Chateau Lagrange St Julien 2016

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Lagrange sashays out of the glass with notions of candied violets, cassis, underbrush and warm black plums with waves of Black Forest cake, cedar chest and yeast extract scents. Medium to full-bodied, the bags of perfumed black fruits are solidly structured with super ripe, grainy tannins, finishing long and layered.

The 2016 Lagrange has a tightly knit, focused bouquet of intense blackberry, briar and cedar aromas. This is impressive, and it gains intensity with aeration. The medium-bodied palate delivers grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a vivacious, spicy, almost peppery finish. One of the most powerful Lagrange that I have tasted. A Saint-Julien that is consistently underrated, this 2016 will give a great deal of pleasure over the next 30-plus years. Neal Martin

A textbook St.-Julien, with a fleshy yet focused beam of plum, blueberry and cassis flavors striding through, while warmed anise, sweet tobacco and iron notes play backup through the finish. Mouthwatering grip will allow this to cellar nicely. Best from 2024 through 2038. 20,833 cases made.

The Grand Vin 2016 Château Lagrange checks in 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot brought up in equal parts new and used barrels. It shows the fresher, elegant style of the vintage and offers beautiful black cherry and cassis fruits intermixed with tobacco leaf, damp earth, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure, seamless, and layered, it has a vibrant, tight texture, terrific tannin quality, and a great finish. It's a quintessential expression of this vintage. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two to three decades.