2025 La Lagune (Haut-Medoc)

Well made, sleek and deep dark fruits, cassis pastille, intense with a cushion of air. A very impressive vintage here, nuanced and well structured. Delphine Frey, Director of the Frey family estates, yield 20hl/ha. Xavier Moragues is the cellar master and technical director, with the estate for the past 18 months. New use of foudres and porcelain jars alongside oak barrels during the ageing, and the vineyard has also returned to its historic 1855 classified surface. 94 points

A blend of 50% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2025 La Lagune is gourmand and lively, offering up aromas of cassis, mulberries, flowers and lilac. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it`s round and fleshy, has good depth at the core and is framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, delicate and floral finish. The estate appears to be moving toward a more precise expression, where purity of fruit and finer tannin definition come to the fore. This is one to follow. 91-93 points

The 2025 La Lagune is fabulous - one of the clear sleepers of the vintage. Bright red-toned fruit, tobacco, cedar, mint and dried flowers convey tremendous intensity with no excess weight. The 2025 is brisk, energetic and loaded with character. Don`t miss it. Tasted three times. 93-95 points

The 2025 La Lagune has a quite ripe and sorbet-fresh nose, mainly red fruit infused with blood orange, even a hint of marmalade. Quite bright, and what seems like a low SO2 vinification. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth tannins, fine acidity, and a dash of black pepper towards the cohesive finish. It just maybe dips a yard or two before the finish line, but this will be a thoroughly enjoyable La Lagune. 91-93 points