Lagune

History of Château La Lagune

Château La Lagune traces its origins to the 16th century, when Dutch engineers helped transform Bordeaux by draining the marshlands. However, it was in the 18th century that the property began to forge a viticultural reputation, with the construction of its magnificent Carthusian-style château in 1730 by architect Victor Louis, famous for designing the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux. From then on, the château quickly distinguished itself by the quality of its wines.

Classified as a third growth in 1855, during the famous Médoc classification, the estate's renown declined throughout the 20th century, struck by world wars and economic crisis. The estate was revitalised in 1958 when Georges Brunet purchased it, relaunching production and modernising the facilities. This revival continued after 1962 under the Champagne house Ayala, which worked for nearly forty years to restore recognition to La Lagune's wines.

Since 2000, the château has been owned by the Frey family, an influential dynasty in the wine world, who also own prestigious estates such as Paul Jaboulet Aîné in the Rhône Valley. Caroline Frey, a qualified oenologist, took the reins of the estate in 2004. With her expertise and passion for organic and biodynamic viticulture, she has transformed La Lagune into a model of sustainable viticulture, while continuing to elevate the quality of the estate's wines.

Terroirs and Vines of Château La Lagune

Château La Lagune spans 110 hectares on the left bank, planted on a gravel outcrop in the Haut-Médoc region, one of the finest on the left bank. This particular geological formation, composed of pebbles rolled and eroded by the Garonne, plays an essential role in the quality of the wines. The gravel soils, combined with cooler subsoils, favour excellent vine exposure and optimal drainage, thus conferring perfect balance between power and elegance to the grape varieties.

The vineyard is predominantly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), accompanied by Merlot (30%) and Petit Verdot (10%). Cabernet Sauvignon brings structure and ageing potential, Merlot softens the wine by adding roundness and suppleness, while Petit Verdot reinforces the wines' backbone by conferring additional complexity, particularly on the finishes.

Since 2016, the entire vineyard has been certified organic, and in 2021, it also received biodynamic certification, a consecration after several years of efforts to promote sustainable viticulture. Biodynamic practices, based on an ecosystem approach to viticulture, allow for expressing all the richness of the soils and enhancing the vitality of the vines, guaranteeing grapes of exceptional quality.

Vinification at Château La Lagune

At Château La Lagune, vinification is a meticulous art where every detail counts. The harvest is carried out by hand, with rigorous sorting of the bunches to select only perfectly ripe fruit. This precise selection allows for obtaining high-quality grapes, essential for producing the estate's great wines.

The vinification process takes place in an ultra-modern vat room, inaugurated in 2004, and equipped with 72 temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, adapted for very precise plot-by-plot vinification. This cutting-edge technology ensures perfect control of fermentations and best respects the characteristics of each grape variety and plot.

Once alcoholic fermentation is complete, the wine is blended according to grape varieties and plots before beginning the ageing process. Château La Lagune places particular importance on ageing in French oak barrels, renewed at a rate of 50% each year. The wines rest there for between 12 and 18 months, depending on the cuvées, thus promoting micro-oxygenation which allows for refining the tannins while preserving the fruit's freshness. The different barrels are carefully chosen from six coopers, according to the grape varieties: Taransaud and Saury for Cabernet Sauvignon, Bernard and Quintessence for Merlot, and Boutes and Sylvain for Petit Verdot.

This constant search for balance between power, finesse, and complexity gives birth to wines of great elegance, perfectly representative of La Lagune's terroir.

The Cuvées of Château La Lagune

Château La Lagune produces several high-quality cuvées, each representing a unique expression of the terroir.

Château La Lagune

The estate's grand vin, Château La Lagune, is one of the most elegant in the Haut-Médoc. Composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon, it distinguishes itself by its aromatic complexity, fine structure, and silky tannins. The addition of Petit Verdot brings a touch of freshness and depth, while Merlot balances everything with its roundness. This wine offers excellent ageing potential, revealing its aromas of black fruits, cedar, and tobacco over the years.

Moulin de La Lagune

The estate's second wine, Moulin de La Lagune, favours a greater proportion of Merlot, making it a more accessible wine in its early years. Its gourmet character, with notes of ripe red fruits, makes it a seductive cuvée that nevertheless retains all the finesse and elegance characteristic of La Lagune's style. This wine is ideal for more immediate consumption, while still offering interesting ageing potential.

Mademoiselle L

Introduced in 2004, the Mademoiselle L cuvée comes from 30 hectares of vines planted in the Haut-Médoc appellation. This more accessible wine distinguishes itself by its modern and fresh style, with aromas of red fruits and a supple texture. It represents an excellent entry point for discovering the wines of Château La Lagune, while remaining faithful to the estate's elegant signature.

Evidence and Duo

Château La Lagune also produces special cuvées in small quantities, combining Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, a unique association that showcases the terroirs of Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley. The Evidence cuvée, composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, expresses a beautiful harmony between power and freshness. Duo, on the other hand, is a rare wine, only produced in large formats, which marries the best grapes from La Lagune and Jaboulet La Chapelle.

Haut-Médoc, one of the prestigious appellations of the Bordeaux vineyard, is renowned for producing remarkable wines, particularly during its finest vintages. Among the most notable are emblematic years such as 1975, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990, which have left their mark on fine wine enthusiasts. Other exceptional vintages include 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, each recognised for its balance and depth. More recently, the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 continue this tradition, with particularly elegant and promising wines. These vintages offer an exceptional range of flavours and longevity, reinforcing Bordeaux's reputation as a global reference in wine-making.

We invite you to discover the various Third Growth Classified Châteaux, true treasures of the Bordeaux region. Set out to encounter the great terroirs of Margaux with the prestigious Château Boyd-Cantenac, Château Cantenac Brown, Château Desmirail, Château Ferrière, Château Giscours, Château d'Issan, Château Kirwan, Château Malescot Saint Exupéry, Château Marquis d'Alesme and Château Palmer. Continue your journey with the wines of Château Calon-Ségur in Saint-Estèphe, Château Lagrange and Château Langoa Barton in Saint-Julien, not forgetting the finesse of Château La Lagune in the Haut-Médoc. Each estate promises you an unforgettable experience, reflecting the art of Médoc wines.

Château La Lagune is much more than just a vineyard; it is a true reference in terms of great Haut-Médoc wines. Thanks to an exceptional terroir, organic and biodynamic viticulture, and ancestral know-how modernised by cutting-edge techniques, La Lagune's wines combine elegance, complexity, and refinement. Whether for a great wine for ageing or a more accessible cuvée, La Lagune continues to seduce wine enthusiasts around the world, embodying the excellence of Bordeaux in each vintage.

Don't forget the other great estates and chateaux of Bordeaux such as our great Bordeaux White, with Yquem, the wolrd's most famous Sauternes !