LAGARDE HENRY GRAN GUARDA NO 1 R

Lagarde Henry Gran Guarda No. 1 is an iconic and exceptionally refined red wine from Mendoza, Argentina, representing one of Bodega Lagarde’s most prestigious and historic wines. First created in 1990, Henry Gran Guarda No. 1 is produced only in exceptional vintages, when the character of the harvest inspires the winemaking team to create a unique and distinctive blend. Depending on the vintage, the composition can include Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and other Bordeaux varieties, with grapes sourced from selected vineyards across Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. The wine is crafted from low-yielding vineyards and undergoes long maceration followed by extended French oak and bottle ageing, creating a sophisticated balance of power, elegance, complexity, and longevity.

Deep ruby to dark garnet in color, it opens with an intricate and mature bouquet of ripe blackberries, plum, black cherries, red berries, and concentrated jammy fruit. Layers of tobacco, dark chocolate, coffee, cedar, toasted oak, vanilla, and baking spice develop gradually in the glass, accompanied by subtle smoky, herbal, and earthy nuances. The aromatic profile is complex and beautifully evolved, combining ripe fruit with sophisticated oak and savoury characteristics that reflect the wine’s extended maturation and exceptional vineyard selection.

On the palate, Lagarde Henry Gran Guarda No. 1 is rich, structured, and remarkably balanced, revealing generous layers of ripe plum, blackberry, black cherry, red fruit, and dark berry preserves. Its firm yet mature tannins provide impressive structure and depth, while balanced acidity brings freshness and prevents the wine from feeling overly heavy. Notes of dark chocolate, tobacco, coffee, toasted wood, vanilla, and warm spice add complexity, while the extended ageing in new French oak integrates beautifully with the concentrated fruit. The texture is powerful yet polished, with a long and harmonious progression from the initial fruit character to its complex savoury and oak-driven layers.

The finish is long, persistent, elegant, and deeply layered, leaving lingering impressions of ripe plum, blackberry, mature red fruit, chocolate, tobacco, coffee, toasted oak, spice, and subtle smoky nuances. Its combination of concentrated fruit, mature tannins, balanced acidity, refined oak, and extended ageing makes Lagarde Henry Gran Guarda No. 1 an outstanding choice for collectors and lovers of sophisticated Argentine red blends. Produced only in exceptional years, it has established itself as one of Lagarde’s signature wines and a classic expression of Mendoza’s capacity to produce powerful yet elegant age-worthy reds.

Food Pairing: Pairs beautifully with premium grilled steaks, Argentine asado, roasted beef, lamb, venison, braised short ribs, slow-cooked meats, roasted duck, hearty stews, truffle dishes, and richly seasoned preparations. Its firm tannins and concentrated fruit make it especially well suited to grilled and roasted red meats, while its chocolate, tobacco, spice, and oak complexity complement smoky and deeply flavoured dishes. It also pairs wonderfully with mature hard cheeses, aged Parmesan, Manchego, mature Cheddar, and sophisticated cheese boards.

Serving Suggestion: Best served at approximately 16–18°C. Allow the wine to breathe for at least 30–60 minutes before serving, with decanting particularly recommended for younger vintages to encourage its layers of dark fruit, chocolate, tobacco, spice, and oak to unfold. For mature bottles, careful decanting can also help separate any natural sediment. Serve in a large Bordeaux-style red wine glass to fully appreciate its remarkable aromatic complexity, polished tannins, depth, and long, elegant finish.