Matthieu Bordes of Chateau Lagrange
Tuesday, January14th 7:00 PM, Black Salt Restaurant... Don't miss this one!
We are thrilled to start the year off right with an exceptional wine dinner from one of our favorite Chateau. Lagrange is one of the iconic names of St. Julien and frankly the wines have never been better under the direction of Matthieu Bordes (general manager and winemaker). Matthieu let us know that he'd be in town and we jumped on the opportunity to plan a special event together. All of the wines have been shipped straight from the Chateau and our friends next door at Black Salt have come up with a fantastic menu as always. If you are participating in Dry January "Dr. Phil" will be happy to write a note for a night off due to extraordinary circumstances! Matthieu is one of the most charismatic and knowledgeable people in all of Bordeaux and it's a real treat that he'll be in town.
An Evening with Chateau Lagrange
Tuesday January 14th. 7:00 PM
Black Salt Restaurant
First Course:
Roasted Chestnut Bisque, Nantucket Bay Scallops, Crispy Rutabaga, Italian Ossetra
2023 Les Arums de Lagrange
Second Course:
Duck Confit Risotto, Pickled
Pumpkin, Cippolini Onion, Sour Cherry Reduction, Duck Egg Sabayon,
Crispy Sage
2018 Haut Medoc de Lagrange,
2016 Les Fiefs de Lagrange,
2016 Chateau Lagrange
Third Course:
Braised Pork Cheek, Root Vegetable Ragout, Roasted Apple, Local Beet Greens, Calvados
2014 Chateau Lagrange,
2009 Chateau Lagrange
Cost $150 per person (includes tax and tip)
BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant,
4883 MacArthur Blvd., Washington D.C. 20007
Château Lagrange/ Laguna Cellar
The story of Château Lagrange is all about second chances. The famed Third Growth property has a comeback story that rivals the tremendous resurgence tale of Château Margaux. Interestingly enough, this Saint-Julien estate has quite a bit in common with the Margaux First Growth. Both properties had promising origins and phenomenal terroir, but had their fortunes fall over the years. That being said, both Château Lagrange and Château Margaux were resurrected from the depths by families and companies that were fully committed to producing some of the highest quality wines on the market. In the case of Château Lagrange, it was the Suntory company that brought the estate to staggering new heights. Many of the wines from Château Lagrange are considered a phenomenal value, and savvy wine buyers should not miss adding the fine offerings from this estate to their collection.
Château Lagrange had fairly humble beginnings. Reports of the vineyards originated in 1631, and eventually the property was acquired by the Baron de Brane in the 1700s. The Baron had multiple properties and it was very clear he had an eye for exceptional terroir. He owned Château Brane Cantenac, and Château Brane Mouton, a property that is known as the incomparable Château Mouton Rothschild today. The estate rose to prominence when it was acquired by Count Duchatel who added a drainage system to the vineyard. Though this may not seem like an incredibly novel concept, in the 1800s it was revolutionary. Eventually, Château Lagrange was classified in 1855 as a Third Growth estate. The estate declined in quality and changed hands multiple times. Some of the choicest parcels were sold off to other châteaux such as the Super Second darling, Château Ducru Beaucaillou and Château Gloria. In 1983, Château Lagrange was purchased by the large Japanese distillery Suntory (known for its top-quality beer and out-of-supply cult whisky, Yamazaki) and that’s when the incredible transformation really began.
Suntory spared no expense in revitalizing the once defunct château. They modernized the winemaking facilities and took on the massive undertaking of replanting the vineyards. Under the direction of Marcel Ducasse, whose reign at Château Lagrange encompassed 1993 to 2007, the vineyards expanded from 48 to 138 hectares. Château Lagrange is planted with 35-year-old vines on average that mostly consist of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Interestingly enough, Château Lagrange also has some white varietals planted on the estate as well. One can find plantings of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Sauvignon Gris planted on the gravely soil.
The enthusiastic winemaker, Kenji Suzuta, oversees the viticultural process and crafts energetic and stunning wines. Château Lagrange yields about 60,000 cases of its wine on a yearly basis. These wines are incredibly powerful and tannic in their youth, requiring some time to age in bottle. After about 8-10 years or so, they soften and reveal their aromas of black currant, cedar, and a distinctive herbal quality. The quality of Château Lagrange continues to improve with each passing vintage, yet the prices still remain affordable, proving offerings from the estate are worthy additions to any cellar.
Arriving
Selfies
Pre-dinner
Welcome
First Course:
Roasted Chestnut Bisque, Nantucket Bay Scallops, Crispy Rutabaga, Italian Ossetra
2023 Les Arums de Lagrange
Second Course:
Duck Confit Risotto, Pickled
Pumpkin, Cippolini Onion, Sour Cherry Reduction, Duck Egg Sabayon,
Crispy Sage
2018 Haut Medoc de Lagrange,
2016 Les Fiefs de Lagrange,
2016 Chateau Lagrange
Third Course:
Braised Pork Cheek, Root Vegetable Ragout, Roasted Apple, Local Beet Greens, Calvados
2014 Chateau Lagrange,
2009 Chateau Lagrange
Dessert:
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