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 Chateaux, after you pass the Bordeaux suburb, Blanquefort (15-20 minutes drive), in the comune of Ludon. The soil here is mostly gravel, with some sand in the upper layer. The 80 ha big 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, with 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 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux during primeur week. I met young and charismatic Caroline Frey by then. She started to manage La Lagune after her parents bought this property in 2000. Caroline has steadily pushed the quality up, bought some more land, and made a lot of improvements. She has also made wine at the family's other winery since 2006, Paul Jaboulet in Cotes du Rhone. 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 Labordiere, a new cellarmaster at La Lagune. She wasn't of Bordeaux origin but of Beaujolais. On my question, "Why did you choose Bordeaux and not Burgundy to work with wine?" Maylis answered, "Many friends of mine told me to go to Bordeaux and get an education there, as it is the best place to do it." It was tough for her to start with such a difficult vintage as 2013, but then she assisted 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.
At first, 2018 was deemed not to be produced, but apparently, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from several parcels survived the frost, riped excellently, and were of excellent quality. These grapes made a tiny quantity of 2018 vintage. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. But with 2019 and 2020, it was back to normal, and 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 Cite 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 at the same level as 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. There is more Merlot in the blend in 2022. This property offered a precise, focused, elegant, and refined wine, as usual. It was layered. Fresh, aromatic with blackcurrants and violets, tension, and 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, aromatic with violets, redcurrants, fresh, lively, velvety tannin, and 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 and caressing aftertaste completed 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 + 5% Petit Verdot, 13% alcohol. Dense and deep nose of fragrant blackcurrants, scents of roasted bacon and graphite on the palate, splendid acidity, creamy berries, and 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 2018 to be produced because of two hail storms 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 unscathed the hail and passed La Lagune's manager Caroline Frey's demands quality-wise. It's a tremendous effort and 100% in the property's style, despite missing the contribution of other grape varieties in the blend. I've praised Caroline Frey for maintaining the style of the property! You have a fabulous and pure nose of blackcurrants here, the same classy fruit on the palate with energy and vibrancy, fabulous complexity, sheer finesse, and elegance. The excellent, lingering finish completes 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. Charismatic wine and an impressive effort from the property and its winemaking staff!
2016 La Lagune 96p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2019. Consistent notes. It is a truly distinguished and remarkable wine because of 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 analyze/taste. The usual blend, 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, was well-packed with fruit, very stylish, sappy, and refined, with a silky texture, precise and well-composed. Excellent effort, close to 2010 and 2005 vintage in quality. Rated 94p. Cabernet Sauvignon's blend from different parcels showed a lot of acidity, power, and depth here than in the usual blend. My rating is 94+p.
In April 2017, I retasted 2015 and was informed that the final blend turned out to be 70% C.S. + 20% Merlot + 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 is slightly corrected. It's 65% C.S, 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 of almost 100% Cabernet Sauvignon as 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 with a very aromatic nose, a seductive, tasty palate, fine acidity and complexity, and a long aftertaste. It is a heartbreaker wine, and it is 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 knitted, with excellent intensity and concentration, a long fruity finish that is quite firm, and fat 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 very aromatic wine and a complete one with cacao powder, tasty chocolate, exquisite balance, remarkable depth, 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 cedar and tobacco leaf flavors. 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 taste of cherry drops. It is a great pleasure to drink, and it keeps exceptionally well considering its age.