Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month - Febuary 2025

For February’s wine selection, we feature four Bordeaux wines:

• A striking beauty from Haut-Médoc: Château Belgrave 2020
• A jewel in the heart of Saint-Émilion: Château Clos de Sarpe 2019 
• A vibrant, fresh Saint-Émilion full of charm: Lynsolence 2020
• An iconic Right Bank wine: Château Canon La Gaffelière 2018

Château Belgrave, is a Grand Cru Classé of 1855 nestled in the heart of the Haut-Médoc appellation, is a distinguished estate with a history dating back to the 18th century. The estate’s name derives from the combination of “bel” (beautiful) and “grave” (a type of soil found in the region) surrounding its vineyards. Château Belgrave has long been regarded as one of the standout estates of the Médoc. Over the years, the estate has been carefully nurtured, with ongoing investments in both its vineyards and winemaking techniques, ensuring the continued excellence of its wines. Since 1979, Dourthe has had the distinct privilege of overseeing the operations at Château Belgrave. The vineyard, set out in a single block, has remained largely unchanged since 1855, with 95% of the land retaining its original structure. The 2020 vintage is primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a small percentage of Petit Verdot. It stands out for its excellent balance between fruit and tannins, as well as its harmonious structure. While approachable in its youth, this vintage reveals a bouquet of dark fruits and has the potential for further aging, allowing it to develop more complexity over time.

Château Clos de Sarpe, is Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion offering a wine of excellence and very high quality. Organic farming, the use of 55-80 years old vines coupled with precious know-how make this chateau a jewel of Saint-Émilion. This estate covers 3.7 hectares in which Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Franc (15%) are carefully cultivated. This château is fortunate to have been run by the Beyney family since 1932, handed down from generation to generation the château has retained its identity and traditions thanks to the hard work of the family. Promoted to Grand Cru Classé in 2012, Clos de Sarpe is now considered one of Bordeaux's finest wines and it finds its place among the elite wines of the world. The Clos de Sarpe 2019 showcases the meticulous care and traditional practices with its rich structure and deep flavor profile. This vintage continues to evolve beautifully in the bottle gaining further complexity and depth over the years. 

Lynsolence is a remarkable Saint-Émilion estate that has remained in the same family since its founding in the late 19th century, a testament to its deep roots and commitment to quality. Today, under the direction of Denis Barraud, Lynsolence has firmly established itself as one of the standout producers in Saint-Émilion. The estate specializes in 100% Merlot, a variety that thrives in the region’s terroir and allows for the production of wines with a lush, full-bodied character. Lynsolence’s wines reflect the perfect balance between the traditional methods passed down through generations and the modern techniques employed by the new generation of winemakers. With Denis Barraud at the helm, the estate blends respect for tradition with a relentless pursuit of excellence, creating wines that are both refined and full of character. Each vintage of Lynsolence is a true expression of Saint-Émilion. The 2020 vintage is particularly remarkable for its harmony, combining ripe fruit flavors with a smooth, velvety texture that Merlot is renowned for.

Château Canon La Gaffelière, is an esteemed estate in Saint-Émilion appellation recognized as a Grand Cru Classé. The estate is owned by the Von Neipperg family, guardians of a winemaking tradition that dates back more than 800 years. Stephan Von Neipperg, a talented winemaker is at the helm of several Bordeaux estates acquired by his father in 1971 including La Mondotte (1er Grand Cru Classé B), Clos de l'Oratoire (Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé), Clos Marsalette (Pessac-Léognan) and Château d'Aiguilhe (Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux). This expertise and this long-standing commitment to excellence are evident in every bottle produced. The wines of Château Canon La Gaffelière are certified organic with each vintage embodying a classy, remarkably well-structured, complex, pure and always elegant. The 2018 vintage, a harmonious blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, is a powerful yet graceful wine with vibrant fruit notes and velvety tannins that lead to a long and elegant finish.

Château Belgrave 2020 - "Inky colour, liqourice punch on opening beat with sleek redcurrant, cassis, damson and blueberry fruits, good weight with character and lift. This is excellent, thoroughly enjoyable, and a clear upgrade for me from En Primeur. 30% new oak for ageing. 59ha estate from Dourthe Vignobles.'' - Jane Anson Best Pauillac Wines Tasted 2020 En Primeur, (01/14/2023), Ratings: 93, Drink: 2025-2042

Château Clos de Sarpe 2019 - "I love this estate, and their 2019 Château Clos De Sarpe offers the newer, balanced, elegant style of recent vintages while still bringing beautiful fruit and opulence. Cassis, blueberries, graphite, tobacco damp earth, and violet notes are just some of its nuances, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, awesome purity of fruit, good acidity, and a great finish. It's going to take a decade of bottle age to hit maturity and will evolve for 30 to 40 years. This classic, beautiful, old-school yet pure and balanced Saint-Emilion deserves a place in your cellar." - Jeb Dunnuck, (11/04/2022), Ratings: 96+, Drink: 2032-2062

Lynsolence 2020 - "The 2020 Lynsolence is 100% Merlot, aging for 18 months in French oak barriques, 100% new. Deep purple-black in color, it charges out of the glass with energetic scents of fresh blackberries, crushed black cherries and ripe, juicy black plums, plus nuances of cedar chest, lilacs and licorice with a touch of dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut black fruits, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and fantastic tension, finishing long and layered. The alcohol is 14.5% this year." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, (05/20/2020), Ratings: 93-95, Drink: 2025-2047

Château Canon La Gaffelière 2018 - "The 2018 Canon La Gaffelière is bright, punchy and full of character, just as it was from barrel. Sage, blood orange, mocha and spice add pretty aromatic top notes to a core of inky red/purplish berry fruit. All the elements are so well balanced in this super-expressive Saint-Émilion. Bright floral and savory Franc notes punctuate the salivating finish, mineral-drenched finish. The 2018 needs a lot of air to open, but when it does, it is dynamite." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (03/31/2021), Ratings: 97