The 2020 is a vintage of contrasts, a vine grower's vintage. They harvested the smallest crop in 30 years. The extraordinary freshness in this wine, produced the hottest vintage in modern history, is real proof of the buffer effect of their terroir. The precision of the fruit transpires with lovely notes of black cherry, black currant, and licorice. The tense tannic structure is reminiscent of the great 2010, with a more creamy, smoother mid-palate. A truly classic vintage that will be enjoyable earlier yet maintain a remarkable aging potential. A focused, finely tuned expressive wine showing great purity.

Coming from depressingly low yields of just 26 hectoliters per hectare (the lowest since 1991), the 2020 Chateau Lagrange checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. It's a gorgeous, complete Saint-Julien offering remarkable purity in its cassis, violets, chocolate, and leafy tobacco-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with terrific balance, a pure, focused mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and beautifully integrated oak, it's going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise over the following 2+ decades in cold cellar. Best After 2027.

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck