Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2015 vintage Volnay, Château Corton C. Caroline Frey strikes again. This is textbook Volnay, with bright cherry fruit, elegance, precision and an unexpected complexity and length for a Villages wine. Absolutely gorgeous. Abv 13%. — 2 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose; floral fruits of blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, blue fruits, black raspberries, limestone, dark raspberries, black cherry cola, dark rich soil, vanilla, cinnamon, volcanic minerals, anise, violets and fresh red floral bouquet. The body is full and the tannins are about half resolved. The structure is still fairly big as is the tension with good length. The fruits are rich & ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, blue fruits, black raspberries, limestone, dark raspberries, black cherry cola, dark rich soil, vanilla, cinnamon, touch of clove, darker spice, a little bit of Christmas cake, suede leather, crushed dry rocks, volcanic minerals, anise, violets, lilacs, and fresh red floral bouquet. The acidity is round, good but could be better. The long finish is rich, fruit driven with just the right mix of fruit, earth and medium spice. Producer notes and history...Chateau La Lagune has a long history that dates all the way back to the 16th century, under King Henri IV. The same time the Dutch engineers started draining the water from the marshes and swamps making way for all those Pauillac Chateau’s. Their beautiful chateau was built in 1715. The chateau was designed by architect, Baron Victor Louis, who earned fame for his design of the Grand Theater in Bordeaux. By 1730, Chateau La Lagune was already known for producing Bordeaux wine. The property remained under the ownership of the well known de Seze family for several generations. Moving ahead a few centuries to the modern era of the 1950’s, Chateau La Lagune experienced problems caused by the end of World War II along with the economic crisis. As well, there was the great frost of 1956; which destroyed a large portion of the vineyards in Bordeaux. In 1958, George Brunette purchased Chateau La Lagune with only 5 hectares still planted with vines. It was George Burnette that began a large replanting Chateau La Lagune. However, George Brunette also took an economic hit during that era and was forced to sell Chateau La Lagune to the Ducellier family of Champagne Ayala. In 2000, both Chateau La Lagune and Champagne Ayala were sold to the Frey family. The Frey family sold Champagne Ayala and bought the legendary estate of Jaboulet in the Rhone, which of course includes the crown jewel of the region, Jaboulet La Chapelle. The Frey family also owns a substantial piece of Billecart-Salmon. In 2014, the Frey family bought Chateau de Corton Andre and its 7 hectares of vines in the Cote de Beaune area of Burgundy. Caroline Frey (shown in the right photo) is the manager and Winemaker of Chateau La Lagune, as well as their estate in Hermitage, Jaboulet. In November, 2013, La Lagune purchased the 8.9 hectare estate of Chateau D’Arche, from Mahler Besse. Chateau D’Arche is located in the commune of Ludon, not far from La Lagune. This purchase made more than economic sense for the property, as the vines were once part of La Lagune when the original 1855 Classification took place. La Lagune has 72 hectares (180 acres) under vine. Their grape variety is a distribution of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot. Chateau La Lagune is fermented in a total of 72 different, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats that vary in size from 22 hectoliters to 200 hectoliters to allow for parcel by parcel vinification. The vats are laid out in a functional and architecturally interesting pattern (Shown in the bottom photo). Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is blended before the aging process begins. This is similar to what takes place at Chateau Haut Brion. La Lagune is aged in between 50% and 60% new French oak barrels for 18 months. — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2015 vintage. From an estate bought in 2014, Caroline Frey (also La Lagune and Jaboulet) makes her mark with this Auxey-Duresses. In an appellation where rusticity is the norm, this is very elegant, with bright red cherry fruit, velvety tannin and very good length. Affordable for Burgundy. Abv. 13,5%. — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2015 vintage. This is a red Savigny-lès-Beaune, so Pinot Noir from the " Monopole" vineyard " Clos des Guettotes". Château Corton-André was bought in 2014 by the Frey family and the name changed into Château Corton C. A good start for Caroline Frey (also Château La Lagune and Paul Jaboulet Ainé) with this delicious elegant Savigny with impeccable balance and velvety mouthfeel. Abv. 13%. — 2 years ago