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1983 – 2023 : 40 YEARS OF A VISION FOCUSED ON EXCELLENCE

Shaped by four centuries of Médoc history, and steered by the vision of uncompromising quality of its Japanese owners since 1983, Château Lagrange has successfully reconciled tradition and innovation to enable its terroir, unchanged since 1855, to express itself with the utmost precision, and elevated each plot and each vintage to the highest level. In April 2023 the estate celebrated with loyal clients and journalists, 40 years of its acquisition by Suntory. A gastronomic dinner realised by the chef Kei Kobayashi*** and an opportunity to recall the group’s long-term vision and the priority given to wine quality at all times.

In 1983 Keizo Saji, son of the founder of Suntory, bought the property from the Cendoya family, who had owned it since 1925. He and his Vice President, Shinichiro Torii, spared no effort to restore this Grand Cru Classé to its former glory. Their uncompromising vision was clear, and their sights were set on excellence.

Marcel Ducasse, a graduate of the Bordeaux Institute of Oenology, was recruited to work alongside Kenji Suzuta and then Keiichi Shiina. Over the first ten years this team undertook the ambitious project of renovating the estate – restructuring the vineyard to create more precise plots, and adopting a strategy of sustainable development from the mid-nineties onwards. The buildings were entirely renovated, both the cellars and the Château, which underwent a magnificent refurbishment that skilfully mixed French style and Asian artwork.

Over the last decade, Matthieu Bordes and his team have continued the pursuit of excellence begun 40 years ago, through the search for ever greater precision, plot by plot vinification, harvesting into small crates, and optical sorting of the grapes. 40 years is also the average age of the vines which are today arriving

at the pinnacle of quality. The wines are of renowned quality, and the estate continues to enhance its stature and open up to new markets. The dedication to improvement is permanent, and the acceleration of the CSR policy makes Château Lagrange a model of virtuous development.