Pagus de Lagrange Haut-Medoc 2019

2019, just like 2018, will be remembered for its really contrasting weather. We had a cold, wet spring, and then a dry, hot summer with recordbreaking sunshine ! This was the longest harvest we had ever seen. The berry weight was the lowest of the last 36 years at Lagrange. We took a gamble stopping for a while between the Merlot and the Cabernet, judging the latter’s phenolic maturity not in adequacy with its technological maturity. It was important not to rush, tasting the grapes daily as the skins became gradually thinner and aromas were progressively revealed: we harvested the richest grapes in the domaine’s modern history.

This hot, dry vintage brought such an extraordinary concentration in the grapes that the yield was a mere 37hl/ha. This phenomenon was especially true for the Cabernet Sauvignon, explaining the unusually high proportion of Merlot in the blend this year. Our Cabernets provide the backbone and freshness in this wine that offers pleasant aromas of blackcurrant, cherry and liquorice. The generous presence of the Merlot brings volume, smoothness and balance to the whole, promising a longer drinking window. The key word in this very attractive vintage is Harmony.

Blend:

67% Merlot
33% Cabernet Sauvignon

Planting Density:

From 6 700 to 8 700 vines per hectare

Harvest:

From September 29th to October 17th 2019.
Grapes are hand-picked into individual crates.
A first selection is done by hand on whole bunches, and a second one grape by grape with an optical camera.

Vinification:

Plot by plot and intra plot vinification
Variable capacity of the vats : 36 to 220 hl
The selection of batch is conducted according to the varietal, age of vines, terroirs and grapes maturity
Vinification at 26-28 °C during 18 to 25 days
Moderate pumping-over every day, or delestage or pigeage
Malo lactic fermentation through co inoculation

Average age of the vine:

30 years

Barrel Ageing:

Blending in January
Maturation for 12 months. Barrels of 2 to 4 wines
Final blending before bottling

Tasting Window:

2022-2035