It was a remarkably aromatic wine, complete with cacao powder, rich chocolate notes, exquisite balance, and a long finish. Excellent stuff.
1996 La Lagune 92p
I tasted it in March 2004. It is very dark, tight, deep, concentrated, and long. It is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon wine with notes of cedar and tobacco leaf. It is a classy wine.
1971 La Lagune 92p
I tasted it in October 2019. It is a well-preserved wine, fruity and elegant, with a terrific cherry flavor. It is a great pleasure to drink, and it keeps exceptionally well considering its age.
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Link to Wine-Searcher's Chateau La Lagune page - click here