2009 Chateau La Lagune 3rd Grand Cru Classe in 1855 Haut-Medoc 750 ml

Of the hundreds of cases of Classified Growth Bordeaux we bought, perhaps the most compelling bargain of all is Robert Parker’s 94- to 96-point powerhouse, the 2009 Château La Lagune. Rated twice by Robert Parker, a rock-solid 94-96 and 95 points, he calls it “this beauty,” “a spectacular effort,” “another blockbuster,” and “the quintessential expression of this terroir.” The adjectives the most influential wine critic in history applied include: “gorgeously aromatic, “singular,” “beautiful,” “sumptuous, full-bodied,” and “gorgeous elegance allied to compelling intensity of flavor.” He suggests it will still be going strong in 2047, and we’re not going to argue!

We’ve been collecting La Lagune since the late 1970s. Always one of the most sophisticated and elegant of the great Médocs, this 2009 hails from Parker’s 99-point vintage, which he has said “is the greatest vintage I have tasted in Bordeaux since 1982.” There is absolutely nothing understated about this large-scaled 2009 Château La Lagune from the Haut Médoc.

It’s hard to believe that we’ve been in the wine business for almost four decades. It’s almost harder to believe that we’ve been attending Bordeaux’s en primeur tastings each February for the last 25 years — time flies when you’re having fun. This past February, as the dollar climbed steadily, we did what we’ve done only once before in our 30+year career as importers: We returned to the Place de Bordeaux to purchase bottles that had been held back and cellared by the château — and this 2009 Château La Lagune is one of the gems we locked into. Don’t miss out.