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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.7 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 105 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Old Claret on 11/25/2023 & rated 96 points: Au pointe and delicious (1046 views) | | | Tasted by BellevuePhil on 11/15/2023 & rated 93 points: In the twilight of an era before woke culture pervaded our existence, there existed a realm where the nuances of life were cherished without restraint, where passion, romance, and adventure intertwined seamlessly amidst the backdrop of upper gentile society. Such a time was epitomized by the 1975 Château Lynch-Bages, a wine that encapsulated not just the richness of its Bordeaux terroir, but the essence of a bygone epoch where indulgence knew no bounds.
This venerable vintage, uncorked with an air of reverence, unraveled for me this evening a tale that transcended mere tasting notes. As the crimson elixir cascaded into the glass, it was as if time itself surrendered to the allure of the wine, transporting me to a distant memory woven into the fabric of my being.
In the halcyon days of my youth, along the serene banks of the Gave d'Oloron, my grandfather and I indulged in the twin pleasures of angling and revelry. It was in those golden moments that I imbibed not just the art of fishing but also the subtle complexities of life, often buoyed by the libations of the 1975 Château Lynch-Bages. My grandfather, a figure of unwavering refinement and a dash of flamboyance, would regale me with tales of adventure, passion, and an unapologetic love for the finer things in life. “Philadelphia Freedom” pounding on his ol French AM radio, and his love for this vintage. His penchant for showmanship mirrored the wine's robust character—bold, unyielding, and commanding attention.
One particular evening, as the sun dipped behind the jagged peaks of the Spanish mountains, casting a tapestry of russet hues across the horizon, my grandfather succumbed to the drowsy embrace of slumber, leaving his glass of Château Lynch-Bages only partially savored. In a moment of youthful rebellion and unabashed curiosity, I seized the opportunity to taste the remnants of this enigmatic elixir. At 9 I could feel Its velvety texture danced upon my palate, each sip an ode to sophistication and indulgence. I imbibed not just the wine but also the spirit of audacity, a virtue my grandfather often championed.
As the twilight deepened and memories intertwined with the tannins of the wine, I recall an incident that became a clandestine ritual. On nights like those, after imbibing more than his fair share, I'd stealthily finish the remnants of Château Lynch-Bages, leaving the bottle askew to create the illusion of an accidental spill—a mischievous act to safeguard the magic of our clandestine indulgence.
The Château Lynch-Bages of 1975, with its robust tannins and symphony of flavors, spoke of an era where boldness was revered, where the pursuit of passion was unapologetically celebrated. Its bouquet conjured images of wild adventures, untamed landscapes, and the untold stories that echoed across generations—a perfect reflection of my grandfather's zest for life and my own fervor for the uncharted.
However, amidst the heady swirls of nostalgia and hedonistic recollection, there lingered a poignant reminder of a time when societal norms were less constricting. The fading glow of the sun, painting the skies in hues of burnt orange and crimson, evoked memories of a more uncomplicated era, where political correctness hadn’t infiltrated every aspect of our lives. It was a time when the term "woke" held no relevance, and authenticity reigned supreme—a time when the pursuit of passion and the celebration of individuality were not overshadowed by the constraints of modern-day sensitivities.
In the embrace of the 1975 Château Lynch-Bages, I found not just a wine to savor but a vessel carrying the essence of a spirited past. Its allure lay not only in its impeccable structure and flavor profile but also in its ability to evoke emotions and transport one to a realm where romance, adventure, and unapologetic indulgence were revered virtues.
As the last drops of this revered vintage lingered on my lips, I raised a silent toast to a time when the echoes of clinking glasses resonated with tales of unbridled passion and daring adventures—an era immortalized by the timeless charm of Château Lynch-Bages, where every sip told a story and every memory was steeped in the richness of an uncompromising past.
NOTE TO SELF: DECANT 1 HOUR AT LEAST, OPENED LIKE MY INDIAN ON AN OPEN ROAD AFTER ONE HOUR (1264 views) | | | Tasted by dcwino on 11/2/2023 & rated 90 points: Grand Jury du Vin - Republic of Georgia; 11/1/2023-11/9/2023 (Republic of Georgia then stopover in Paris and Dijon): Another perfectly stored example. Perfectly mature nose displaying red and black fruit, strawberry, a hint of cassis, mushroom, dirty damp cellar, sous bois, sweet spices and earth. There is a hint of Brett, Very good concentration, generous red and black fruit, soft and warm, medium acidity, earthy mineral, fully resolved tannins and a medium long generous red and black fruit driven finish. IMO, the 70s were really challenging decade for Bordeaux and a lot of wines show Brett/dirty damp cellar that kills the fruit expression. This could have been at least a few points higher. (1869 views) | | | Tasted by AndrewWill on 6/16/2023 & rated 94 points: Pours a gorgeous color. After half an hour in the decanter, the wine offers classic claret aromas of old basement, must, leather bag, mint, Fuji apple, and a hint of brown sugar. The palate is spectacular for a ‘75 (and I promise I don’t say this about every old wine—a lot of these bottles are from the same well-kept cellar). Some surprising fruitiness still. A great mouthfeel with reserved acidity. (1717 views) | | | Tasted by mxpbuy on 4/7/2023 & rated 90 points: Love trying these older wines. An austere year for the most part that is certainly a part of this wine's backbone and which is what often allows it to age so well, but I suspect that this bottle was better 10 years ago as it seemed like the fruit had faded. (1897 views) | | | Tasted by vagrantone on 3/26/2023 & rated 90 points: High mid-shoulder fill.
Cork came out mostly in one piece.
Decanted, though I will not decant remaining bottles.
Hue is quite good for a 48 year old bottle.
Still quite a bit of fruit, but earthy element is quite strong.
Held up for an hour or so before the tough tannin element came through.
Don't decant. Drink over next 5 years. (1429 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 10/10/2022 & rated 89 points: Very mature; brickish brown; hints of must; soft tannin; round supple coarse blackberry. (2250 views) | | | Tasted by ky3544 on 5/8/2022 & rated 92 points: There is still considerable fruitfulness left.
You have to wait at least 5 to 10 years for the time to drink deliciously. (2775 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 10/3/2021 & rated 90 points: Mature and light; brickish brown; earth some tar and cedar; light blackberry with crusty light finish. (3425 views) | | | Tasted by rbieber168@gmail.com on 5/18/2021 & rated 90 points: Amber color with some bricking. I decanted for 3 hours. Thought it was near its end of life. Some nuance to it but overall not much fruit or vibrancy to it left. A nice wine but if you have it I would drink it now. (3607 views) | | | Tasted by GrapeScott on 7/11/2020 & rated 90 points: The oldest Lynch Bages I've ever had. Poured a lovely ruby color with the faintest bricking. A bit dry and tannic, but has lovely cassis, tobacco and cedar. A very nice aged claret, holding up well at 45 years. (4758 views) | | | Tasted by hargy on 4/14/2020 & rated 91 points: lovely wine - still alive and well if a bit short - very enjoyable (4431 views) | | | Tasted by salil on 12/28/2018 flawed bottle: Birthday drinks (Indianapolis, IN): Didn't seem like an optimal bottle, with a stewed tomato like character to the fruit and other black tea-like notes suggesting some heat damage. (6426 views) | | | Tasted by Barbalax on 10/30/2018 & rated 93 points: A wonderful wine! Mature high class Bordeaux. The famous tannins still give you a bite in the end but I do not bother too much about that, especially with food. (5086 views) | | | Tasted by Sean Tay on 6/11/2018: The wine looks garnet colored. It smells like blueberry, blackberry, forest floor, toast and cedar. (376 views) | | | Tasted by doctornoah on 5/13/2018 & rated 94 points: Drank beautifully - automatically lifted with still present fruit and layers of tobacco and dried spices. None of the ‘75 harshness in effect. Held up well to the 1970 LB drunk alongside (5514 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 4/14/2018 flawed bottle: Madeira. So, so sad. (4982 views) | | | Tasted by RayOB on 11/20/2017 & rated 87 points: Drank at 67
Quite subdued nose and palate. Slight metallic aftertaste. (4825 views) | | | Tasted by Wine Canuck on 11/11/2017 flawed bottle: Tasted Blind. Oxidized. All brown sugar, soy sauce, autumn leaves. Over the hill. (3759 views) | | | Tasted by AlexGol on 11/3/2017 & rated 93 points: Time to pop the cork. Perfect balance, tiny acidity at the end. Flawless aroma (3488 views) | | | Tasted by europat55 on 9/22/2017 flawed bottle: Nose: Corked Palate: B+
Part of 6 decades of Lynch Bages vertical tasting
My #10, Group's #10 (145 pts). Tastes blind (3489 views) | | | Tasted by drbob5 on 9/15/2017 & rated 92 points: Dark amber, brown on edges
Slight volatile acidity on nose, blows off, dark fruit
Taste: dark cherries, stewed prunes, cedar, almost over the edge, fades quickly in the glass, but this was only the first taste.
2nd taste, after airing for 30 min, incredible improvement, cassis flavors come out, some pepper, solid tannins support the still present dark fruit (3390 views) | | | Tasted by ATBridge on 3/24/2017 flawed bottle: Corked (4895 views) | | | Tasted by rossi.wine on 3/1/2017 flawed bottle: The oldest vintage in this vertical. Lots of discolouration, maderised on nose and palate. (4979 views) | | | Tasted by Jeremy Holmes on 3/1/2017: Fabulous perfume of sweet cedar, mint, brown spice, leather and tobacco. Rich and velvety palate but with good detail. Still ample cassis fruit and underlying structure that is unobtrusive and supportive. It feels quite complete and is a joy to drink. (4698 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Château Lynch-Bages Producer website - Read more about Chateau Lynch Bages
Vineyard map
BACKGROUND: The wine of Château Lynch-Bages is part of the lineage of the great Pauillac wines. Blended mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon, it combines structure and finesse, elegance and longevity. It is further distinguished by its opulence. Generous right from its youth, it develops more flavours and greater complexity as it matures.
The affirmation of the Lynch-Bages style came with the arrival of Jean-Charles Cazes to head the estate in 1934. An innovative winemaker, emblematic of a new generation of owners willing to break with tradition and taking risks to ensure truly ripe harvests, he was known for often being the last to harvest in Pauillac. From 1945 onwards, the fame of the château emerged thanks to a series of great vintages. Some, despite being considered difficult to grow in Bordeaux, are particularly successful at Lynch-Bages. His wines are characterized by their deep colour, their tannic structure, their controlled concentration and elegant sensuality. The vintages vinified by André Cazes, and after him Jean-Michel Cazes, confirm this trend.
The style of the wines has refined over the years, gaining suppleness and softness, whilst their consistency has been established over time. Then as now, Château Lynch-Bages has been characterised by its extraordinary qualitative homogeneity. Powerful, elegant and open, vintage after vintage, the wine has acquired greater accuracy, adding distinction to the hedonistic character that made its reputation.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.Pauillac Read more detailed information about Pauillac Looking full onto the river from the earliest days, with an important port activity, traces of which go back to ancient times (shipment of bronze as long ago as 2000 B.C.), Pauillac's life has always been intimately linked to the history of wine. Although port activities were at the root of its prosperity, Pauillac had to wait until the eighteenth century when Bordeaux ceased to hold its privileged position to become a wine port. The town then became the natural outlet for the wine production of neighbouring cantons before reaching its zenith in a period when the vineyards were exceptionally prosperous.
The characteristic of the Pauillac terroir is its exceptional relief: the many undulating ridges make it unique morphologically speaking. Highly favourable conditions facilitate the dissection of the layer of gravel. This thin, Garonne gravel from whose very poverty springs great richness, has an extremely effective natural drainage.
With their velvet red colour with a hint of amber, the wines from the Pauillac appellation, full-bodied and rich in tannin, are vigorous. Powerful when young, their aromas of red fruits (black-currant, raspberry) or flowers (violets, roses, irises) melt with the passing of time into a bouquet which is long in the mouth.
Rich and complex, the wines of Pauillac deserve to be laid down for a little longer.
Production conditions (Decree dated November 14, 1936)
In order to have the right to the Pauillac appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Pauillac and from precisely defined parcels in the communes of Cissac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe and Saint-Sauveur, "excluding the parcels situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils",
- satisfy precise production conditions : grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare). |
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