2001 Ch. Lagrange, Pomerol

Chateau Lagrange Pomerol

Château Lagrange is a Pomerol property that produces rich, powerful and full-bodied Pomerols that are now amongst the finest wines being produced in the appellation. It is owned by the firm of Jean-Pierre-Moueix, which also owns Château Pétrus, Château Trotanoy and Château Magdelaine.

The 8.5 hectares of vineyards are located on the famous Pomerol plateau next to the church, where the soil is gravel-rich - the vineyards have recently been replanted and now comprises of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc vines. The grapes are hand-harvested and then fermented in temperature-controlled concrete tanks. The wine is then aged in small oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months before being lightly fined and then bottled.

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself particularly well in blends with Merlot. This is actually the archetypal Bordeaux blend, though in different proportions in the sub-regions and sometimes topped up with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.

In the Médoc and Graves the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can range from 95% (Mouton-Rothschild) to as low as 40%. It is particularly suited to the dry, warm, free- draining, gravel-rich soils and is responsible for the redolent cassis characteristics as well as the depth of colour, tannic structure and pronounced acidity of Médoc wines. However 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be slightly hollow-tasting in the middle palate and Merlot with its generous, fleshy fruit flavours acts as a perfect foil by filling in this cavity.

In St-Emilion and Pomerol, the blends are Merlot dominated as Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen there - when it is included, it adds structure and body to the wine. Sassicaia is the most famous Bordeaux blend in Italy and has spawned many imitations, whereby the blend is now firmly established in the New World and particularly in California and  Australia.