Château La Lagune

The estate

La Lagune stands at Ludon-Médoc, the southernmost of the classified growths of the Médoc. Its origins go back to 1587, and the chartreuse was built in the 18th century for the Lavaud family. The 20th century nearly finished it: war and frost had left about 5 hectares of vines when Georges Brunet took it on in 1958, and he replanted the whole vineyard. Champagne Ayala held the estate from 1961, the Ducellier family after that, and Jean-Jacques Frey bought it in 2000. His daughter Caroline Frey directed it and made the wine from 2004 until July 2025, when she stepped back from the family’s French estates; her sister Delphine Frey took over the direction.

The vineyard runs to 110 hectares on gravel, the vines more than 40 years old on average, planted 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. All of it was converted to organic farming and certified in 2016, and Biodyvin certified it biodynamic in 2021. A 34 hectare marsh beside the vines is kept as a refuge, and the estate runs its own massal selection. The grapes come in by gravity to a semicircle of stainless steel vats filled parcel by parcel, and the wine spends 12 to 14 months in oak, with half the barrels renewed each year, from 6 cooperages assigned by variety. Moulin du Château La Lagune is the second wine.

I tasted the 2023 at the château a few days before its en primeur price came out, in May 2024. It was velvety and vibrant, with red cherry, strawberry, raspberry and blackberry, a note of green pepper and spice, and a long finish.

At a glance

Appellation

Haut-Médoc

Commune

Ludon-Médoc

Classification

Troisième Cru Classé 1855

Owners

The Frey family, since 2000

Direction

Delphine Frey, since July 2025; Caroline Frey, from 2004 to 2025

Vineyard

110 hectares; vines more than 40 years old on average

Ground

Gravel

Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 30%, Petit Verdot 10%

Farming

Organic, certified in 2016; biodynamic, certified by Biodyvin in 2021

Cellar

Gravity fed into stainless steel, parcel by parcel; 12 to 14 months in oak, half the barrels new

Wines

Château La Lagune; Moulin du Château La Lagune

Beside the vines

A marsh of 34 hectares kept as a refuge

Sources: Château La Lagune, the estate · Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, Château La Lagune · Biodyvin, Château La Lagune · Decanter, Caroline Frey steps back from her French estates · Guto Assumpção on Instagram, Château La Lagune 2023, May 3, 2024