Château Lagrange (St-Julien)

Although historically it dates back to the 18th century, Château Lagrange was a relatively overlooked Third Growth until substantial investment from Japanese drinks giant, Suntory, in 1983. Since then, the estate has gone from strength to strength, with the winemaking prowess of Matthieu Bordes overseeing the estate. Lagrange is the largest estate in the appellation and its 118 hectares spread out from the Romanesque château in a single swathe of vines. Although not certified, vines are farmed using biodynamic practices including using sheep to graze between vines and the installation of beehives and bird boxes. Cabernet Sauvignon is king here, with small amounts of Merlot and Petit Verdot also planted.