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| | Vintage | 1989 |  Label 200 of 2261 
(NOTE: Label borrowed from 1990 vintage.)
 | | 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, 000009137073, 014100076629, 0400005643774, 041224152502, 072180692740, 073866805409, 078742374604, 087000330115, 087000347540, 204022504342, 206331002649, 206486002594, 3554770032428, 3700218200021, 3760020133979, 400000923871, 649185961043, 649185961968, 830293006270 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 94.7 pts. and median of 95 pts. in 974 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by VINNICK on 4/22/2024 & rated 100 points: This is becoming one of my favorite producers and this vintage maybe my favorite wine. Opened Friday evening and slow oxed for 24 hours, had half the bottle on Saturday and the second half Sunday. Kept at 55 the entire time but better to drink at 60. The wine is flawless, perfect balance, elegance, and harmony. Everything you expect from a great Bordeaux. (724 views) | | | Tasted by MC on 3/2/2024: Decanted 30 minutes and enjoyed over dinner at a restaurant. This was great - really enjoyable with dark cool fruit, really nice secondaries, and a nice long finish. Incredible how dark and even primary the fruit is at this age. Will live for a long time. A (2725 views) | | | Tasted by the player on 3/1/2024 & rated 97 points: Tremendous wine. Opened and aerated in bottle for an hour then decanted and drank over two hours. Cork almost fully soaked. Deep crimson red color, nose wafting with perfumed cassis, black currants, leather initially which morphed into cigar tobacco with more time in the decanter. Beautifully crafted wine, complex with secondary notes of mature delicious dark red and black fruits. Silky entry on the palate, expands beautifully mid palate with superb balance, finishes long with notes of coffee. As good as the 1982 if not better. (2344 views) | | | Tasted by RMyrick on 2/14/2024 & rated 98 points: Poured about 1 glass from the bottle upon opening and let the rest breathe in bottle. Drank over ~7 hours. Tight initially with notes of raspberry, cedar, and graphite. A bit of acidity and alcohol as well that airs out quickly.
Around the 2 hour mark the next glass brings forth prominent cedar, blackberry, and mint notes.
4+ hours after opening the wine has fully opened with the oak falling into the background and the fruit taking over. Medium in body with a long finish and fully resolved tannins. Drinking beautifully now and seems close to peak but still lively enough to hold for years. (3052 views) | | | Tasted by cct on 1/23/2024 & rated 96 points: A terrific lung filling nose. Cassis, wet bricks, pencil lead, bitter chocolate and florals that follow onto the palate. It's expansive and deep yet graceful and finessed on the palate. Power and grace. Long on the back end. Drinking at absolute peak for me with time in hand. A great LB. (3447 views) | | | Tasted by djhammond on 1/19/2024 & rated 99 points: Dedicated to my beautiful dog and best friend who passed away today, this was opened to remember him. At its relatively young age it can sometimes be reluctant to open up, but this was glorious. A fitting wine to remember my 52 kilo boy Sky. (3823 views) | | | Tasted by D_RICH on 1/17/2024 & rated 97 points: I purchased 1/2 case of this wine as a future in 1990, but this bottle was not from my cellar. It was served at a tasting dinner along with many other fine Bordeaux, including the 1982 Calon Segur, the 1982 and 1995 Cos d'Estournel, the 1989 and 2000 La Conseillante, the 2000 Figeac, the 2000 Lynch Bages (from my cellar), the 1996 Grand Puy Lacoste, 1990 Le Bon Pasteur, the 1996 Clinet and other fine wines. My notes: "Black/purple - darker than the 2000 [Lynch Bages tasted alongside it]. Intoxicating nose- WOW. Rich, plummy, complex. Outstanding. 97." For me, along with the 1989 La Conseillante, the WOTN, and much better than the (well-stored) bottle I brought to the same tasting group two years ago. This bottle showed the way it did back in 1997 - a very young, outstanding wine - now nearly 35 years old. Incredible. (3003 views) | | | Tasted by geomack on 1/13/2024 & rated 95 points: Decanted for 2+ hours. Dark fruit nose from the start. Licorice notes soon after opening and developed an underlying dryness after a bit. Light and dark fruit flavors, leather, tobacco. All well integrated. It paired really well with Beef Short Ribs. (3239 views) | | | Tasted by D'Yquembe Mutumbo on 12/31/2023 & rated 96 points: Fully mature at this point but still life ahead of it, this has to be one of the better premier aged Bordeauxs on the market right now, as you can still find this in the $300/bottle range from time to time if you're patient (and lucky). Classic Pauillac in every sense, with cedar, lead pencil, sous bois, gravel and stewed dark fruit. The palate was a bit shy for the first 3 hours in the decanter, waiting until later in the night to shine through with lovely balance of currants, red and dark berries, dark chocolate and some faint licorice notes. This is a delight today and will be a delight in 2030. Great wine to buy now to get a good feel for what the best of Bordeaux can offer for close to half the price of an Angelus or Montrose of the same vintage. (3487 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 12/30/2023 & rated 97 points: Fully mature, right off the bat, the nose, with its cedar, tobacco, herbs, currants and cigar box aromas hit you just right. As good as that is, and it’s good, the palate, which is loaded with ripe, spicy, leafy red fruits delivers length, complexity and character. This is simply fabulous in your glass. Drink from 2023-2040. (4298 views) | | | Tasted by mclanew on 12/25/2023 & rated 98 points: Decanted two hours. Drank this alongside the 1990 LB and this was clearly the better wine at least on this night. Sophisiticated nose with nose of black currant, pencil shaving and tobacco. The wine is full bodied, layered and concentrated sporting an inner core of black currant fruit surrounded by layers of flavor and depth, finishing long and satisfying. This is in a great place and can continue to age 10 to 20 years (2970 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 12/25/2023 & rated 93 points: Rugged; blackberry; a bit tannic; earth; crunchy lively finish. (3029 views) | | | Tasted by GWEdwards on 12/17/2023 & rated 98 points: Drinking with absolute magic. Big dark fruit of rich soil, opening quickly, and offering a a long elegant finish. Wow. Anyone who gives this juice a 100 score is not wrong (3382 views) | | | Tasted by mayfield on 12/11/2023 & rated 96 points: From magnum; really phenomenal wine. Decanted and it opened up relatively quickly; growing in expression in the first 30 minutes drinking really well from hours 1-3. This is the 3rd time I've tried this; the palate is exquisite and more powerful than the nose, which is pleasant but subtle relative to other great vintages of Lynch. Lynch has always reminded me of a super second. It doesn't quite reach the heights that the first growths do in good/great vintages but it's very, very good and has a very pleasant signature. (3079 views) | | | Tasted by Noremedy21 on 12/9/2023 & rated 97 points: This wine is a journey. It embodies everything aged Bordeaux should, and to my mind is the best Lynch Bages I have ever tasted.
This wine requires PATIENCE.
Once I opened the cork and took a first sip in the glass, I thought "Oh shit" it tasted like acidic vinegar. I ran to Cellartracker and saw I wasn't alone.
I revisited in two hours. At that point it was very smooth drinking, with tannins largely resolved. It had a WONDERFUL bouqet of truffle, mushroom, earth and pepper, but on the mouth it fell short. It was bare of fruit at first (or very minimal), with all of the tertiary notes aforementioned above. It was somewhat drying in texture.
After about 3-4 hours is when it really shines. Retaining all of the tertiary notes mentioned above, but then with waves of fully flowing black fruit and plum, with perfect acidity offsetting the dryness. The nose was complemented by fig, cigar box, and pepper.
After about 5 hours on my final glass, it was back in its shell again.
The wine is a journey, be patient, buckle up and enjoy the ride over the course of a long evening.
I questioned whether the price I had to pay (~3x a newer vintage of Lynch) was worth it, the answer is an emphatic yes. (2835 views) | | | Tasted by Francophile1 on 12/2/2023: 50th Birthday Bash - night #2: One of the top 2 Lynch Bages vintages in history. It still remains to be seen if the '89 will ever eclipse the '90 vintage. Only time will tell. This is a uber concentrated wine that can age for decades more. Still in its early maturity window. Awesome wine! (3004 views) | | | Tasted by dbg on 12/2/2023: I had high hopes for this bottle being among the best of the 30 or so tasted at BWE '23 in DC. It was a solid wine but not up to the heights of most bottles of '89 Lynch. Cellared since release with an intact cork and fill still into the neck, it was decanted for 4 hours. There was no hint of TCA or other flaw. The wine was still dark red, had a good nose of cassis, earth, and lead pencil. Medium-bodied, good balance, nice fruit presentation, but lacking the power and depth of almost every bottle preceding it. Other experienced tasters had the same impression. An excellent wine but not the '89 Lynch we knew. Perhaps paled in comparison to some of the other stunners that evening.
Top wines for me on the night:
2002 Krug - Tasted early on before the onslaught of 30+ wines so I was still taking more detailed notes. Pale yellow/gold with fine-medium bubbles. Great Kruggy nose of yeasty brioche, smoky nuances, and some early maturity nuttiness. Peach, apple, layered complexity on the palate, plenty of minimality and bracing acidity, medium-full body, long finish. While showing signs of complexity and clearly in a prime drinking window, I wouldn't be surprised to see this develop additional nuance and improve further over time. Has a long life ahead of it. Outstanding!
1985 La Mission Haut Brion (WOTN) - hands down the most complex and perfectly at peak wine, with all the great cassis, smoky stony Graves-ness that I'm a sucker for. Beautifully balance, medium bodied, loooong finish. A wine you want to curl up in the glass with. Outstanding!
1982 Gruaud Larose - my #2 on the night, beautifully and perfectly mature, balanced, and complex with classic Cordier funk. Outstanding.
1986 Talbot - neck and neck with the Gruaud but eventually lost a step to it, the classic Cordier funk added to the wonderful complexity of a perfectly aged Bordeaux at peak. Outstanding.
1998 Angelus - best of the right bankers, really showing well without any over-the-top characteristics. Like the 1998 Pavie, before the move to the dark side. Excellent to outstanding.
1989 Montrose - outstanding on first opening, with plenty of Brett but to my palate that's a good thing. Like the Lynch, not the powerhouse I expected. Within 30 mins TCA rears its ugly head. I imagine it would have given the top wines a run for the money without the TCE. (3009 views) | | | Tasted by llink on 11/19/2023 & rated 94 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 C, My 3rd ranked wine, groups 1st. Medium red with some black tints. Sweet red fruits, asphalt, licorice and mint on the nose. Maybe just a hint of VA caused me to knock this down in the ranking. Stacked and packed palate, sweet fruit, with a texture like Wine D. (3185 views) | | | Tasted by Dandron24 on 11/2/2023 & rated 99 points: Going to echo what a few people here have written: this is fantastic juice, everything you could ask from properly aged Bordeaux, but don't bother opening this in any scenario where you don't have AMPLE TIME to let it decant. Four hours after decanting it was still closed and would give the impression you'd had an off bottle or this wasn't what everyone says it is. It is, but it needs five hours minimum to come out of its shell. Heart broken for the folks on here who didn't give it enough time. So don't be afraid to walk away. Decant it at 3 and start drinking with steaks at 8 and prepare to be blown away by the layers and nuance of epic Lynch Bages. (3639 views) | | | Tasted by aquacongas on 10/20/2023 & rated 98 points: blind
Love this wine. Best bargain from 89 or 90 Bordeaux in the highest level. Still fresh. 98 (3881 views) | | | Tasted by RockinCabs on 10/18/2023 & rated 95 points: This was a somewhat closed bottle, but all of the elegant top class Pauillac notes are there. Blackberry, cassis, graphite, leather and and just a bit of minerally floral notes. Decanted 3 hours, but still showing tight A showstopper nonetheless. (3580 views) | | | Tasted by sastewart on 10/14/2023 & rated 99 points: Absolutely fantastic left bank bordeaux. Agree with notes from Dream, DJHammond and William Kelly. About as good as Bordeaux gets. 99 points (3217 views) | | | Tasted by havana4 🍾🍇 on 10/12/2023 & rated 93 points: . (3330 views) | | | Tasted by luHar1423 on 10/12/2023 & rated 97 points: What has changed from my previous note:
The second bottle of the lot confirmed my previous assessment: the drinking window is closing down. We had a beauty contest vs. the 1989 Pichon Baron and unisono, four of us, had the same winner: PB it is.
We also tasted the 2010 LB that y'day night and our verdict: 1989 LB should have been enjoyed five years ago, 2010 LB should be enjoyed in 10 years the earliest.
Ideally: decant for 2h at least. (3023 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 9/18/2023 & rated 97 points: When you get the right bottle, this wine is really something. The nose is strong with notes of dried red fruits and sweet gravel. On the palate, it's deep, layered and intense with great flavors of still fresh red and black fruits and awesome graphite notes. The texture is quite fine and layered especially after 3+ hours of air with perfectly balancing acidity fully present. There is superb concentration and complexity on the finish with notes of the finest black minerals, Asian spices, grilled nuts and the dust from chiseled granite. A stunning 34-year old Pauillac that's still so youthful! Purchased as futures! 97+ (3741 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 Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Up From The Cellar No. 15 and Miscellaneous New Releases (8/17/2021)
(Chateau Lynch-Bages) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/11/2021)
(Ch Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, A Century of Bordeaux: The Nines (Sep 2019) (9/1/2019)
(Lynch Bages Lynch-bages Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Mar/Apr 2019, Issue #80, Another Look At the 1989 and 1990 Bordeaux - Twin Vintages Have Taken Different Paths With Age
(Château Lynch Bages) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, Cellar Journal – Bordeaux to Start… (Jul 2018) (7/18/2018)
(Lynch Bages Lynch-bages Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/24/2013)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jul/Aug 2012, Issue #40, The Annual Champagne and Sparkling Wine Report
(Château Lynch Bages) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/17/2010)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, '24' in Bordeaux (1/31/2010)
(Lynch Bages) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/27/2008)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, Hanging with Mr. Parker and Mr. Squires in Baltimore and D.C (2/21/2005)
(Lynch Bages) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, July/August 2002, IWC Issue #103
(Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/28/2002)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (3/10/2012)
(Château Lynch-Bages) Dark ruby color; lovely, tart plum, Asian spice, tart black fruit, pencil lead, black fig nose; tasty, dense, tart black fruit, Asian spice, black fig palate; medium-plus finish 93 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (11/25/2011)
(Château Lynch-Bages) From 375 ml - very dark red violet color; tart currant, olive, pencil lead nose; elegant, pencil lead, tart currant, tart cassis palate; medium-plus finish 94 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (12/11/2004)
(Château Lynch-Bages) Plum, asian spice box nose; tasty, rich, plum, hoisin sauce, roasted fruit, asian spice box palate; medium-plus finish 95 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (6/25/2003)
(Château Lynch-Bages) Nose of olive and herbs; great entry, nicely balanced, great fruit 96 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JebDunnuck.com and JancisRobinson.com and View From the Cellar and Vintage Tastings 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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