This rivals the 2016 for sure, although the sense of gravity is perhaps just a little less effortless as it was in that incredible vintage. It`s closed in and tight on the nose with slightly reductive notes, but it opens up after a few minutes to reveal another good quality St-Julien. A serious wine, it has well structured walls and a moat around the cassis fruit. It`s not quite at the level of 2010 but is halfway there, making you stop and think before its gentle power takes over. 94 points

67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot; 50% new oak. Black core. Pretty black and red fruit on the nose and an attractive layer of crushed rocks. Even a touch of cassis leaf. Juicy and fresh on the palate, a little bit raw but lots of energy and more freshness than most. 16.5 points

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Lagrange opens a little closed and broody, slowly revealing cedar chest, tar, pencil shavings, camphor and fragrant earth scents with a baked plums and warm cassis core plus a hint of yeast extract. Full-bodied and jam-packed with black fruits and earthy accents, it has a solid frame of firm, chunky tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a persistent mineral note. 93-95+ points

The 2018 Lagrange is off the charts. Bold, plush and beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2018 possesses tremendous richness and textural intensity. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, espresso, mint and licorice build in a racy, sumptuous Lagrange loaded with personality. The 2018 is one of the best recent vintages I have tasted. 92-95 points

The assemblage is 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, picked at a yield of 38 hl/ha. The declared alcohol is 14.6%, one of the most concentrated ever produced here, with a pH of 3.53. It has a lightly dusty fruit character on the nose, with a little toasty oak, coming across as a little reticent, but it is nothing to be concerned about. It feels a little battened down at present, and indeed on the palate it is the spicy and vanillin oak that hits first, with little elements of red cherry, cherry stone and grilled summer berries coming through later. A very fine, confident tannic frame lends it an admirable sense of structure, and these tannins are infused through the finish. This is a good result for Lagrange, so kudos to Matthieu Bordes and all the team. The élevage will be in 50% new oak and 50% second-fill oak, for 20 months. 93-95 points