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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.9 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 38 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Collector1855 on 1/11/2024 & rated 87 points: From MAG. In the hierarchy of Bordeaux vintages in the last 40 years, 2013 sits sturdily on the bottom together with the other uglyest duckling, 1984. I am of course not buying the marketing lingo "oh, today there are no more bad vintages because we do viticulture better". You have to put every vintage in the context of the current times and 2013 is several steps down from its post millenium neighbors. Most bad vintages typically have one issue, eg too tannic 1994, cooked fruit 2003, too thin 2007 and then there is 2013, the "less of everything vintage". Less fruit, lesser structure, less aromas. I know the necessity to make money but wealthy Grand Cru Chateaux should have declassified their 2013. They still can make a decent profit with their second wine. My tasting note: Avoid! (1125 views) | | | Tasted by JChan on 12/31/2023 & rated 89 points: Bought from en primeurs, better than expected. Medium bodied with blackcurrant, good nose, balanced and stable. Not bad. (554 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 10/31/2023: Coravin fun - Lynch Bages (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Cool wet red over black fruits show currants and brambles, earthy and savoury notes here as well. Juicy, savoury, earthy, brambly fruit and a little red berry underpin, tannins are woody but don't impart oaky flavours, a little Indian spice joining on the finish. Pleasant…charming in fact, considering the vintage. (868 views) | | | Tasted by Zazzaman on 4/7/2023 & rated 88 points: Good solid Pauillac if a little un-exciting. Slightly austere with balance, tannins medium. Might improve with more cellaring. (1337 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 3/5/2023: upps with Daniel and E&M (McLeay Street Bistro, Potts Point): Popped and poured. Quite polished oak initially with red hued berry fruit backed by blackcurrant tending to Cassis on the nose. Beautifully balanced on the palate, the weight of fruit is matched by the supporting tannins, fresh, elegant. Pleasing, especially considering the vintage. (1703 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 12/23/2021: Coravin fun - Angelus & Lynch Bages (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Ooh, pretty jubey fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, touches of Cassis over sweet spice, cream. The fruit smells (oddly) quite semi carbonic maceration...In the mouth it's juicy (medium plus intensity acidity) and fleshy with a similar bubble gum fruit profile married to fruit tea tannins. Quite savoury on the medium plus length finish. Showing rather well on this tasting. I don't remember it being this pleasant. (3113 views) | | | Tasted by djscipio on 8/13/2021 & rated 91 points: Bordeaux GCC is a GCC even in a difficult year.
Fruit, acidity, and tanin; well-balanced Pauillac.
2013 vintage lacks power and body; even shows some sign of aging already.
Willing to purchase again at early $100. (2923 views) | | | Tasted by Albert Wong on 4/5/2021 & rated 88 points: Decanted this wine for 2 hours before drinking. Had it over 2 hours.
NOSE
Intensity: medium+
Everything felt very closed.
Hint of cigar, tar, green pepper, black current, dark fruits. Tar smell was dominant.
PALATE
Body: medium+ to full
Acidity: medium+
Intensity: pronounced
Very closed.
Dark fruits, tar, can taste the alcohol, tropical fruit for a split second
TEXTURE
Tannins: high
Loads of tannins. Fortunately, it was smooth.
BALANCE
Acidity is mouth watering. Felt nice.
Loads of tannins, but was smooth.
Can taste some alcohol on the palate.
COMPLEXITY
Couldn't get much of the wine and not much change throughout the night. Probably it is in its sleeping state.
There was a bit of a drop-off by hour 4.
FINISH
Length: medium
I expected a bit longer finish
Tobacco mostly. A bit of mango aftertaste.
CONCLUSION
Readiness: The wine didn't open up after decanting for 2 hours and drinking it over 2 more hours. Seems like it is in it's sleeping phase, but is showing some promise. So keep it in your cellar for a few more years before opening it up.
But for this price, there are lots of choices out there. And definitely can find better vintages of wine on the same level as Lynch Bages at this price. (3049 views) | | | Tasted by Mr Dregs on 2/28/2021: Looks so dark and inviting in the glass, but oh so light on the tongue. Earthy nose, with a blackberry hint and maybe a touch of rosemary far distant. This wine is light and gone mostly mineral in taste, dominated by graphite and leather, then a bit of blackberry emerges. No green in the taste, just not much fruit. We’re frequent LB buyers and are drinking this one well out of order and now I know the reason. We’ve got another 11 bottles and have this vintage on our “drink it now” list. If anything much changes in the next few months, I’ll let you’all know. (2883 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 11/10/2019: From Coravin. Red currant and berries, almost a little cranberry, toast, sweet spice, a touch of jubey sour blackcurrant lozenge that grows with time and makes the nose surprisingly pretty. In the mouth it's got sour red fruits, chalky, drying tannins with touches of cedar and pyrazine. Falls into the 'oh dear' category from the 2013 vintage for me based on my extremely limited experience. (4792 views) | | | Tasted by RajivAyyangar on 1/30/2018 & rated 84 points: IMW Bordeaux Tasting - 2013 Vintage (Hyatt, San Francisco): Thin, slightly pyrazinic, with underripe fruit. But identifiably Bordeaux Left Bank. On the palate, more tart than tannic. (6666 views) | | | Tasted by gfwetzel on 12/18/2016 & rated 90 points: The wine has medium acidity. It smells like cherry and mineral. The wine finishes medium. It tastes like cool/menthol, lead pencil, lychee and black currant (cassis). The wine looks garnet colored. There is no sediment in the bottle. The wine has round texture. (7598 views) | | | Tasted by PanosKakaviatos on 5/25/2016 & rated 88 points: Tasting Bordeaux 13-12-11-10 in Hong Kong (Visiting Vinexpo 2016, I finally tasted Bordeaux 2013s from bottle, plus earlier vintages): One of the more structured 2013s but the tannins are bit hard here. It has a Pauillac punch, rather surprising for the vintage, but the overall impression of austerity perturbs. Give it time in the cellar and cross your fingers. (9369 views) | | | Tasted by yofog on 4/2/2016: Very tannic for the vintage, and may be a bit forced. The fruit, true to vintage, is quite simple. There's some power behind it, and it does taste like Lynch-Bages and may make a decent wine in a few years, but it's not one of the success stories of '13 imo. (7758 views) | | | Tasted by isaacjamesbaker on 3/11/2016 & rated 91 points: Heart's Delight Tasting (Sofitel - Washington, DC): Deep and exotic on the nose with black and red currants and cherries, rich earth and sweet spice. Firm but accessible tannins, lots of brightness with tart red and black currants. Notes of violets, graphite, sweet spice, lovely depth and complexity. Long and smooth, with a freshness that keeps the wine vibrant despite its cellar-worthy potential. (6987 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 2/10/2016 & rated 88 points: With a nose of fresh cassis, thyme, cedar wood and earthy scents, this medium bodied wine is forward, with a tangy, bright, spicy, red plum and cassis note in the finish. (5258 views) | | | Tasted by partylikeakennedy on 1/31/2016 & rated 87 points: Wanted to like it. Expected to. And it wasn't bad, just....the nose was too medicinal and the palate was too plasticky. (2878 views) | | | Tasted by aagrawal on 1/30/2016 & rated 84 points: 2013 UGC Bordeaux Tasting (Bently Reserve, San Francisco CA): Red cherry, not much else; palate is medium bodied, light on the fruits; short finish. Not great compared to others. 84 (2685 views) | | | Tasted by RajivAyyangar on 1/30/2016 & rated 90 points: UGC Bordeaux Tasting - 2013 Vintage (Bentley Reserve, SF): Classic pauillac. All the elements are there - animal fur, hints of new oak, slight ripe pyrazines, blackcurrant/cassis, cedar. (2710 views) | | | Tasted by bestdamncab on 1/30/2016 & rated 87 points: Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux San Francisco. Lovely nose of pepper, cherry fruit, and cedar, unfortunately not more of he same on the palate, medium to medium/big body, simple fruit and complexity, disappointing for Chateau Lynch-Bages, almost tasty but at $85 Retail forget it, medium finish. (2264 views) | | | Tasted by acyso on 1/27/2016 & rated 90 points: UGC 2016 (Chicago, IL): A very nicely balanced Lynch Bages here, but only in the context of the vintage. This is definitely a weak wine by the high standards of this estate. Red fruited and light, with nothing sticking out at all. Sort of a "keep your head down" kind of wine, but it does its job well. (2911 views) | | | Tasted by jmcmchi on 1/27/2016 & rated 88 points: UGC Chicago
Pale red
Slight mineral on the nose, soft fruit, this is correct - but I would want a lot more for the name and the price (1724 views) | | | Tasted by SoundinBetween on 1/27/2016: UGC Annual Bordeaux Tasting (The Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL): very brief tasting note. incredibly tannic, hard to assess the quality and concentration of the underlying fruit in a brief tasting. surely needs time. (2140 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 1/27/2016: UGC Bordeaux (Drake Hotel - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. Moderate fruit fruit with a little cigarbox. Startsforward, ends somewhat firm. Just OK, perhaps 86-87 point potential. (2375 views) | | | Tasted by Yop87999 on 11/26/2015 & rated 50 points: 22 (1892 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, A Century of Bordeaux: The Threes (Aug 2023) (8/1/2023)
(Lynch-Bages Lynch-Bages Red) Subscribe to see review text. | 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 Stephen Brook
Decanter, Bordeaux 2013: 10 years on (2/2/2023)
(Château Lynch-Bages, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, February 2023 (2/1/2023)
(Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2017 (11/1/2017)
(Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (1/27/2017)
(Ch Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (2/10/2016)
(Château Lynch Bages Pauillac, France) Subscribe to see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/13/2015)
(Ch Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2015 (10/1/2015)
(Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Steven Spurrier
Decanter, Bordeaux 2013 results: Pauillac (10/4/2014)
(Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Ian D'Agata
Vinous, May-14, IWC Issue #174 (5/1/2014)
(Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (4/4/2014)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2013 Bordeaux: Walking the Tightrope (Apr 2014)
(Lynch-bages Lynch-bages Pauillac 5 ème Grand Cru Classé Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, April 2014 (4/1/2014)
(Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and Decanter and Winedoctor and JancisRobinson.com and JamesSuckling.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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