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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 47 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by wgilbert3 on 1/14/2024 & rated 92 points: blossomed over time but had hints of red fruit at the beginning even though color was dark brown red (but more red than other 1966 Bordeaux opened at the same time). Fruit really showed up after a few hours in the decanter. Very impressive and a great example of good breeding. Complex red fruit, dried fruit, hint of tobacco. Funky notes mainly blew off. (490 views) | | | Tasted by llink on 11/19/2023 & rated 95 points: Mouton vs Lynch-Bages 1989, 1986, 1966 and 1961 vintages (A collector's home): Decanted for 2 hours, served single blind in a flight of 4 wines. Wine E, My 1st ranked wine, groups 1st. This was a great bottle, performing well above expectations and a surprise flight winner. Smokey nose, showing tar, cured meats, cassis and mocha. Very complex nose and the palate doesn't disappoint showing firm, beautiful fruit, complex layers of intense red and black fruits. Shortish finish but otherwise a great wine. To me Wine E and Wine H were too close to call for wine of the flight, I went with E because of the complexity. Turned out to be the Lynch in a surprise. (769 views) | | | Tasted by dchain on 12/28/2022 & rated 93 points: With Jamey. Deep red. Looks like a wine from the 80s! Amazing drink, black cherry, tobacco, super fresh. Delicious and amazing! (1453 views) | | | Tasted by Wr1233 on 2/18/2022 & rated 93 points: Had 2 bottles of 1966 last night. Both tasted different and looked different. Nonetheless, both were absolutely delicious. Was nervous about decanting for too long (and so started to drink after 20 minutes) but stayed the course and on reflection I would have left a little longer before drinking as continued to open up along the way. Fantastic that this wine is drinking so well after 56 years. (2123 views) | | | Tasted by martin_e on 1/2/2022 & rated 93 points: It’s still full of life! Pale-ruby color, but clean, not cloudy; fine red fruit on the nose; flavors of cassis and dry fruits with pronounced notes of tobacco and spices; structured with racy acidity, but lively, not the type found in declined old wines. Overall, a pleasant surprise (2217 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 9/11/2021 & rated 86 points: I have enjoyed the 1966 Lynch-Bages considerably in the past, but this bottle offered a volatile, simple, red fruited nose which was drinkable and pleasant though completely without the usual dynamic character. (3480 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 9/10/2021: Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): One of my favorite vintages of old Bordeaux and I’d say this was a perfectly nice example of a standard old one although again suffered from being on the heels of the ‘55. Also part of the journey this last week and a half and as such there was perhaps a bit of grit in there. Old library and musty pages. Still nice. (3403 views) | | | Tasted by drmarclevine on 11/8/2020 & rated 91 points: Capsule and cork in great shape. Decanted to remove sediment. Medium ruby in color with some hints of tawny mixed in. Lovely, fresh nose of dusty raspberry, cedar chest, and mint. Red berries and cigar box on the palate with some still potent acidity. Medium weight. With air in the glass the finish turned a bit prune-like which took away from the complexity. Aging gently and gracefully. (2594 views) | | | Tasted by peternelson on 11/5/2019 & rated 92 points: Excellent shape, medium dark ruby, low fading with hints of brown; lovely nose with much more fruit than the Haut Brion, more red cassis, slight red berries with spice box, tobacco, forest floor; medium body with full mid-palate, good lift in the finish, even if acid seemed to spike a little after a while (especially after the Latour was opened!). Lovely red-fruited, aromatic, perfect shape Lynch, held up extremely well. Paired well with the rib-eye and tongue. Totoraku. (3173 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 8/17/2019 & rated 93 points: I do love the 1966 Lynch for its wild, eucalyptus, minty personality - just a touch volatile but still with succulent blackcurrant and sandalwood. This particular bottle had more emphasis on the eucalyptus and less emphasis on the fruit, thus the lower score than one a year and a half ago. (3540 views) | | | Tasted by Burgnick on 8/6/2019: From a mid-shoulder 375ml. Earthy and tertiary. There was still some black and plum fruit on the palate with acidity. Provenance was not good. (2952 views) | | | Tasted by tak4 on 8/1/2019: Troquet
This is pretty great! Menthol. Tertiary touches. (2763 views) | | | Tasted by winesnout on 2/22/2019 & rated 94 points: Definitely a very special bottle, high shoulder fill. Vibrant and mature ruby color with some bricking. Lots of red (not black!) berry fruit, plums, cedar, tobacco and tea leafs. Juicy and meaty, very well balanced and fresh in the mouth. Chapeau!: 52 years and still dancing. (2339 views) | | | Tasted by Peliot on 12/31/2018 & rated 100 points: This bottle was so special. I can’t believe how alive and intact it was for a 52 year old. Great purple core with an orange rim. Insane nose with raspberry sorbet, blueberry liqueur, roses, baking spice, plum, mint, orange, butter. Juicy in the mouth with oranges, spices, red and blue fruits. Remarkable fruit for the age. Fresh and vivacious. Great, round mouthfeel. Excellent body for an aged wine. It doesn’t get better. (2375 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 10/5/2018 & rated 90 points: At more than 50 years of age, this is still serving up the goods. Robust, rustic and rockin', the wine delivers a juicy mouthful of sweet and semi-tart red fruits, while the nose kicks in its part with cedar, lead pencil, cigar box, ash, tobacco and forest leaf notes. This is at maximum peak, but I'm sure well-stored bottles have another decade at this level to look forward to. (2866 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 1/1/2018 & rated 94 points: This sports a brash nose of cassis, mint, cedar, a touch of lavender. Slightly malty. So Lynch. A cedary palate, a touch volatile. The elements aren't quite so beautifully knit together and the wine isn't suave or polished; things are indeed a hair disjointed. But this is a wine of another era, wild and free. I can't help but enjoy it tremendously. Needs a half hour in the decanter to sort itself out. British bottled, top shoulder. (3488 views) | | | Tasted by europat55 on 9/22/2017 & rated 90 points: Nose: A- Palate: B+
Part of 6 decades of Lynch Bages vertical tasting
My #8, Group's #6 (86 pts). Tastes blind (3430 views) | | | Tasted by MikeATL on 5/6/2017 flawed bottle: Bereft of life, it rests in peace. This is an ex-claret!
I understand that it was a recent auction purchase that leaked in shipment, another example with older wines there are no great wines, only great bottles. (4011 views) | | | Tasted by kingkanu on 4/25/2017 & rated 94 points: Dinner with friends at Elystan St; 4/24/2017-4/25/2017 (Elystan Street, London): The cork had been pushed into the bottle when tryng to open it, so really didn't hold out too much hope here, but what a surprise, this was so good. It took a little time in the decanter for the nose to get going, the colour was vibrant with minor signs of brick age, the nose had lovely black currant with a little graphite, the palate was super, plenty of lovely black fruit wth some meatiness and leather, but so fresh, it was really dancing over the palate. An amazing bottle and by far the best I've tried. On this showing lots of life ahead still, other bottles have been at the end of life. (4171 views) | | | Tasted by pjaines on 4/25/2017: An utterly superb bottle that has so much life and depth left in it that it could be mistaken for a wine from the 1990s. Deep, meaty notes wrapped around a fine, upright core - no flab at all on this at all. Brilliant bottle. (3910 views) | | | Tasted by JonnyG on 12/11/2016 & rated 97 points: Five Bordeaux By Five Decades (Rancho de Los Olivos): I have been fortunate enough to have tried another '66 Lynch Bages 3 years ago. Maybe the trick is to wait for its 50th birthday, because this bottle was a revelation. Good fill. The cork was quite saturated but came out whole, albeit in two pieces. Vibrant ruby toned color, with some bricking on the edges. Haunting sweet nose. Balanced and lovely on the palate, with ample, sweet red berry flavors alongside cedar, leather and a touch of raisin on the lingering finish. Most surprising was the bright acidity. The wine did not fade, after many hours of being cherished. My WOTN for both taste and emotion. (4263 views) | | | Tasted by noofie2 on 3/31/2016 & rated 92 points: Had this bottle at our 25th anniversary dinner...a real treat. Still in great shape. (3986 views) | | | Tasted by Vini Ciclismo on 1/25/2016 & rated 92 points: A fair bit of bottle stink but not obviously corked to taste.
Fruit sweet palate, cedary, soft with age but drinking very nicely. Probably not the best example but good anyway (3331 views) | | | Tasted by dchain on 1/13/2016 & rated 92 points: Still dark ruby, touch of separation. Looks like a wine from the 80s! Wonderful nose of black cherry infused tobacco. Rich and full. Palate has a nice refreshing acidity with healthy fruit, touch dry finish but really one of the best examples from th vintage. Great quality to price ratio- hard to believe this wine is 50 years old. Fantastic! (3335 views) | | | Tasted by johnh1001 on 4/26/2015 & rated 86 points: Not quite as fresh as the last bottle. Quite flat and medicinal. (4186 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. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (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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