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| | Vintage | 1978 |  Label 1 of 2261 
 | | Type | Red | | Producer | Château Lynch-Bages (web) | | Variety | Red Bordeaux Blend | | Designation | n/a | | Vineyard | n/a | | Country | France | | Region | Bordeaux | | SubRegion | Médoc | | Appellation | Pauillac | | UPC Code(s) | 000008738028, 014100076629, 041224152502, 072180692740, 078742374604, 204022504342, 206331002649, 206486002594, 3554770032428, 3700218200021, 3760020132361, 649185961043, 649185961968 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.2 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 56 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Moacir Faria on 7/16/2023: Bebido com Atala Cardoso (952 views) | | | Tasted by LorenzoIlMagnifico on 4/13/2023 & rated 93 points: Wonderful wine. Absolutely incredible nose. Smoky, leathery. Deep complex in the mouth. Still a lot of tannin so coud probably age for several more years. (1142 views) | | | Tasted by malbrecht on 6/10/2022 & rated 90 points: Austere, little fruit left, but with a very strong back end featuring cedar, tobacco leaf, mint, coffee grounds, and earth. The earthy finish lingers for a good long while. I can see this as being a very divisive wine at this point, since the lack of fruit on the front end could be off-putting to some. Yet it still has those nice notes on the back end for those that prefer older wines. (2149 views) | | | Tasted by JimHow on 4/28/2022 & rated 87 points: Time to put this one out to pasture. (3088 views) | | | Tasted by tanduybui on 4/1/2022 & rated 88 points: This is obviously reaching the last leg of its journey but very drinkable and certainly not dead. Opened 30 minutes before consumption and drank out aged Bordeaux glasses over a 3 hour period.
Not surprisingly - full of tertiary characteristics - cedar, wood, tobacco and vanilla but some fruits were still very much there. The Cabernet Franc was very detectable (surprisingly) on the finish. Tannins were fine and all in all, this bottle was pretty balanced. It did fade after 2 hours so I would not linger around too long.
It was a privilege to experience it.
Drink now. (2531 views) | | | Tasted by lfbaum on 10/5/2021 & rated 87 points: Filled the shoulder. Marginal on opening - somewhat astringent, with few flavors. Let the bottle sit for two hours with little change. Poured into a decanter. Almost no sediment. After an additional four hours, the wine came to ... dried fruits, nuts, and leather. Smooth with no astringency. An interesting old wine. Be very patient on opening, but drink now. (2670 views) | | | Tasted by jkwoodward on 1/15/2021 & rated 92 points: Much better than the first bottle, with some tannins still left. Raspberry and perfect age. (3148 views) | | | Tasted by Grinner on 5/16/2020 & rated 87 points: Woodward Cellar Emptying; 5/15/2020-5/16/2020 (Woodyville): Top of shoulder fill, cork was a challenge. Exactly what I expected and realistically hoped for when having a wine from Denise's HS grad year on her 60th BD! Garnet bowl, clear rim, surprisingly little brick. Hints of red fruit sitting in mixed leaves, forest, tar, cigar box, and dried florals. I think our collective appreciation of this bottle improved over an hour, not sure the wine did. DRINK! (3505 views) | | | Tasted by jkwoodward on 5/16/2020 & rated 87 points: Well over the hill, but interesting historically, still with some classic notes, tannins gone (2819 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 2/10/2020 & rated 86 points: Clearly on the other side, as the wine is centered around its cedar, tobacco leaf, cigar box, wet forest, and smoke profile, leaving you with just a bit of bright red fruit and a strong herbal component to chew on. Medium-bodied, bright and crisp, this requires consumption. (5364 views) | | | Tasted by bboard on 12/21/2018: Was disappointed with a 1978 Cos d'Estournel back in Jun 2018, so had very little expectation here.
Cork in great shape, despite getting pushed in further the bottle from an ah-so. Able to rescue with traditional corkscrew, cork still broke though. Fill was fine, still in the neck.
Wine was best an hour in, after pour into decanter. Great fruit left, decent amount of integrated tannin, finish is med length, med body. If tasting blind, no way its a 40 yrs old wine, 20 at best... great experience drinking this bottle of wine. (3842 views) | | | Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 12/21/2018 & rated 90 points: Winter Solstice Tasting (Jan-Dirk Taams' residence, Groot-Ammers, Netherlands): Gentle, mature, perfect condition, sweet fruit, completely resolved tannins, very slightly separated acidity, very good length. Spent its whole life at 10ºC and it shows. (4107 views) | | | Tasted by Verb on 4/17/2018 & rated 88 points: brick red, orange rim - slightly corked nose with a distinct chemical component - but once you get past the nose, there is a beautifully round full mouth with sweet cabernet fruit - somewhat astringent finish but well resolved tannins - yes, this wine was undoubtedly better when younger, but one can still appreciate the intrinsic character of this fully mature Paullaic (at least in the mouth!) (4065 views) | | | Tasted by bacchus on 1/26/2018 & rated 90 points: celebrating ellen's 40th birthday and louis' return from california at gaynor palace. shared with pat, louis and ellen. selected this because it is ellen's birth year. paired with omaha steaks, my cole slaw recipe and ellen's mashed potato recipe. disintegrated label. high shoulder fill. fully saturated cork but no signs of seepage or ullage. cork extracted in two segments. color is crimson with slight browning at the edges. very little change since when last tasted in 2010. small amount of fine sediment in the last glass poured. the wine is still alive but fully mature. no tannins or alcohol evident on the palate. based on review of previous tasting notes, this wine has remained relatively stable, with minimal decline since 2006. the wine still offers a beguiling nose with notes of earth and truffles. it is soft on the palate with just a hint of dark fruit. the finish is short. the wine remained fresh after 40 minute of air (no decant). will have to drink another bottle at an important occasion coming up soon. will save the last one for next january. (4080 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 1/20/2018 & rated 86 points: This leads off with a very horse stable nose which diminishes with a few swirls to reveal a largely herbaceous profile. There are tiny glimpses of the sought-after Lynch fruit and lavender but there's little to love in this attenuated, hard wine. Similar palate. Quite a hot, peppery finish (both black pepper and capsicum). This was probably lovely, if not profound, 20-25 years ago. (4498 views) | | | Tasted by RockinCabs on 1/19/2018 & rated 85 points: UGCB Boston (Boston Harbor Hotel): Nose: Dominated by green notes of capsicum, vegetables and herbs. Some earthy notes, graphite and lavendar, but they are elusive and the green notes ruled the day. Palate: Decidedly Light/Med weighted with an entry of blackberry, faded leather and earth, then the green notes arrive. Finish: Somewhat vegetal with a few tell tale ghosts of Lynch Bages in the background.
Consumed with Englishman's Claret and IronRyan. We were all quite disappointed by this bottle, and it certainly would not make you guess Lynch in a blind tasting. (3650 views) | | | Tasted by englishmen’s claret on 1/19/2018 & rated 84 points: Horsey, green, herbaceous notes. Am I in the left bank? In Pauillac? Am I even drinking Lynch Bages?! Might as well stirred this wine with a bell pepper- as it had one note. It had so little of the red fruit, tobacco, cedar ect you come expect from one of my favorite wine producers. (2949 views) | | | Tasted by dprentiss on 12/25/2017 & rated 80 points: Started out very tight, closed. After about an hour it opened up to be not quite full-bodied, but pretty good, some fruit, not much tannins. By end of bottle, about hour 2, was kind of acidy and closed up again. Clearly past its good days (1987 views) | | | Tasted by Quiet Lion on 6/14/2017 & rated 95 points: Decanted and served with charcuterie. After a few minutes of air, delicate beauty started to emerge and at the 45-minute mark, which unfortunately was the end of it, the lady started to strut about in her full glory with medium body and focused Pauillac leather and cassis. I've had good luck with these old Lynch-Bages bought at auction. (3493 views) | | | Tasted by Baron Slick on 1/1/2017 & rated 90 points: With a sensual and ever evolving bouquet that develops aromatic intensity in the glass, this flaunts mature notes of black and red fruit, wet earth, cedar, pencil shavings, and a hint of smoke. Bright, complex, and long, the palate is driven by earthy elements, dried fruit flavors, and lovely bottle age. Showed Pauillac's power, gaining weight, layers, and concentration with air. A lovely showing. (4003 views) | | | Tasted by Nekodab on 9/16/2016 & rated 77 points: I love lynch bages But this is way too far gone, I wouldn't drink this with your mouth. (4447 views) | | | Tasted by Nekodab on 8/29/2016 & rated 90 points: Past its prime!! (4512 views) | | | Tasted by NostraBacchus on 6/11/2016 & rated 88 points: PnP. First slight notes of wet cardboard and also a touch of oxidation, but it blew off with some time in the glass. Constantly changing in the glass... getting broader after a while and then slightly collapsing towards the end of the night. Mostly red berries, but also some darker fruit, a touch of vegetal notes too, as well as a touch of leather and spices. First medium+ bodied but gaining weight later to medium-full body. Still medium acidity and pretty low tannin. Medium length. An interesting wine and fascinating to taste but would have probably been better 10 years ago. (5379 views) | | | Tasted by EMAZurich on 6/11/2016 & rated 90 points: Schöne, zwar Fortgeschrittene aber intakte Farbe und Nase. Madeiratöne, Rosinen, heisses Finale.
Am Gaumen halt jahrgangsbedingt dünn, aber schöne Präsenz, rosinig auch am Gaumen, elegant und toll balanciert (für das Alter eine beeindruckende Frucht die der Säure und den immernoch präsenten Tanninen entgegensteht)
Ein beeindruckendes Erlebnis!
89 Nase, 90 Gaumen
Nach ca einer Stunde legt der Wein an Gewicht zu, wird breitschultriger und aussagekräftiger am Gaumen. (3618 views) | | | Tasted by johnh1001 on 5/24/2015 & rated 83 points: Ripe dark fruit, but thin, sweet and pruiny and a awful, rubber and plastic note. (4945 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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