Organic French Wine Wins Gold Medal with 92 Points at Los Angeles International Wine Competition
Our Organic French Wine from Vignobles Raymond, Château de Lagarde Grand Millésime, recently took home a Gold Medal and 92 points at the 2018 Los Angeles International Wine Competition.
Château de Lagarde Grand Millésime is grown and produced by Vignobles Raymond in Saint Laurent du Bois, Entre-Deux-Mers by winemaker Lionel Raymond and cellar master Elodie Gilles. The vineyard see a mild climate (due to the Maritime influence of the Atlantic Ocean), with lots of sunshine, and regular rain. The hillside situation and the clay-limestone soil, gravels offer the best conditions for the growth of the vines and the grapes. The wine is vinified in stainless steel thermo-regulated vats, then aged 18 months in 50% new 225 liter French oak barrels. The resulting wine is luscious and well-balanced. The robe is intense and deep purple. The nose offers concentrated black fruits with nice toasted notes, which are then relayed by sweet spicy notes (cinnamon, licorice) and orange peel. Generous, the balance between the wood and fruits is well measured.
About the Winemaker
Vignobles Raymond produces the highest quality AOC Bordeaux organic wines. Located in the Entre-Deux-Mers region, not far from the city of Bordeaux, their wines have grown in the villages of Saint-Laurent-du-Bois, Saint-Martial, and Saint-Felix de Conclude since medieval times. The Raymond family has a long history of growing wine, dating back to 1850. The family property of the domaine du Château de Lagarde has been built up over the years by successive generations. Today, the winery honors its heritage by using a special mixture of ancestral tradition and the most efficient modern technology. What makes the main difference in the wine produced by organic agriculture, is the word “respect”: respect of the soil, on which the vine is planted, respect of the vine, respect of the organic methods, and all of this for the respect of the environment and the respect of the consumer. Vignoble Raymond’s wines reflect a certain “savoir-faire,” speaking deeply to their heritage with a distinct taste of place that only organic wines can impart.
About the Los Angeles International Wine Competition Celebrating its 79th Year!
Now in its 79th year, the Los Angeles International Wine Competition has showcased the finest domestic and international vintages through a wine-tasting event that is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious in the United States. An esteemed panel of judges use a blind-tasting method, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism that has remained the competition’s foundation. Additionally, the competition is the platform for an extensive wine education program available to the nearly 1.3 million visitors at the annual LA County Fair. The Fair’s wine education center features consumer-driven classes, tastings and displays of the award-winning wines. With the Los Angeles International Wine Competition committed to educating the public about wine, the Fair’s wine education program features industry experts with extensive knowledge about wine growing and selection, wine tasting as well as wine and food pairings.