CHÂTEAU LA LAGUNE
2023 3ème Cru Classé Ludon
Concentrated spiced plum, billowing red and white roses fragrance, opening to a confident tannic architecture, and an expansive but controlled delivery of textured autumnal fruit. Rose stems and grippy tannnins suggest full ripeness was challenging, but this has character and depth, and lift through the palate. Caroline Frey owner, 30hl/ha yields. Drinking range: 2030 - 2048 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
65 Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 Merlot 50% new oak, 5% Clayver 13.5% alc 30 hl/ha Harvest took place between 8 – 29 September Caroline Frey was slightly stressed when I met up with her and her sister Delphine to taste at La Lagune. There was a clear and present danger of frost in Bordeaux, the Northern Rhône and the Valais in Switzerland – three extremely important places where she makes wine. Her connection to these vineyards and her forensic attention to detail meant that her nerves were shredded, and she was also racking up a lot of miles whizzing between these properties, protecting her precious vines. However, one subject that was at the forefront of my mind was not a cause of any worry whatsoever for the Frey sisters. Their 2023 La Lagune is a superb wine with purity, class, and balance from the tip of its pristine aroma to the tail of its refreshing pin-sharp acidity. As you will have heard, mildew pressure was enormous in 2023, and Caroline’s viti-team is one of the most well-drilled in the region. Her staff can treat the whole property in just seven hours, and they are on standby every day, including Sundays. They were deployed regularly in this challenging vintage, including one particularly dangerous Sunday, and while others could not assemble teams, La Lagune prevailed. The fruit is of the very highest quality in this wine, with incredible purity and an impressive volume and intensity of perfume. This wine has a firm stance on the palate, and there is a vault of silky, slender, and refined black fruit at its core, surrounded by moments of enchanting delicacy and fragility. While some wines resemble hulking pantechnicons, La Lagune is a carbon-fibre F1 racing car. Direct, agile, sleek, and streamlined, this beauty will blossom gradually over two decades and more! Rating: 18+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2024)
The 2023 La Lagune is a serious wine, but it is also quite backward. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, leather and dried herbs open with some coaxing. The 2023 is going to need time to come together. Its aromatic intensity and overall persistence suggest it has a bright future. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2048 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2024)
A rather sweet nose suggesting some concentration here, with scents of granular blackcurrant, dusty black violets, verbena and mint. There follows a rather dark and slightly dried fruit profile on the palate, with a good grip of powdery, well-knit tannins running beneath it. I see plenty of structure here, with a modestly textured midpalate which is the nature of the vintage, leading to a firm, tannin-wrapped finish which feels a little dried out. This is going to need quite a lot of time, the tannins lingering long in the finish, so I hope the fruit holds out. Whatever it does, while a good result for the vintage on this organically managed property, this is a lighter, looser La Lagune. Rating: 88-90 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)
The 2023 La Lagune, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, reveals bright aromas of dark wild berries, flowers, cassis and spices. Medium-bodied, supple and enveloping, with a perfectly balanced mid-palate, it’s elegant and charming with an ethereal, fruity finish. This is an excellent rendition of this terroir. Drinking range: 2025 - 2040 Rating: 90-92 Yohan Castaing, www.robertparker.com (Apr 2024)
A subtle yet plush La Lagune with black olives, blackberries and hints of chocolate and hazelnut. Medium body with fine, polished tannins and a savory finish. There's a crunchy feel to it and it’s layered and deep at the end. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot. No petit verdot. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2024)
Château La Lagune
Haut-Médoc Troisième cru 1855 Château La Lagune is the highest ranked property outside of the principal Haut-Médoc appellations. It is in Ludon-Médoc, about halfway between the village of Margaux and the city of Bordeaux. Like so many Bordeaux estates, the early 20th Century was a period of considerable decline - by the time La Lagune's saviour George Brunette bought the near derelict estate in 1958 there were just 4ha of vineyard left. He set about a whirlwind renovation and a complete replanting of the vineyard, although a few short years later, in 1961, he sold La Lagune to Champagne Ayala. Today, Château La Lagune is owned by the Frey family who continue to drive the estate forward. The 80ha of sandy-gravel vineyard are planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and an unusually high 10% Petit Verdot. The Grand Vin spends 18 months in wood, with 55% being new every year (down from a previously over impressive 100% new). Interestingly, once La Lagune barriques have been used twice, they are sent off to the Rhône to be used by Paul Jaboulet, also owned by the Frey family. Today, Château La Lagune is one of the wines to look out for in the Haut-Médoc, usually outperforming its Third Growth status, whilst its less than lofty appellation keeps a lid on the price. Certified organic from the 2016 vintage.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2023 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.