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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.1 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 166 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by JLCFan on 4/26/2024 & rated 94 points: Absolutely cracking bottle, obviously tertiary but still alive with plenty of sweet red fruit, cigar wrapper and mushroom. Still has structure, too. Nothing is mind boggling but this is delicious. Top neck fill (impressive!) (29 views) | | | Tasted by adanacsim on 1/7/2024 & rated 93 points: Still has enough fruit to be very enjoyable. This wine has aged remarkably well. (816 views) | | | Tasted by JulianSkeels on 10/7/2023 & rated 92 points: Perfect bottle. Lovely nose of cigar tobacco, cedar and graphite. Great colour and good acidity for freshness. But all a bit four-square in the mouth with some green, rustic tannins and receding fruit. How I could imagine a 1994 tasting in 20yrs. Drink up, serve with steak. 92-pts (1145 views) | | | Tasted by steinersing on 7/5/2023 & rated 92 points: Still pretty decent - particularly the nose is very inviting. But drying out a little at the back. (1558 views) | | | Tasted by BradE on 7/4/2023: A lovely bottle. These won't improve, so suggest drinking if you have them. (1646 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 3/5/2023: The 1970 Lynch Bages isn't a wine I've tasted previously and this example, though from uncertain provenance, had a very good fill and a fine color. However, most of the fruit has receded, leaving the wine the essence of an unsmoked cigar. It was very popular with some, but I didn't love it. (3137 views) | | | Tasted by Prof Jape on 12/21/2022 & rated 91 points: Amazing that the fruit has lasted 52 years. Cigar box nose, cherries predominate amongst the somewhat dried out fruit. This was much better than the last L-B 1970 I tried. (2133 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 11/18/2022 & rated 92 points: Medium-bodied, classic, rustic, and chewy, the wine is packed with cedar, tobacco leaf, cigar box, green, leafy herbs, and earthy red currants on the nose and on the palate. No decanting is needed, this is a textbook example of classic Pauillac at full maturity. Thought it does require drinking in the near term before the remaining fruit fades. Drink from 2022-2028. (3324 views) | | | Tasted by carl.cornaglia@gmai.com on 11/9/2022 & rated 94 points: Magnificent, but drink up! (1787 views) | | | Tasted by wineforth on 10/14/2022 & rated 94 points: An upper/ mid shoulder level bottle. Cork broke and the bottom third is still there. Double decanted after washing out the bottle. Common problem for a wine of this age. Big nose of undergrowth initially, then tobacco, mushroom, sea breeze, cigar box and blackcurrant. Wonderfully balanced palate with plenty of fruit and fine tannins and an excellent long finish with a touch of bitterness. Drink up unless you have a high level bottle. Worth every one of the 94 points. (2113 views) | | | Tasted by Burgnick on 6/11/2022 & rated 88 points: Fruit is fading. Over the peak. (2189 views) | | | Tasted by GSW on 4/8/2022: Again, got to try this with BradE — THANKS!!! I agree with his tasting note…fading but still a treat to drink. Time to drink up if you are lucky enough to have some in your cellar. (2039 views) | | | Tasted by BradE on 4/8/2022: The fruit is fading, but a bottle in perfect shape that was very nice. These are clearly on the downslope. Even perfect provenance bottles should be put into rotation. (2140 views) | | | Tasted by Dfabr on 1/2/2022 & rated 92 points: Venison and duck with my brother - 25 Olsen. Fantastic! (2357 views) | | | Tasted by ccn on 7/20/2021 & rated 95 points: One of the best bordeaux I’ve ever had. Benefitted from 3 hour decant and kept improving. (2961 views) | | | Tasted by JR1575 on 4/21/2021 & rated 92 points: delicious and holding its fruit and structure quite well... tasted against comparably aged Bordeaux and as usual old Lynch BAges triumphed against its peers (2886 views) | | | Tasted by olaf.foertsch@gmx.de on 4/9/2021 & rated 95 points: The oldest Lynch-Bages I´ve ever had. Opened one day before drinking. Blackcurrant, cedar. leather, tobacco and a liitle bit dark chocolate, long finish. (2767 views) | | | Tasted by cos65 on 3/6/2021 & rated 93 points: Low neck fill, little sediment, perfect cork
Crystal clear deep garnet ruby
Aromas of iron and iodine.
Silky feel, and absolutely fabulous drinking (2973 views) | | | Tasted by CamWheeler on 2/17/2021 & rated 91 points: SLDS February 2021: Cocoa, red berries, spice, leather and some gamey notes. Holding up really well on the palate - classic, composed and long. Fully integrated and just delightful to taste. (2241 views) | | | Tasted by Tonyboons33 on 12/26/2020 & rated 92 points: Drank this with Christmas dinner and paired with beef bourguignon. Outstanding pairing since the age has reduced the tannins to silk. Bottle was pristine, highly enjoyable and a nice treat for Christmas! Drink up now! (2584 views) | | | Tasted by Rollerball on 10/26/2020 & rated 93 points: Another beautiful bottle. (3 of 9 have been at this level). Sweet, musty, smokey cigar-box bouquet. Mushroom, menthol, and mineral. More dense fruit remaining here than in any prior bottle—cherry and bright raspberry, herbs crushed in cassis. Long finish of sweet fruit and some marine notes. Classic. Drink now. (2875 views) | | | Tasted by Rollerball on 10/9/2020 & rated 94 points: Two bottles in two days. This, the second, was beautifully translucent with just the expected sediment in the last ounce or two that didn't go into the decanter. Very exciting and sophisticated fruit, completely resolved. Excellent with pork tenderloin, and potatos. (2585 views) | | | Tasted by Rollerball on 10/8/2020 & rated 87 points: Two bottles in two days. This, the first, threw five good ounces of cappuccino-like liquid at the bottom, after standing upright for 72 hours. Good flavors, and a good experience, but again, not an ideal specimen. (2504 views) | | | Tasted by RWG on 8/25/2020 & rated 92 points: Really loved this, first bottle of a 6 bottle lot recently purchased. In prime drinking window. No signs of decline. (2546 views) | | | Tasted by Rollerball on 7/19/2020 & rated 94 points: Crumbly cork removed with standard waiter’s screw (victory!) then slow-oxed the top-shoulder fill for nine hours before decanting and immediately serving. Went from surprisingly fresh to beginning decay in 90 minutes. Gentle but energetic still; seamless and charming. A lovely 50th birth year wine; drink now. (2504 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, Passing the Baton: Lynch-Bages 1945-2018 (Jul 2023) (7/1/2023)
(Lynch-Bages Lynch-Bages Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Sep/Oct 2020, Issue #89, Recently-Tasted Bordeaux And Revisiting the 1855 Left Bank Classification
(Château Lynch-Bages (Pauillac)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Gary Walsh
The WINEFRONT (4/2/2007)
(Chateau Lynch-Bages) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Bonus Articles, California Cabernet Sauvignon: A Tale of Two Epochs (June 2003)
(Château Lynch Bages) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (4/1/2010)
(Château Lynch-Bages) Group's #8 (my #7) – 77 pts; 0, 1, 1, 1 - from 375 ml - slightly bricking medium dark red violet color; musty, mushroom, cigar box, chocolate nose; tight, tart red fruit, tobacco palate with unyielding tannins; short-medium finish (I guessed '70 Bordeaux) 82 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and View From the Cellar and The WINEFRONT and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| 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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