Blog posts tagged with 'cabernet sauvignon'

The Sassicaia estate at Bolgheri came from Mario Incisa della Rocchetta's wife, whose family had owned land there since 1800. The name Sassicaia means "place of many stones," and the gravelly soil has been compared to those found in the Médoc. Mario planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, engaging the expertise of Piero Antinori's winemaker, Giacomo Tachis. Sassicaia's first vintage was released to universal acclaim in 1968. Today, Sassicaia is widely accepted as one of the world’s greatest Cabernet Sauvignon wines and made history recently by being the first single wine to be granted its own DOC. The wines of Sassicaia combine intense notes of cassis and cedary elegance with extraordinary power and length. Experience the legacy of Sassicaia, where tradition meets innovation, producing wines that captivate wine enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

Château Lagrange started humble but is today a successful Third Growths Winehouse. The estate is 182 hectares large and located entirely within the appellation of Saint-Julien. When the property was acquired by the Japanese company Suntory, the French were skeptical, but we can’t deny: the Japanese have made Château Lagrange great again. The Appellation Saint-Julien Saint-Julien is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) for red wine in Bordeaux, more specifically the Médoc subregion. The wines of this appellation are mainly produced in Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, located on the left bank between Margaux and Pauillac. The primary grape of Saint-Julien is Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and traces of Carménère. The southern wines are described as smoother and more feminine, while the northern wines are more robust and powerful. Château Lagrange is located in the north of the Saint-Julien appellation. The History of Château Lagrange The story of Château Lagrange dates back to the Gallo-Roman times when the original estate was called Villa Rustica. During the Middle Ages, the Templars joined two domains and made Lagrange the largest wine producer in the Médoc. Over the centuries, the domain was owned by many different people. In the 18th century, Baron de Brane, a Bordeaux parliament member and owner of Mouton, bought the estate. Subsequently, influential merchant Jean-Valère Cabarrus invested in Lagrange and spread its wines through his sales network. The Italianate tower, depicted on the label, was constructed in 1796 by the next owner Jean Valerie Cabarrus, Napoleon’s Finance Minister in Spain. But it was his successor, Count Duchatel, who was the first to truly improve the domain’s wines: he added a drainage system to the vineyard. This is very common today but back then it was revolutionary. In 1855, the year of the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification, Château Lagrange was ranked as Third Classified Growths. It was truly a golden age for the estate, but everything changed in the 20th century due to the World Wars and Depression. In 1983, the Japanese group Suntory acquired the domain and appointed Marcel Ducasse and Kenji Suzuta to restructure the vineyard and renovate the estate. This was the beginning of the château’s rebirth. Year after year, they put in hard work and investments. Today Château Lagrange is led by Matthieu Bordes and Keiichi Shiina, who keep refining the production. The Exceptional Terroir of Château Lagrange The center of the domain is the highest point in Saint-Julien. The estate covers 182 hectares and has a gravelly soil combined with sand or iron-rich clay, depending on the plot. The soil is perfect for the Cabernet Sauvignon grape and covers 67% of the vineyard. 28% is dedicated to the Merlot grape and 5% to Petit Verdot, which gives the wines of Château Lagrange their unique complexity. Château Lagrange is one of the few properties in Saint-Julien that also produces white wine. The white wine vineyard covers 7.5 hectares, of which 60% is Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris, and 20% Sémillon. This wine is sold under the name Les Arums de Lagrange. In 1985, Suntory also started the production of a second wine: Les Fiefs de Lagrange. Tradition and Perfection The vines are maintained with great care and respect for tradition. Production is also as eco-friendly as possible. During harvest, the grapes are hand-picked and sorted both manually and by an optical sorting machine. Only the best remain. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats with respect to each plot. Each plot has its own vat, which contributes to the quality of the wines. Afterwards, the oenologist of Château Lagrange blends the wines to create a perfect harmony. The wines are aged in oak barrels for at least 20 months. The Wines of Château Lagrange The wines are described as bright and deeply colored with notes of fruits and oak. As the young wines contain many tannins, it’s better to wait at least 8 to 10 years before serving your Château Lagrange wine. An aging period of 10 to 25 years is even better. In the mood for an intense and complex wine? Discover our handpicked selection of Château Lagrange wines in our online shop.