Lagrange (St Julien) 2011

A balanced, refined 2011 with very polished tannins and pretty fruit. Medium to full body with shaved-milk-chocolate and currant character. Give it three or four year to soften. Better in 2017

A 'shadow vintage' that gets overpowered by 2009 and 2010 in terms of its public image, the 2011 Lagrange remained austere and reserved for a good 6 or 7 years after bottling, but it has softened at this point and is beginning to fly. Real finesse, balance, deliicacy and St Julien signature, making your mouth water with its raspberry and loganberry fruits, softened by tobacco, cool ash and white pepper spice. 43% 1st wine, 60% new oak. Eric Boissenot consultant.

The 2011 Lagrange has a bold, quite minty bouquet with outgoing black fruit, touches of camphor emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, fleshy, maybe a little over-extracted, and it just needs more tension and energy towards the finish. Pleasant, but difficult to see how this will evolve and frankly I have encountered better examples. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. 2022 - 2032

Black berry and cassis dominate the nose which has got sweetness and fair depth. The mid palate is firmer the black fruits underpinned by tannins which tend to tighten the middle and hold back some of the flavours. Right at the back there is a sweeter feel but the finish has got a brambly freshness.