TN: 2006 Château Lagrange St. Julien (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien)

[JimHow]

• 2006 Château Lagrange St. Julien - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (7/8/2009)
  Now this is more like it. I loved this wine. Classic claret. Structured cabernet effort, just everything in place for me: Not overly sweet, not overly alcoholic, not over-oaked. Structured, but not overly so. Nice finish. Lovely purple/ruby, cedary/lead-pencil bouquet. Will age at least twenty years. This style, which to me is closer to the '96 and '02 Lagranges, may appeal to me even more than the richer, sweeter, 2000 and 2005 (I love those wines as well). In other words, this '06 offers up just about everything I'm looking for in a St. Julien. At $40.97 (PJs, Manhattan), I'll likely buy a case. Rating: 92. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[billfgrady]

Jim, I know that we are both fans of the 2002 Lagrange. For your money, what is better?

[JimHow]

Here is what He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Mentioned said about the wine while it was still in barrel:

"A strong effort for this estate, the 2006 Lagrange competes with the finest wines of the appellation. One of my pet peeves with this wine is that the oak is often excessive, but in this vintage, it is beautifully integrated, allowing the sweet cassis, licorice, herb, and spice box notes to dominate. Ripe and medium to full-bodied with moderately sweet tannin, abundant fruit, and a long finish, it is similar to the 1996 Lagrange, with perhaps more fruit. Time will tell. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2027." WA(91-94)

[JimHow]

Boy that's a tough question, Bill.

This $40 2006 Lagrange may nudge out the '02!

[JimHow]

You know, this wine is a very good example of what Alex was saying when he said Lagrange was a good value wine.

I paid $40.97 for this wine. If I were buying similar quality out of California, I'd be in the $100 range or more.

[JimHow]

13.0% alcohol, by the way.

[rjsussex]

Great - thanks Jim - glad I've got 3 cases on the way.

I rate the 04 a notch above the 02 but love them both.

Richard

[JimHow]

I'm picking up a case in NYC this weekend myself, Richard.

[Rick]

Jim
looks like I need to keep a look out for the next Binnys sale and pick up a few of these 06 beauties you have been sampling for us like the Lagrange and PC

Thanks for the research
rick