Cork was in bad shape but after a gentle decant this wine really opened up. Hard to fathom that it is 62+ years old. Beautiful nose of pepper, tea, leather, and spices. Palate a bit thin as expected but delivered some flavors of citrus (a tad sour), spices, raspberry, and chocolate. Some tannin structure remaining but not strong. Exceeded expectations!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
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 G, My 3rd ranked wine, groups 2nd. A little tired on the nose, some VA with charred bottle funk. Sweet fruit, perhaps a little bit stewed/raisined, but still quite round and inviting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
20 Mature Magnums (mostly Bdx, w/ Unico, Vogue Musigny, Marthas): From magnum. Three 1961 Bordeauxs side-by-side. The Lynch Bages (97pts) and the Pontet Canet (95pts) showed both exceptionally well. Highly complex, with all the telltale Pauillac tertiary aromas and a still intact sweet fruit core, high precision and purity and with superb freshness. Some points deducted as both wines had still slightly grippy tannins. The Calon Segur (90pts) showed highly complex and with an intriguing caramel core but was a bit wild and muddy with some strange notes too.
TN: Dark brooding, dense nose, so fresh with lots of minty notes. Some tobacco which gets a bit more prominent with time. On the palate this is amazing, so much freshness, velvety texture and feel, good weight and a long sweet finish. Perfectly balanced but still a bit masculine and grippy in its structural appearance. The aroma complex is very intriguing with precise notes of dark fruits, a superb sweet fruit core in general, caramel notes, herbs lots of minerality, tobacco, some hints of truffles and with time even some malty notes to die for. Easily 97pts today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Magnum Rarities Tasting in Zurich (Zunfthaus zur Waag, Zurich): From Magnum: Concentrated and polished with ripe and still fully present fruit. A touch of Williams. Aromas of sweet spice add plenty of youthful sexiness, especially as aging notes were only really in background. Adds more menthol-like complexity with aeration. Youthful palate with plenty of structure, bold even, and now adding a ton of leather an tobacco. This is a fabulous Lynch Bages and absolutely comparable to the stars from 1982, 1989, 1990.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual Richter All-Magnum Extravaganza: Out of a pristine magnum, this was the best showing of this wine I ever was lucky to experience. Bread crust, elegant red fruit, espresso, mint, milk chocolate, perfectly mature deep and broad on the palate, finishing very long. One of the top three wines of the night
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Half. Great level. Amazing colour, really dense mid ruby. Looks in fantastic condition, but the nose reveals otherwise — full on VA. It’s all acetone, pear drop and with a little more air, cow glue. Such a shame. Imported in barrel and bottled by the merchant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purchased from a very trusted merchant, this bottle was in perfect condition with a top shoulder fill and a cork which was extracted intact. It really needed an hour in the decanter to blow away any funk. It is a top notch wine and a privilege to drink, but this bottle has started its gentle downwards slope with early sherry notes appearing on the finish and nose. The nose and palate warranted another couple of points, but its over age is starting to show on the finish. The nose is divine with leather, stewed black fruits, with subtle apple, mint, and floral notes. The palate, as you would expect, is displaying full secondary and tertiary characteristics, and is silky smooth and fully integrated and with perfect balance, but surprisingly still with a good tannic feel. At this age bottle variation is always come into play, and another one could still be in its prime. However, I would recommend to be drinking this now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted both bottles an hour before service. Ruby core with bricking. Notes of black truffle, earth, leather, roasted fennel; hints of lead pencil and cigar box. Medium bodied, good acidity, velvety texture, and a long and focused finish. Both bottles were purchased from the original owner, and had very top shoulder fills.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
OLD Birthday Wines (a few days belated) (Chez S1): Saturated cork easily extracted with Durand. The nose is reticent at first bit evolves in the glass. Dark cassis and hints of red cherry dominate, with tertiary levels of black licorice, fresh green herbs, cinnamon, and tobacco, enveloped in powerful but balanced tannins. This wine still has quite a bit of life remaining.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright ruby, bright elegant palate, red fruits, raspberries. Tertiary leather is a big but not overpowering presence. Dried rose petal nose. Acidity high, tannins still providing grip. Dryish medium length finish. Drink now but no sign of this being past its best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought at Christies auction, came without label but cork clearly showed 1961. Level into shoulder and clear evidence of seepage. Tired, no vigor, lean with porty finish. Not a good bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Managed to find a bottle for a friend's 60th bday. It was from a wine collector who supposedly stored it properly. The bottle looked pristine, high shoulder. Had it shipped from the west coast to the east coast. Let it settle for a couple of days before opening it. Upon removal of the foil, I noticed that some of the wine had spilled out of the cork. A bit apprehensive about what the wine will taste like after seeing this. Cork broke apart using the corkscrew (I didn't have an Ah So with me), so I had to push the cork into the bottle and decant it. The nose was fortunately pleasant with hints of leather, earth. After letting it sit for an hour, we sampled the wine. There was still a little fruit left. Mellow. Well balanced. However, another hour later, some of the pleasantness dissipated, and now was left with a bit of funk on the nose and palate as well. Probably past its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
60s Dinner — 1961 Bordeaux Flight Chateau Lynch Bages, Canon and Cos d’Estournel. Each wine was double decanted for sediment
The Lynch Bages with its dark cherry and cassis fruit all wrapped in cedar, tar and earth notes stood out. It’s fruit benefited from the wines acidity, giving it a freshness that was engaging. Balanced, mature, layered, lovely finish, delicious. Wine of the flight
The Canon was the darkest of the flight. Initial mustiness quickly blew off after 10-15 minutes to reveal plums, violets And earth notes. Fuller bodied than the LB, nice texture and richness. Balanced, resolved, with a lingering finish. Others were surprised how well it drank. I admit to being a Canon fan, had the 1955 and 1982 earlier this year and found this 61 a wonderful contrast to the lighter more elegant Lynch Bages
The Cos had a TS fill, a ruby core with maturing edge. The initial nose showed this bottle had challenges. After 30 minutes still had a mustiness that remained. It’s Palate was cleaner than the nose, medium weight, decent balance and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
@Wallys Santa Monica Hmmmm...this was underwhelming overall. The palate was actually still intact with some acidity and fruit left, but it was the nose that was so offsetting. It was way too funky and never really blew off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 750: Mid shoulder fill. A bit past prime, but still on it's plane of maturity, and drinking well. Smelled like balsamic vinegar upon opening, but blossomed in decanter to reveal it's fruit. Well balanced and a real pleasure To drink.Will last a few years, but recommend drinking up. Drank with erter99 and friends in Nashville TN.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark plums, earthiness, dry soil, dark chocolate, modestly roasted herbs, and black olives, it is amazing how much fruits there were still presenting in the glass.
Had it along with 1989 Lynch Bages, 1989 certainly showed deeper structure and more chewy texture on the palate, lingering longer than 1961, while 1961 texture has softened a lot with time. 1961 is now at its peak drinking window, nonetheless, still a legendary bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black currant, soil, truffle, and tobacco. Harmonious and transperent on the palate with good freshness. Certainly at its peak. Good representation of the vintage. 93+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1961 in Florida (Cafe Maxx, Pompano Beach, Florida): The ‘61 version is recognizable Lynch Bages for its slightly coarse texture and bold take-no-prisoners character. Really concentrated and energetic, it seems like it could go on for another decade or two. Black fruity and unabashedly Pauillac. Even better, it evolved in the glass and became more complex.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Level is mid shoulder. The wine is initially tired but it somewhat revives after 2 hours with acidity. But the fruit has faded with secondary note like tobacco, leather and earth. I don’t think the condition of this bottle warrants a judgement of the wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wines of Lynch are among the most transparent in Bordeaux - they always reflect the vintage and, when you go back far enough, they show you the way wine-making in Bordeaux has changed over the years. I love the 1960s Lynch vintages - they are often wild wines; a bit of volatility poking out, tannic, and generally a bit unpolished cf the 1980s and more recent vintages.
This 61, British bottled (Gloac) is no exception, showing off a ripe, cassis, plum, minty nose with accents of sage and chocolate. A little bit of VA helps keep the nose lively. An hour in the decanter helps the nose evolve. Getting a little delicate on the palate now, but there is still plenty of substance. Rustic tannins befitting its age. Doesn't finish particularly well now - as lovely as it is, this isn't getting better. Overall a bit better than a chateau-bottled 61 last year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted long side 82, 85 and eventually the 64. This wine had all the elements in the Lynch Bages tool kit- herbaceous nose, pencil shavings, mint plus a tiny hint of chocolate. It was fantastic. This was my second bottle in the last year and this (an English bottling) was far superior to the first. Classic Lynch Bages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Transports you to a land far away with a browning patina painted over the blackberry, Plum, tobacco and cedar notes. Much nuance with curry, animal, and other more wild/feral aromas poking out. Palate: Balanced with still fresh dark fruit, then an edge of bruised berries, and layers of detailed nuances. Cedar, mineral, clove, mint and tea. Still packing some tannin too.
A very special opportunity to see the 1961 from a neck fill English bottling. Thank you Englishman's Claret for bringing this fabulous bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Almost no signs of bricking, still a very solid dark core - remarkably youthful and ready to go from the start. Smoky black pepper, licorice, tobacco, cedar and that tell tale LB green pepper note on the nose. Still very concentrated on the palate, with beautiful texture, still some tannic grip, leather and sweet red fruit. Very sexy and youthful for a 55 year old. Outstanding bottle - no signs of fading after sitting in the glass for over an hour for the last sip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1961 Bordeaux tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Fairly consistent with my last experience with this wine. Perhaps not the most interesting of the wines in the tasting, but solid and fully mature. Black currant, cedar, mushroom, and earth. At times, imparted a slight medicinal funk but not too bothersome. Beautifully balanced, with silky tannins well integrated. Impressive long finish, though acid a tad high. Overall, this is a solid, consistent wine from 1961 that should continue to drink well for awhile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really nice; a little slow to start. Cassis and mineral at the outset, with time developing delightful mocha and biscuit notes. Not quite as exotic as one might expect with Lynch. To be honest I prefer the 62 though it doesn't have quite as much substance left. A great bottle that was loads of fun to drink. The hand reaches for a second glass. Thanks Brad!!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2016 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium - Kelly, Alan and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/3/2016-11/12/2016 (Villa D’este, Lake Como, Piedmont, Milan and Frankfurt): Incredibly complex fully mature claret nose displaying sweet red fruit, a hint of cassis, leather, tobacco, cedar, lead pencil, caramel, a hint of balsamico/VA that adds the freshness and complexity, sautéed cep and earth. Excellent concentration, very youthful and vibrant, sweet red fruit and leather driven palate impression, bright acidity, strong presence of mineral, still a hint of sweet tannins, and a long sweet cedar driven finish that resonates. Exceptional bottle, spectacular!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mostly Older Bordeaux: Drinking very well, with leather accenting ripe curranty fruit, it isn't showing its age and blind I'd be inclined to guess it was the 1982 (until I had a 1982 later in the tasting).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
- Lynch Bages 1961 - another brilliant bottle, showing the sign of a maturity aging to it. The nose shows its fully maturity, cedar, a beautiful eucalyptus, cassis running through it. Beautiful palate, great austerity and maturity, its reach still have not steely but amazing. Tobacco coming out of the glass. Fading out after 30-45min
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Marc's (Marc's Apartment - Chicago, IL): From half bottle. After the 1961 Trotanoy, we wanted to try it alongside another 1961 - this time, from the Left Bank. Grabbed the Lynch and popped and poured it directly from the cellar. Wasn't nearly as pristine as the Trot, but did have some nice qualities to it. The cedar, tobacco notes were lingering, but a lot of the fruit had gone away. I liked the wine, but it lived in the shadows of the Trot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same bottle as Prof B. And I've had similar bottle variation with the '61 Lynch, with this bottle being the best thus far. Classic aged Pauillac with impressive fruit still present, in addition to the tertiary notes. I was impressed with the balance of this wine, and the still present, albeit resolving tannins. Drinking beautifully now, but I imagine sound bottles will continue to hold--no reason to wait, though!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Andy brought the first wine, 1961 Château Lynch-Bages, which tasted exquisite right from the start. I picked up on mint, earth, tobacco, strawberry, and cassis in this one. The group correctly determined this to be an older wine from the tertiary components. Most guesses were in the 60s, mine was 66.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a perfect bottle, this wine had a deep red center with orange at the rim. The medium+ intensity nose of currants, cigar box, brown spices, soil, and a hint of mint were impressive. One could see the "poor man's Mouton" comparison.
In the mouth, this wine was medium bodied with excellent richness, rounded tannin, solid acidity, and great length. It had tons of complexity and I loved its seamless integration.
This was the best bottle of this wine I have had and I doubt it will get any better. Enjoy!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Margaux & Pauillac tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Drinking extremely well for a ’61. Still with excellent concentration and deep color. Cassis, black cherry, leather, Asian spices, and cedar. Opened up over two hours and improved significantly in the glass. Still has a solid tannic structure. Only knock would be a bit high acid on the (lengthy) finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Suspect nose with wet cardboard, wet dog, faint white pepper, and whiffs of vanilla. It gets better on the palate with red plum notes. Overall thin but persistent while it lasts, which isn't long. Somewhat unkempt and past peak, drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a nice looking bottle with a high shoulder fill, this wine had orange rims and a deep red center. The nose was quite funky and off at first. Later, it developed an attractive cherry and mint quality but this bottle was not 100% on.
In the mouth, this wine had a lush, round mouthfeel, rounded tannins, and great length. It was rich and ripe with lovely balance. It was just held back by a bit of a bitter edge. However, you could see that if that flaw had not been present, the wine would have catapulted up the scoreboard into the 96ish range.
I believe this wine suffers from some bottle variation.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cigar box, wet earth, cedar chest and cassis on the nose. The wine is better on the palate with its fresh, sweet cherry, spicy cassis flavors and medium bodied, fully developed character. Each bottle is different, especially with 50 years of age. It’s important to note, I’ve had much better bottles and a few that were worse. Such is life.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Can you imagine that this wine is served at a restaurant by the glass for as little as 15$ a taste? You have to love the Farnsburg restaurant for doing that!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Anniversary Dinner with '61 Lynch Bages (La Belle Vie, Mpls): Very dark/purple red color, 1mm slightly clear meniscus, no bricking, mid shoulder fill. Coravined into glasses, drank 2 glasses with a big anniversary dinner at La Belle Vie. WOW, I am flat out stunned by this wine. Absolutely pristine condition, I would never guess this to be 53 years old if drinking blind. More importantly, it was a truly memorable wine on multiple levels. It just kept blowing up in the glass and getting better and better. Great nose! Saddle leather, funk, savory, red fruits initially, graphite, mushroom, subtle cedar, blueberry, just amazing fruit on the nose which takes on an incredible floral perfume over about 15-20 minutes. The palate is equally impressive, full bodied, concentrated and layered, tobacco leaf, cassis, black cherry, cedar box,funky earth, wet saddle leather, blueberry, ample round tannins and a ridiculously long 90 second plus finish. So complex and nuanced. Clearly, well stored bottles have got significant longevity left as this improved over time and has excellent supporting structure. The tannins are gorgeous and round and evident and the fruit is big and bright yet. Fabulous. 96+ to 97pts.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was cloudy, I believe from all the sediment being jostled in flight. So, it may really have suffered from some travel shock. That said, the '62 Latour was right next to it on the same trip and no problem there.
Light garnet opaque color, elegant nose at first, it drank more like a Burgundy or old Barolo than a Pauillac. I was delighted upon the first sip, quite elegant, and an utterly different style than I was anticipating.
Alas, the good times didn't last and it fell apart in the glass pretty quickly. This bottle appeared to be very well stored, fill was perfect. So, not really sure what to make of this, but on the basis of this experience I would drink it again, but I wouldn't pay much for the privilege.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank in LV with OT. Wow, great treat! Bottle was in perfect condition. Great nose, very spicy and woody. In mouth wine had great weight and was superbly balanced. Great secondary flavors of mushroom, tobacco and cedar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Anytime you get a chance to drink a '61 is a special day, never mind a '61 Lynch! That being said, it is a nice wine but no longer a great wine. Definitely still a little fruit left, but the wine (I suspect) is a shadow of its former self. It peaked about 15 minutes in and the finish was really nice and long with lots of classic Paulliac cedar and cigar box, but the wine started to decline after about 45 minutes and after 90 minutes it was gone. I don't regret spending $400 to try this with family on Christmas, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I wouldn't buy another bottle at that price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The '61 Lynch Bages was strange. The cork had fallen down into the neck of bottle. When I took the foil off, I thought there was no cork at first! Then, when I went to use a corkscrew, just touching the cork made if fall into the bottle! I was sure it was ruined. It ended up not having gone bad, but the flavor was not as good as all the other '61 Bordeaux I've had. It was kind of boring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
WOW nose of cedar, cèpes de Bordeaux, creamy, leather... wet horse, wild poultry, loads of leather and cigar box... amazing for a 52 year old Bordeaux!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Carrots & Chicken (Vernon, CT): This was far-and-away the bottle of the night for me and, I think, everyone else. A beautiful nose of sweet cherries, leather, a perfume of spice and cedar. A silky entry, light+ tannin, medium+ acid. Dark cherry and spice with a delightful note of fruit sweetness. Polish. Class. Amazing. My 1/7
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An absolutely stunning bottle; powerfully fragrant with layers of mature savoury earthy, leathery, tobacco, graphite and cedar notes framing a core of red and dark fruited flavours that still show plenty of freshness and intensity. The palate presence is remarkable, there's an incredible sense of polish and harmony here with all the flavours coming together seamlessly, and a really refined, silken texture. This was double-decanted for sediment an hour before serving, and only kept getting better with air. Fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had the good pleasure of tasting two '61 Lynch Bages side by side; the first bottle had been recently purchased at retail, and the second bottle purchased at auction 20+ years ago. Both bottles were stunning, but different, which is not surprising given they were 50+ year old! Solid ruby core, turning to brick red at the rim. Notes of truffle, grilled meat, decaying flower, forrest floor; still with good ripe dark fruit aromas. Medium bodied, with a silky texture, unreal depth and balance; a long, complex and savory finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We opened this bottle (absolutely top fill, pristine condition, no label wear, cork came out in one piece), immediately decanted it and found almost no sediment. Didn't want to do anything in advance in case it wasn't going to hold up.
Immediately on the nose the classic Lynch Bages funky, hamburgers. That blew off quickly and this wine did not need any time at all to open up. Two hours later it was exactly the same. Also held up well the next morning, although some pruniness crept in.
Color was youthful, with just a touch of amber around the rim.
Tannins were just about gone, but acidity was high. The first impression on the palate was bright, fresh black cherry fruit. Extraordinary finesse for a Lynch Bages, almost delicate and feminine. Flowers on the nose, almost imperceptible oak, a touch of smoke. Length was medium, body was medium. A joy to drink, and absolutely perfect. Not 100 points because it wasn't a big beefy complex crusher, but probably the most positive surprise in a wine I have ever consumed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Richter Raritäten Degu (Restaurant Farnsburg, Switzerland): Asparagus, malt, honey, peanuts, funky but good. Very similar surprisingly to Mission 75. Still some fruit left but secondary like plums and figs. Should be drunk relatively soon...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Flickinger "Significant Cellar" Tasting (Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. Very good spice works with tobacco and mature fruit. Still large and firm, perhaps with fruit a bit more mature than I'd prefer for the structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Low shoulder fill. Cork came out in bits and pieces. A ted cloudy with sediments even after filtering. Nose kicked off with leather, wet socks before a nice, intense perfume took over. Medium body, rounded and silky smooth palate which lasted almost 2 hours. Well made and well stored. Would have no problem keeping it for another 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spectacular nose, mature red cherry. Still very young looking in color. The wine has a steely taste on entry but it blew off as the night went on. On the palate, mature cherry, silky tannins with a firm backbone that took the wine from front to back of palate. Hints of cedar, oak and loam but not in the way. Great long finish. Great long finish. No sediment. Started to fade in the second hour. One of those wines I will always remember where, who and why we drank it. The generosity of wine friends always amazes me and the whole night was one in which each participant brought something they wanted to share.
2012 - Old: A light herbaceous note kicking off the mature, quite broad bouquet of cedar, pencil leads, crushed rock intermixed with some dried blackcurrant and blackberry fruits. On the palate this was indeed appealing, still has a touch of tannin grip. It slowly reveals more power toward the finish. Still fresh and energetic but this is certainly not packs with the depth and scale for a top tier claret. However, I ain't complaining as this is drinking well for the 1st hr of serving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
With the patina of age in the color and nose, the perfume dealt out a complex hand of cedar wood, tobacco leaf, cigar box, cassis, cherry, spice box, leather, forest floor, wet earth, truffle and cigar ash. There was a refined sense of masculinity to the texture. The long, spicy, cherry and cassis filled finish displayed the sensations that only a perfectly, mature, older Bordeaux can deliver. At this age, it's all about the bottle. This was picked up from the original owner who kept it in a cold, dark cellar since the day it was delivered. What a nice treat! I'm definitely hanging on to some of my 1989 and 1990 Lynch Bages to enjoy when they are 50 years old. On the other hand, perhaps I should do that with my 1982's. That's only 20 more years from now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yet another 50th Birthday Extravaganza (Home): I had acquired this bottle several years earlier with the notion that it would serve as the centerpiece of my 50th birthday celebration. Fortunately, I was still alive and/or not in a coma or otherwise unable to appreciate this moment in time, and this was an excellent bottle.
Very top shoulder fill, the cork strongly adhered, and it came out in multiple pieces. Subsequently decanted , and it needed every bit of the 1+ hour decant it received. An amazing ruby red color with just a touch of tawniness at the edges, this showed younger than the 1978 Ducru Beaucaillou decanted alongside. The '61 Lynch Bages had an intense nose, nearly bringing tears to the eyes, with prominent tomato leaf, red alpine currant, cassis and leather. Excellent, nearly profound on the palate, the nose following through to the palate, with still-present tannic structure and an honest 30+ second finish; each of us had a difficult time believing that we were tasting a 50-year old Bordeaux. What a year that must have been in the Bordeaux vineyards! Only bottle, and could not have wished for more out of this experience!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1961 Domaine Lynch-Bages...again, what appears to be an original cork and a great fill level....browning at the edges.....nose is fruit/leaves/pencil lead...the fruit still gives pleasure but this bottle was at full maturity....excellent with medium-rare lamb chops....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine looked strong with a red/purple center and tawny rims. The high- intensity nose of red fruit, pine sap, soil was impressive. As it aired, the pine sap element receeded and an attractive mint element emerged. I could see why some people call this the "poor man's Mouton". While the nose was not nearly as complex as Mouton's, it had some similarities.
In the mouth the wine was medium bodied with ripe fruit, rounded tannin and very good length. This was a classy, attractive wine that seemed to be in its drinking window (with 2+ hours of air). I would guess it will last for 10+ years at this level.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Kent's 50th birthday, was suprisingly still put together. It was pretty cool trying something so old. Mid shoulder fill. I opened the bottle 2 hours before pouring, did not decant. We drank it over 2+ hours, A little funky smelling for the first 10-15 minutes but it blew off. Just started to fade as we finished it off. Not quite magic in a bottle but it was still quite a treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Edward Roberts International Pre-Auction Tasting (The Union League Club (Chicago)): Nice wine but obviously on the decline. Brick reddish color with some browning. On the nose I got a lot of stewed fruits/tomato (kinda V8 juice like), mushrooms, damp earth (wet forest floor) and a little tobacco character that took some swirling to coax out. The palate followed the nose with the stewed tomatoes, also the alcohol came out a little here. Overall a nice wine but this bottle was on the decline.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Greatest Pig Roast Ever?? (Chicagoland): Brickish color. Dirty decaying fruit on the nose. Lean, acidic palate with no fruit. Too bad, as the others I've had over the past year have been pretty good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
NC Cindy tasting. This wine was the main focus of the event. Opening the bottle was interesting by itself. Mid-shoulder fill, the cork did split using a worm, but was relatively easily removed. It was intact throughout, although heavily oxidized all along the bottle surface. The cork was clearly original, as the original printing could be just made out once the cork had aired a little. The wine was brick red and quite oxidized and sedimented. Almost mud-puddle-like. The wine was poured through a filter into a decanter, then immediately transferred to wine glasses for tasting.
The nose was full of milk chocolate and cherry skins. There were also significant note of nail polish and water core apple, though, which clearly indicated this wine was well past its prime, if the color left any doubt.
On the palate the wine was surprisingly tannic, and surprisingly complex. It was dominated by light red plums and Braeburn apple. There was also a good deal of truffle and the flavor of spirit-soaked cranberries like those used in making holiday glug. There were also small amounts model paint or acetone flavors, but not so much as to make the experience unpleasant. It also had a very Port-like character, but muted - almost like Port in the distance, if that means anything.
Even after nearly 50 years in the bottle, this wine still had a thirty-second finish. I can only guess what this wine must have been like 25 years ago.
I have an insufficient frame of reference to truly rate a wine of this age, so my score should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cedar, cherries, tobacco, earth, forest floor, truffles, mushroom, minerals and cassis are easy to spot. Full bodied, rich and concentratedr, this still powerful wine pairs grace with elegance and the patina of age to deliver textural and aromatic sensations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Low shoulder fill. Decanted for 20 minutes. Some red currant aromas and tobacco, but overwhelmed by a tomato leaf character. Decent palate, with some fruit remaining with a good bit of mineral. Moderate finish. The 4th bottle I've had from the same case and I'd put this one in third place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Weekend of Excess; 7/24/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicago/Northbrook, IL): 2nd bottle this weekend. Both had low shoulder fills. With this bottle there was a good bit of iron on both the nose and palate along with notes of tomato leaf and juice. Still some sweet dark fruit with a bit of tea flavors. A good bottle of wine, but not near the bottle had last night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Birthday Weekend; 7/23/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicagoland): Lucky to try this twice in one weekend. This bottle is more bloody mary type tomato juice notes. Some tea leaf and tobacco. Showing its age a bit. No tannins, but some balancing acidity leaves this a bit top heavy. Enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Phil's B-Day; 7/23/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicago): Had this wine twice in two days! This thing was still humming, tasted far younger than a '61. A masculine profile with rich dark fruits, an earthy core and tobacco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Weekend of Excess; 7/24/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicago/Northbrook, IL): A powerful Pauillac nose with sweet dark fruits and earth. Sweet, lush fruit on the palate with nice acidity. Still just a bit of tannin on the backend. A beautiful wine with nice structure. Had three bottles from the same case in the past 6 weeks and this one was the best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Birthday Weekend; 7/23/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicagoland): Still big, but in a superposition of young/old at the moment. Some tomato juice notes, with cassis and dark fruits. Tobacco. Toned down structure that leaves things a bit angular; still, a very enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a really nice wine. Sweet red cherry fruit, good acidity, very soft. Very earthy, some cedar notes, quite Burgundian. It really opened up in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Low shoulder fill and the cork simply slid right into the bottle with touched (no pressure at all) with the corkscrew. Fantastic aromas of black fruit and cedar with dark flowers and saddle leather. Great mouthfeel and kept getting better with time in the glass. Wine showed wonderful, but a little worried about the cork issue. Will need to try another from the same case soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lunch at Dan Bailey's Rusty colour. Very Burgundian, and sits easily alongside the 1981 Chambolle Musigy. Lovely sweet fruit and nice acidity. It is elegant, decayed, and not at all a typical Bordeaux (which may be why I like it!) dg-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Audouzed for 6 hours before serving alongside the 88 and an 88 Pape Clement. A dark, plummy colour with similar sweet plummy, but somewhat sombre nose and palate. No real complexity. Not a very exciting showing and no way of identifying this from AN Other aged claret let alone as a pauillac or lynch bages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lynch Bages Vertical (Sweet and Savories): Extremely young in color-a healthy red with no bricking. Clearly a well stored bottle. If given the choice though, I would not have opened it hours prior as it was. Bright and aggressive nose of mushrooms, a hint of funk and leather, with great grilled herb undertones. The palate showed some liveliness with a little bite of acidity but with some fruit clearly drying out. The finish was very long. The wine went through two changes while it sat in glass. After about 20 minutes it took on a much darker quality with a sexy charcoal and darker fruit personality. Then, after another 20 minutes it started to fall apart. Excellent experience though from a great cellar I am sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lynch Bages Vertical 1961-2005 (Sweets and Savories, Chicago IL): nose: very youthful with a good amount of verve to it providing tones of dark red cherries, cedar, pencil lead, rich cranberry tones, spice box, and some undertones of saddle leather. Very vibrant for a while that completely belies its age. It sat in teh glass for a while and took on some older tones of mushrooms and some traces of barnyard. This bottle had an amazing nose while it held up, just so pungent and vibrant with great amounts of depth, it was a pure pleasure just to smell while it was together
taste: Medium tannins still persist on this bottle with exalted tones of dark red cherries, pencil lead, cranberries, spice box tones and bits of barnyard. Nice medium/light feel that shows off the age while still being well put together
overall: a triumph of cellaring. This bottle was in pristine shape and held itself together in the glass for a while. There was little to no bricking and the color was very youthful. Great nose that was seamless and a pure joy while it held itself together for a while. It did start to fall apart after about 1 1/2 hours, but at that point it had been open for nearly 3 hours. It didn't completely fall apart as it more just smelled like the age that one would expect on it, but still had a vibrant character to it that certainly held together. A real treat
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Uncorked and allowed to stand for 5 hours before tasting. Clear rim, but still a good garnet color through the center. An expressive nose dominated by the old wine character. On the palate, there was red fruit in the background with generous spice along with the funky earth and leather flavors. Great balance and fully integrated tannins. Held up for nearly an hour after pouring before it started to fade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Trip to Bern's for Old Bordeaux and Burgundy (Tampa, FL): Yumm! Wowza, textbook LB. I love this stuff. Black fruit, graphite, tobacco, very ripe and lush. This makes me wonder just how terrific the 1989 and 1990 Lynch Bages will be with another 25 years. Stupendous nightcap!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the first time I've experienced an aged Bordeaux of this caliber. I did not know what to expect from this wine. My friend purchased it from a charity auction a few years ago. We did not have an Ahh-So cork remover so removing the cork was a bit of a challenge. The cork was in excellent shape for a 46 year old bottle with the wine soaking it only about halfway up the cork. There was only about 1.5 cm of ullage. After some drilling with a waiter's corkscrew and a bit of straining the wine was on its way into the decanter to remove any sediment and excess cork. It was amber, dark tea-like in color. The nose reminded me of the sweet, almost stink-like odor a rose can sometimes emit. The wine may have indicated initially that it was a bit past prime. The flavor, however, was delicious. Unbelievably vibrant with puckeringly tart cherry that was mouthwatering. Some tannins still prevailed as was evident by the sweet dryness on the outside portion of the midpalate and inner cheeks. A great experience! Score reserved as I don't feel I really have a measuring stick with which to judge. Thanks Rosey! It was a memory I'll cherish forever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed at Berns Steakhouse in Tampa; this bottle has been well cellared. Decanted 30 minutes before brought to the table. The wine had a brickish mahogany color in the decanter. The initial boquet in the glass was rater closed, but opened up with a little more time. The wine was youthfull, in balance, with a medium body. The finish went on for a full 30 seconds. Obviously this wine has peaked, but should go on for many more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nice display of Cuban tobacco, forest floor, plums and cassis. Good weight, but as a matter of style, this wine was almost brutish. Very masculine and brawny, almost simple. The finish ended with a hint of tart flavors. I've tasted better bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lovely colour – this could be 10-20 years younger to judge from the colour. Very perfumed nose with a mint and lavender fragrance. This is nice and pleasant on the palate with quite forward sweetish fruit, yet also light and elegant. There are some nice spicy tannins on the finish, followed up by super length. Very Good Indeed. It holds up very well in the glass with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was just a lovely bottle of wine, this bottle was in excellent condition. The color retains a deep garnet, clear at the rim with no signs of bricking. As one would expect, this wine is fully mature and showing well for a 47 year old bottle. It still possessed a delicious core of sweet dark fruit, cassis being dominant. A touch of leather and cedar fill in the earth notes. Showing excellent balance and a wonderful sustained finish these characteristics round out the experience. The freshness of this bottle was excellent and one may think they were drinking the 1990 if not for it’s fully resolved nature. Not decanted and consumed over a period of 3 hours it would have lasted still longer. Note that this tasting note is for this bottle. At this age storage really is an important factor in ones perception of the wine. It’s really difficult to extrapolate from this note how other bottles would show.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has always been a favorite for me, and this bottle was spectacular. Wow, wow, wow. Sex in a bottle. Just a touch less evolved than typical, which was part of the enjoyment. Let me repeat, I love this wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Found this for a relative steal on a hotel wine list and couldn't resist. Decanted at the table, it opened up immediately. It's clearly showing its age, first by the bricking in the glass, and then a muted nose. On the palate it has gorgeous fruit, but maybe not quite the silky mouthfeel the first LB I fell in love with, the 1985. Long satisfying finish. I think this vintage is at or slightly past its prime; drink up and enjoy !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredible Pauillac nose of pencil shavings and forest floor, also some soy, leather, mushroom - you name it. The palate was not as good as the nose however, it was more then adequate. Drink Up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I didn’t get to compare the color, but it didn’t look obviously older than the Latour. The nose and the taste are incredibly smooth and seamless, yet it is still structured. It will be interesting to learn how long this wine can hang on, as it showed no real signs of aging. I am amazed at how well the older wines performed during these two days of wine tasting. I would have expected more signs of aging, but these could have all passed blind for much younger wines. Another great experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great Wines at Brad's House (Minneapolis): Same bottle as Siggy's TN... Again, this was a dynamite bottle of Bordeaux. I slightly preferred the other-worldly '82 Latour tonight (thanks, Brad!), but the '61 L-B did have an extra dimension in its aroma and texture - due to its extended bottle age - that was quite flattering for the wine, IMO. Dark fruit, tobacco, cedar; earthy aromas rose effortlessly from the glass. Gorgeous, and amazingly youthful for a 40+ year old wine...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Follow Up Dinner of (Mostly) Bordeaux (Brad's House, Minneapolis): This is a 45 year old wine? Wow, this just bursts with sweet, jammy cassis and blackberry fruit. More supple and fruit-forward than the 1982 Latour that proceeded it, this wine had a seriously rich, juicy mouthfeel and loads of glycerin. Impressive structure, concentration and length. Blind, I would have guessed this was a 1990. Amazing stuff!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
this is the second bottle that keith and i have shared together. the notes for this tasting are not available. we recall that the wine was still going strong. a truly memorable lynch bages. wish we had more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed at the Brasserie in single-blind fashion. Bottle taken from my personal cellar. Deep garnet robe with orange rim. Clean but somewhat subdued nose, opening to a plateau after approximately one hour in decanter. The predominant aromas are black fruit, violets, coffee and smoke. Full-bodied on the palate, with ample sweet tannins and similar flavors as for the nose, with the addition of licorice and light chocolate. Long, smooth finish. This wine is drinking very nice now, but clearly has the structure and fruit backbone to enable several more years of enjoyment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bel-Air bottle. Very orange, no brown. Loosening up on nose and palate. Still complex though and not without interest but past its prime if this bottle is representative.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bel-Air Bottle. Hand carried to San Francisco. About as good as Lynch Bages can be. Huge spicy bouquet. Concentrated and pure. Strong spine of acidity. Lightly tannic. Immensely flavorful if a bit simple. Manly and thick. Splendid claret at peak with a good future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It traveled very well; I brought it to San Francisco where we drank it at the “Dining Room” at the Ritz-Carlton. Excellent grip. Mature but not loosening up. Cedar, oak, blackberry, all in harmony. Very fine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slipping a bit. Very mature bricky edge. Expressive. Hearty Cabernet Sauvignon cedar fruit. On the palate, the structure is weakening as is the fruit. The bones are showing (tannins, acid). Not as creamy luscious as 5 years ago but still enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hugh’s bottle, from Marin Wine Cellar. Another great showing for this wine. Youthful color. Big bouquet of cedar and spice. Full, delicious, perfect finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dry dark, no sign of age. Incredible gorgeous flowery cedar nose. Refreshing acidity of the best kind. Tannins resolved. Will last. Magnificent. Surely one of the best wines of this great vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby, no brown. Penetrating cedar Cabernet bouquet which held easily for 3 hours. Not overly complex but deep rich flavor through to the fine lingering finish. Tannins resolved. Perfectly mature now but should hold. Outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
keith presented this bottle for a cellar tasting. it was absolutely spectacular. dark, red/brown color, still firm rim. rich bouquet, full bodied, flavorsome, mature now. heavy sediment tending cloudy, needed filtering.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/13/2024 - bromion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cork was in bad shape but after a gentle decant this wine really opened up. Hard to fathom that it is 62+ years old. Beautiful nose of pepper, tea, leather, and spices. Palate a bit thin as expected but delivered some flavors of citrus (a tad sour), spices, raspberry, and chocolate. Some tannin structure remaining but not strong. Exceeded expectations!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2023 - llink wrote: 93 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 G, My 3rd ranked wine, groups 2nd. A little tired on the nose, some VA with charred bottle funk. Sweet fruit, perhaps a little bit stewed/raisined, but still quite round and inviting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2023 - Cailles wrote: 97 Points
20 Mature Magnums (mostly Bdx, w/ Unico, Vogue Musigny, Marthas): From magnum. Three 1961 Bordeauxs side-by-side. The Lynch Bages (97pts) and the Pontet Canet (95pts) showed both exceptionally well. Highly complex, with all the telltale Pauillac tertiary aromas and a still intact sweet fruit core, high precision and purity and with superb freshness. Some points deducted as both wines had still slightly grippy tannins. The Calon Segur (90pts) showed highly complex and with an intriguing caramel core but was a bit wild and muddy with some strange notes too.
TN: Dark brooding, dense nose, so fresh with lots of minty notes. Some tobacco which gets a bit more prominent with time. On the palate this is amazing, so much freshness, velvety texture and feel, good weight and a long sweet finish. Perfectly balanced but still a bit masculine and grippy in its structural appearance. The aroma complex is very intriguing with precise notes of dark fruits, a superb sweet fruit core in general, caramel notes, herbs lots of minerality, tobacco, some hints of truffles and with time even some malty notes to die for. Easily 97pts today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 97 Points
Magnum Rarities Tasting in Zurich (Zunfthaus zur Waag, Zurich): From Magnum: Concentrated and polished with ripe and still fully present fruit. A touch of Williams. Aromas of sweet spice add plenty of youthful sexiness, especially as aging notes were only really in background. Adds more menthol-like complexity with aeration. Youthful palate with plenty of structure, bold even, and now adding a ton of leather an tobacco. This is a fabulous Lynch Bages and absolutely comparable to the stars from 1982, 1989, 1990.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2023 - G_H wrote: 97 Points
Annual Richter All-Magnum Extravaganza: Out of a pristine magnum, this was the best showing of this wine I ever was lucky to experience. Bread crust, elegant red fruit, espresso, mint, milk chocolate, perfectly mature deep and broad on the palate, finishing very long. One of the top three wines of the night
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2023 - SimonG wrote: flawed
Half. Great level. Amazing colour, really dense mid ruby. Looks in fantastic condition, but the nose reveals otherwise — full on VA. It’s all acetone, pear drop and with a little more air, cow glue. Such a shame. Imported in barrel and bottled by the merchant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2022 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
Purchased from a very trusted merchant, this bottle was in perfect condition with a top shoulder fill and a cork which was extracted intact. It really needed an hour in the decanter to blow away any funk. It is a top notch wine and a privilege to drink, but this bottle has started its gentle downwards slope with early sherry notes appearing on the finish and nose. The nose and palate warranted another couple of points, but its over age is starting to show on the finish. The nose is divine with leather, stewed black fruits, with subtle apple, mint, and floral notes. The palate, as you would expect, is displaying full secondary and tertiary characteristics, and is silky smooth and fully integrated and with perfect balance, but surprisingly still with a good tannic feel. At this age bottle variation is always come into play, and another one could still be in its prime. However, I would recommend to be drinking this now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2022 - tbabes wrote: 99 Points
Double decanted both bottles an hour before service. Ruby core with bricking. Notes of black truffle, earth, leather, roasted fennel; hints of lead pencil and cigar box. Medium bodied, good acidity, velvety texture, and a long and focused finish. Both bottles were purchased from the original owner, and had very top shoulder fills.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2022 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Earth with cedar and light blackberry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2022 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Drank in London
Quite faded, I think the bottle not the wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2021 - S1 Likes this wine:
OLD Birthday Wines (a few days belated) (Chez S1): Saturated cork easily extracted with Durand. The nose is reticent at first bit evolves in the glass. Dark cassis and hints of red cherry dominate, with tertiary levels of black licorice, fresh green herbs, cinnamon, and tobacco, enveloped in powerful but balanced tannins. This wine still has quite a bit of life remaining.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2021 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright ruby, bright elegant palate, red fruits, raspberries. Tertiary leather is a big but not overpowering presence. Dried rose petal nose. Acidity high, tannins still providing grip. Dryish medium length finish. Drink now but no sign of this being past its best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2021 - iainlo@gmail.com wrote: flawed
Bought at Christies auction, came without label but cork clearly showed 1961. Level into shoulder and clear evidence of seepage. Tired, no vigor, lean with porty finish. Not a good bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2021 - waywardsailor wrote: 90 Points
Managed to find a bottle for a friend's 60th bday. It was from a wine collector who supposedly stored it properly. The bottle looked pristine, high shoulder. Had it shipped from the west coast to the east coast. Let it settle for a couple of days before opening it. Upon removal of the foil, I noticed that some of the wine had spilled out of the cork. A bit apprehensive about what the wine will taste like after seeing this. Cork broke apart using the corkscrew (I didn't have an Ah So with me), so I had to push the cork into the bottle and decant it. The nose was fortunately pleasant with hints of leather, earth. After letting it sit for an hour, we sampled the wine. There was still a little fruit left. Mellow. Well balanced. However, another hour later, some of the pleasantness dissipated, and now was left with a bit of funk on the nose and palate as well. Probably past its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2021 - SFerencak wrote: 70 Points
Heavy sediment. Tasted better after airing out 15 minutes. Past its prime but still drinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2020 - paul195 wrote: 94 Points
60s Dinner — 1961 Bordeaux Flight Chateau Lynch Bages, Canon and Cos d’Estournel. Each wine was double decanted for sediment
The Lynch Bages with its dark cherry and cassis fruit all wrapped in cedar, tar and earth notes stood out. It’s fruit benefited from the wines acidity, giving it a freshness that was engaging. Balanced, mature, layered, lovely finish, delicious. Wine of the flight
The Canon was the darkest of the flight. Initial mustiness quickly blew off after 10-15 minutes to reveal plums, violets And earth notes. Fuller bodied than the LB, nice texture and richness. Balanced, resolved, with a lingering finish. Others were surprised how well it drank. I admit to being a Canon fan, had the 1955 and 1982 earlier this year and found this 61 a wonderful contrast to the lighter more elegant Lynch Bages
The Cos had a TS fill, a ruby core with maturing edge. The initial nose showed this bottle had challenges. After 30 minutes still had a mustiness that remained. It’s Palate was cleaner than the nose, medium weight, decent balance and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2020 - havana4 🍾🍇 Likes this wine: 90 Points
@Wallys Santa Monica
Hmmmm...this was underwhelming overall. The palate was actually still intact with some acidity and fruit left, but it was the nose that was so offsetting. It was way too funky and never really blew off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2020 - mattiasjansson wrote: flawed
1961 vs 1982 Bordeaux (Boston): Raisiny/oxidized
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2020 - Pcrage wrote:
Bad bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2019 - melzar wrote: 94 Points
From 750: Mid shoulder fill. A bit past prime, but still on it's plane of maturity, and drinking well. Smelled like balsamic vinegar upon opening, but blossomed in decanter to reveal it's fruit. Well balanced and a real pleasure To drink.Will last a few years, but recommend drinking up. Drank with erter99 and friends in Nashville TN.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2019 - Ms. Bubblehead Likes this wine:
Dark plums, earthiness, dry soil, dark chocolate, modestly roasted herbs, and black olives, it is amazing how much fruits there were still presenting in the glass.
Had it along with 1989 Lynch Bages, 1989 certainly showed deeper structure and more chewy texture on the palate, lingering longer than 1961, while 1961 texture has softened a lot with time. 1961 is now at its peak drinking window, nonetheless, still a legendary bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2019 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black currant, soil, truffle, and tobacco. Harmonious and transperent on the palate with good freshness. Certainly at its peak. Good representation of the vintage. 93+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2019 - sdr Likes this wine: 93 Points
1961 in Florida (Cafe Maxx, Pompano Beach, Florida): The ‘61 version is recognizable Lynch Bages for its slightly coarse texture and bold take-no-prisoners character. Really concentrated and energetic, it seems like it could go on for another decade or two. Black fruity and unabashedly Pauillac. Even better, it evolved in the glass and became more complex.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2018 - Burgnick wrote:
Level is mid shoulder. The wine is initially tired but it somewhat revives after 2 hours with acidity. But the fruit has faded with secondary note like tobacco, leather and earth. I don’t think the condition of this bottle warrants a judgement of the wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2018 - englishman's claret wrote: 95 Points
The wines of Lynch are among the most transparent in Bordeaux - they always reflect the vintage and, when you go back far enough, they show you the way wine-making in Bordeaux has changed over the years. I love the 1960s Lynch vintages - they are often wild wines; a bit of volatility poking out, tannic, and generally a bit unpolished cf the 1980s and more recent vintages.
This 61, British bottled (Gloac) is no exception, showing off a ripe, cassis, plum, minty nose with accents of sage and chocolate. A little bit of VA helps keep the nose lively. An hour in the decanter helps the nose evolve. Getting a little delicate on the palate now, but there is still plenty of substance. Rustic tannins befitting its age. Doesn't finish particularly well now - as lovely as it is, this isn't getting better. Overall a bit better than a chateau-bottled 61 last year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2018 - englishmen’s claret Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted long side 82, 85 and eventually the 64. This wine had all the elements in the Lynch Bages tool kit- herbaceous nose, pencil shavings, mint plus a tiny hint of chocolate. It was fantastic. This was my second bottle in the last year and this (an English bottling) was far superior to the first. Classic Lynch Bages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2018 - RockinCabs wrote: 95 Points
Nose: Transports you to a land far away with a browning patina painted over the blackberry, Plum, tobacco and cedar notes. Much nuance with curry, animal, and other more wild/feral aromas poking out. Palate: Balanced with still fresh dark fruit, then an edge of bruised berries, and layers of detailed nuances. Cedar, mineral, clove, mint and tea. Still packing some tannin too.
A very special opportunity to see the 1961 from a neck fill English bottling. Thank you Englishman's Claret for bringing this fabulous bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2017 - Natewing wrote: flawed
Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Young but not always clear nor particularly deep.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2017 - jreis Likes this wine:
Almost no signs of bricking, still a very solid dark core - remarkably youthful and ready to go from the start. Smoky black pepper, licorice, tobacco, cedar and that tell tale LB green pepper note on the nose. Still very concentrated on the palate, with beautiful texture, still some tannic grip, leather and sweet red fruit. Very sexy and youthful for a 55 year old. Outstanding bottle - no signs of fading after sitting in the glass for over an hour for the last sip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2017 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 94 Points
1961 Bordeaux tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Fairly consistent with my last experience with this wine. Perhaps not the most interesting of the wines in the tasting, but solid and fully mature. Black currant, cedar, mushroom, and earth. At times, imparted a slight medicinal funk but not too bothersome. Beautifully balanced, with silky tannins well integrated. Impressive long finish, though acid a tad high. Overall, this is a solid, consistent wine from 1961 that should continue to drink well for awhile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2016 - englishman's claret wrote: 94 Points
Really nice; a little slow to start. Cassis and mineral at the outset, with time developing delightful mocha and biscuit notes. Not quite as exotic as one might expect with Lynch. To be honest I prefer the 62 though it doesn't have quite as much substance left. A great bottle that was loads of fun to drink. The hand reaches for a second glass. Thanks Brad!!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2016 - tinybubbles wrote: 92 Points
True to character but slightly muddled. 92-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2016 - tinybubbles wrote: flawed
Off bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2016 - dcwino wrote: 97 Points
2016 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium - Kelly, Alan and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/3/2016-11/12/2016 (Villa D’este, Lake Como, Piedmont, Milan and Frankfurt): Incredibly complex fully mature claret nose displaying sweet red fruit, a hint of cassis, leather, tobacco, cedar, lead pencil, caramel, a hint of balsamico/VA that adds the freshness and complexity, sautéed cep and earth. Excellent concentration, very youthful and vibrant, sweet red fruit and leather driven palate impression, bright acidity, strong presence of mineral, still a hint of sweet tannins, and a long sweet cedar driven finish that resonates. Exceptional bottle, spectacular!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2016 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Mostly Older Bordeaux: Drinking very well, with leather accenting ripe curranty fruit, it isn't showing its age and blind I'd be inclined to guess it was the 1982 (until I had a 1982 later in the tasting).
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2016 - RaphaelMalago Likes this wine: 88 Points
- Lynch Bages 1961 - another brilliant bottle, showing the sign of a maturity aging to it. The nose shows its fully maturity, cedar, a beautiful eucalyptus, cassis running through it. Beautiful palate, great austerity and maturity, its reach still have not steely but amazing. Tobacco coming out of the glass. Fading out after 30-45min
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2016 - tooch wrote: 87 Points
Dinner at Marc's (Marc's Apartment - Chicago, IL): From half bottle. After the 1961 Trotanoy, we wanted to try it alongside another 1961 - this time, from the Left Bank. Grabbed the Lynch and popped and poured it directly from the cellar. Wasn't nearly as pristine as the Trot, but did have some nice qualities to it. The cedar, tobacco notes were lingering, but a lot of the fruit had gone away. I liked the wine, but it lived in the shadows of the Trot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2016 - ATBridge wrote:
Same bottle as Prof B. And I've had similar bottle variation with the '61 Lynch, with this bottle being the best thus far. Classic aged Pauillac with impressive fruit still present, in addition to the tertiary notes. I was impressed with the balance of this wine, and the still present, albeit resolving tannins. Drinking beautifully now, but I imagine sound bottles will continue to hold--no reason to wait, though!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2016 - prof b wrote: 96 Points
Andy brought the first wine, 1961 Château Lynch-Bages, which tasted exquisite right from the start. I picked up on mint, earth, tobacco, strawberry, and cassis in this one. The group correctly determined this to be an older wine from the tertiary components. Most guesses were in the 60s, mine was 66.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2016 - fclarity wrote: 95 Points
From a perfect bottle, this wine had a deep red center with orange at the rim. The medium+ intensity nose of currants, cigar box, brown spices, soil, and a hint of mint were impressive. One could see the "poor man's Mouton" comparison.
In the mouth, this wine was medium bodied with excellent richness, rounded tannin, solid acidity, and great length. It had tons of complexity and I loved its seamless integration.
This was the best bottle of this wine I have had and I doubt it will get any better. Enjoy!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 94 Points
A Margaux & Pauillac tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Drinking extremely well for a ’61. Still with excellent concentration and deep color. Cassis, black cherry, leather, Asian spices, and cedar. Opened up over two hours and improved significantly in the glass. Still has a solid tannic structure. Only knock would be a bit high acid on the (lengthy) finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 90 Points
Suspect nose with wet cardboard, wet dog, faint white pepper, and whiffs of vanilla. It gets better on the palate with red plum notes. Overall thin but persistent while it lasts, which isn't long. Somewhat unkempt and past peak, drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2015 - fclarity wrote: 94 Points
From a nice looking bottle with a high shoulder fill, this wine had orange rims and a deep red center. The nose was quite funky and off at first. Later, it developed an attractive cherry and mint quality but this bottle was not 100% on.
In the mouth, this wine had a lush, round mouthfeel, rounded tannins, and great length. It was rich and ripe with lovely balance. It was just held back by a bit of a bitter edge. However, you could see that if that flaw had not been present, the wine would have catapulted up the scoreboard into the 96ish range.
I believe this wine suffers from some bottle variation.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Cigar box, wet earth, cedar chest and cassis on the nose. The wine is better on the palate with its fresh, sweet cherry, spicy cassis flavors and medium bodied, fully developed character. Each bottle is different, especially with 50 years of age. It’s important to note, I’ve had much better bottles and a few that were worse. Such is life.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2014 - dimdic wrote:
Not much left. Some aroma of tea, leaves, humid earth. Some sour plum and berry taste. Completely soften structure and tannin, nearly watery.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2014 - G_H Likes this wine: 96 Points
Double blind tasting at Farnsburg (Restaurant Farnsburg, Switzerland): Fruits in rum, camomile, very very long cooked beef stock, some blood, orange peel, grand marnier. Plums, super concentrated and ultra long.
Can you imagine that this wine is served at a restaurant by the glass for as little as 15$ a taste? You have to love the Farnsburg restaurant for doing that!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2014 - Ivan Ma wrote:
Obviously has already passed the peak for this bottle. Watery with acidity. No fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2014 - nikos wrote: 94 Points
Great wine. fruit still dominating with a mix of earth and minerality. Beautiful cassis and cabernet. Nice change up after all that burg.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 97 Points
Anniversary Dinner with '61 Lynch Bages (La Belle Vie, Mpls): Very dark/purple red color, 1mm slightly clear meniscus, no bricking, mid shoulder fill. Coravined into glasses, drank 2 glasses with a big anniversary dinner at La Belle Vie. WOW, I am flat out stunned by this wine. Absolutely pristine condition, I would never guess this to be 53 years old if drinking blind. More importantly, it was a truly memorable wine on multiple levels. It just kept blowing up in the glass and getting better and better. Great nose! Saddle leather, funk, savory, red fruits initially, graphite, mushroom, subtle cedar, blueberry, just amazing fruit on the nose which takes on an incredible floral perfume over about 15-20 minutes. The palate is equally impressive, full bodied, concentrated and layered, tobacco leaf, cassis, black cherry, cedar box,funky earth, wet saddle leather, blueberry, ample round tannins and a ridiculously long 90 second plus finish. So complex and nuanced. Clearly, well stored bottles have got significant longevity left as this improved over time and has excellent supporting structure. The tannins are gorgeous and round and evident and the fruit is big and bright yet. Fabulous. 96+ to 97pts.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2014 - Alex G. wrote:
This wine was cloudy, I believe from all the sediment being jostled in flight. So, it may really have suffered from some travel shock. That said, the '62 Latour was right next to it on the same trip and no problem there.
Light garnet opaque color, elegant nose at first, it drank more like a Burgundy or old Barolo than a Pauillac. I was delighted upon the first sip, quite elegant, and an utterly different style than I was anticipating.
Alas, the good times didn't last and it fell apart in the glass pretty quickly. This bottle appeared to be very well stored, fill was perfect. So, not really sure what to make of this, but on the basis of this experience I would drink it again, but I wouldn't pay much for the privilege.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2014 - esburgundy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank in LV with OT. Wow, great treat! Bottle was in perfect condition. Great nose, very spicy and woody. In mouth wine had great weight and was superbly balanced. Great secondary flavors of mushroom, tobacco and cedar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2013 - wdcwine wrote: 92 Points
Anytime you get a chance to drink a '61 is a special day, never mind a '61 Lynch! That being said, it is a nice wine but no longer a great wine. Definitely still a little fruit left, but the wine (I suspect) is a shadow of its former self. It peaked about 15 minutes in and the finish was really nice and long with lots of classic Paulliac cedar and cigar box, but the wine started to decline after about 45 minutes and after 90 minutes it was gone. I don't regret spending $400 to try this with family on Christmas, and am thankful for the opportunity, but I wouldn't buy another bottle at that price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2013 - bordeaux61 Likes this wine: 85 Points
The '61 Lynch Bages was strange. The cork had fallen down into the neck of bottle. When I took the foil off, I thought there was no cork at first! Then, when I went to use a corkscrew, just touching the cork made if fall into the bottle! I was sure it was ruined. It ended up not having gone bad, but the flavor was not as good as all the other '61 Bordeaux I've had. It was kind of boring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2013 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Bring something really good dinner – FGs, Pomerol, Y’quem, Leroy, Vogue, Dujac and etc. (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Tertiary dominating nose of sweet dry black fruits, cassis, leather, wet tobacco, lead pencil mushroom and earth. Excellent concentration, round silky palate, still noticeable tannins and good length. At the peak but will remain excellent for awhile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2013 - Philippe_C wrote: 97 Points
WOW nose of cedar, cèpes de Bordeaux, creamy, leather... wet horse, wild poultry, loads of leather and cigar box... amazing for a 52 year old Bordeaux!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2013 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 95 Points
Carrots & Chicken (Vernon, CT): This was far-and-away the bottle of the night for me and, I think, everyone else. A beautiful nose of sweet cherries, leather, a perfume of spice and cedar. A silky entry, light+ tannin, medium+ acid. Dark cherry and spice with a delightful note of fruit sweetness. Polish. Class. Amazing. My 1/7
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2013 - salil wrote: 95 Points
An absolutely stunning bottle; powerfully fragrant with layers of mature savoury earthy, leathery, tobacco, graphite and cedar notes framing a core of red and dark fruited flavours that still show plenty of freshness and intensity. The palate presence is remarkable, there's an incredible sense of polish and harmony here with all the flavours coming together seamlessly, and a really refined, silken texture. This was double-decanted for sediment an hour before serving, and only kept getting better with air. Fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2013 - tbabes wrote: 100 Points
Had the good pleasure of tasting two '61 Lynch Bages side by side; the first bottle had been recently purchased at retail, and the second bottle purchased at auction 20+ years ago. Both bottles were stunning, but different, which is not surprising given they were 50+ year old! Solid ruby core, turning to brick red at the rim. Notes of truffle, grilled meat, decaying flower, forrest floor; still with good ripe dark fruit aromas. Medium bodied, with a silky texture, unreal depth and balance; a long, complex and savory finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2013 - ChaineMatt Likes this wine: 95 Points
We opened this bottle (absolutely top fill, pristine condition, no label wear, cork came out in one piece), immediately decanted it and found almost no sediment. Didn't want to do anything in advance in case it wasn't going to hold up.
Immediately on the nose the classic Lynch Bages funky, hamburgers. That blew off quickly and this wine did not need any time at all to open up. Two hours later it was exactly the same. Also held up well the next morning, although some pruniness crept in.
Color was youthful, with just a touch of amber around the rim.
Tannins were just about gone, but acidity was high. The first impression on the palate was bright, fresh black cherry fruit. Extraordinary finesse for a Lynch Bages, almost delicate and feminine. Flowers on the nose, almost imperceptible oak, a touch of smoke. Length was medium, body was medium. A joy to drink, and absolutely perfect. Not 100 points because it wasn't a big beefy complex crusher, but probably the most positive surprise in a wine I have ever consumed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2013 - G_H Likes this wine: 95 Points
Richter Raritäten Degu (Restaurant Farnsburg, Switzerland): Asparagus, malt, honey, peanuts, funky but good. Very similar surprisingly to Mission 75. Still some fruit left but secondary like plums and figs. Should be drunk relatively soon...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Flickinger "Significant Cellar" Tasting (Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. Very good spice works with tobacco and mature fruit. Still large and firm, perhaps with fruit a bit more mature than I'd prefer for the structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2013 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
"A Significant Cellar" tasting at Flickinger (Chicago, IL): Classic nose of aged Bordeaux with some ripe hoisin sauce flavours to boot. A little vinegary, this bottle has seen better days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2013 - Philip Yang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Low shoulder fill. Cork came out in bits and pieces. A ted cloudy with sediments even after filtering. Nose kicked off with leather, wet socks before a nice, intense perfume took over. Medium body, rounded and silky smooth palate which lasted almost 2 hours. Well made and well stored. Would have no problem keeping it for another 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2013 - rdsboca Likes this wine: 98 Points
Spectacular nose, mature red cherry. Still very young looking in color. The wine has a steely taste on entry but it blew off as the night went on. On the palate, mature cherry, silky tannins with a firm backbone that took the wine from front to back of palate. Hints of cedar, oak and loam but not in the way. Great long finish. Great long finish. No sediment. Started to fade in the second hour. One of those wines I will always remember where, who and why we drank it. The generosity of wine friends always amazes me and the whole night was one in which each participant brought something they wanted to share.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/21/2012 - BradE wrote:
Low level, but this was rocking. Last bottle, end of an era. Always have liked this wine, very sexy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2012 - Sleepy Dave wrote: 91 Points
2012 - Old: A light herbaceous note kicking off the mature, quite broad bouquet of cedar, pencil leads, crushed rock intermixed with some dried blackcurrant and blackberry fruits. On the palate this was indeed appealing, still has a touch of tannin grip. It slowly reveals more power toward the finish. Still fresh and energetic but this is certainly not packs with the depth and scale for a top tier claret. However, I ain't complaining as this is drinking well for the 1st hr of serving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
With the patina of age in the color and nose, the perfume dealt out a complex hand of cedar wood, tobacco leaf, cigar box, cassis, cherry, spice box, leather, forest floor, wet earth, truffle and cigar ash. There was a refined sense of masculinity to the texture. The long, spicy, cherry and cassis filled finish displayed the sensations that only a perfectly, mature, older Bordeaux can deliver. At this age, it's all about the bottle. This was picked up from the original owner who kept it in a cold, dark cellar since the day it was delivered. What a nice treat! I'm definitely hanging on to some of my 1989 and 1990 Lynch Bages to enjoy when they are 50 years old. On the other hand, perhaps I should do that with my 1982's. That's only 20 more years from now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2012 - salcorn wrote: 94 Points
Bug spray (blew off immediately), big dark fruits, mint, coffee, iron, elegant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2011 - wicozani Likes this wine: 96 Points
Yet another 50th Birthday Extravaganza (Home): I had acquired this bottle several years earlier with the notion that it would serve as the centerpiece of my 50th birthday celebration. Fortunately, I was still alive and/or not in a coma or otherwise unable to appreciate this moment in time, and this was an excellent bottle.
Very top shoulder fill, the cork strongly adhered, and it came out in multiple pieces. Subsequently decanted , and it needed every bit of the 1+ hour decant it received. An amazing ruby red color with just a touch of tawniness at the edges, this showed younger than the 1978 Ducru Beaucaillou decanted alongside. The '61 Lynch Bages had an intense nose, nearly bringing tears to the eyes, with prominent tomato leaf, red alpine currant, cassis and leather. Excellent, nearly profound on the palate, the nose following through to the palate, with still-present tannic structure and an honest 30+ second finish; each of us had a difficult time believing that we were tasting a 50-year old Bordeaux. What a year that must have been in the Bordeaux vineyards! Only bottle, and could not have wished for more out of this experience!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2011 - ssouth wrote: 95 Points
1961 Domaine Lynch-Bages...again, what appears to be an original cork and a great fill level....browning at the edges.....nose is fruit/leaves/pencil lead...the fruit still gives pleasure but this bottle was at full maturity....excellent with medium-rare lamb chops....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2011 - fclarity wrote: 94 Points
This wine looked strong with a red/purple center and tawny rims. The high- intensity nose of red fruit, pine sap, soil was impressive. As it aired, the pine sap element receeded and an attractive mint element emerged. I could see why some people call this the "poor man's Mouton". While the nose was not nearly as complex as Mouton's, it had some similarities.
In the mouth the wine was medium bodied with ripe fruit, rounded tannin and very good length. This was a classy, attractive wine that seemed to be in its drinking window (with 2+ hours of air). I would guess it will last for 10+ years at this level.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2011 - potates wrote: 98 Points
Great color, very fruity forward nose, wonderful fruit and balance in the body with a long lingering delightful finish....at it's peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2011 - RWH wrote:
Kent's 50th birthday, was suprisingly still put together. It was pretty cool trying something so old. Mid shoulder fill. I opened the bottle 2 hours before pouring, did not decant. We drank it over 2+ hours, A little funky smelling for the first 10-15 minutes but it blew off. Just started to fade as we finished it off. Not quite magic in a bottle but it was still quite a treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Zachys La Paulee "Warm-up" Dinner (Tribeca Grill - New York, NY): Big and powerful from the start with black fruit, espresso, roasted meat aromas and flavors. Tannins were still a hint too obtrusive and forward for everything else left in the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2010 - PatrikO wrote: flawed
from Mag, recent seepage and crumbling cork set the stage for a brown faul smelling slush.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2010 - IWineAlot wrote: 92 Points
Edward Roberts International Pre-Auction Tasting (The Union League Club (Chicago)): Nice wine but obviously on the decline. Brick reddish color with some browning. On the nose I got a lot of stewed fruits/tomato (kinda V8 juice like), mushrooms, damp earth (wet forest floor) and a little tobacco character that took some swirling to coax out. The palate followed the nose with the stewed tomatoes, also the alcohol came out a little here. Overall a nice wine but this bottle was on the decline.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2010 - MatthewF wrote:
The Greatest Pig Roast Ever?? (Chicagoland): Brickish color. Dirty decaying fruit on the nose. Lean, acidic palate with no fruit. Too bad, as the others I've had over the past year have been pretty good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2010 - BradE wrote:
The level on this bottle was pretty low, but the wine was good. Not the outstanding 61 LB I've had numerous times, but holding up well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2010 - Phredd wrote: 92 Points
NC Cindy tasting. This wine was the main focus of the event. Opening the bottle was interesting by itself. Mid-shoulder fill, the cork did split using a worm, but was relatively easily removed. It was intact throughout, although heavily oxidized all along the bottle surface. The cork was clearly original, as the original printing could be just made out once the cork had aired a little. The wine was brick red and quite oxidized and sedimented. Almost mud-puddle-like. The wine was poured through a filter into a decanter, then immediately transferred to wine glasses for tasting.
The nose was full of milk chocolate and cherry skins. There were also significant note of nail polish and water core apple, though, which clearly indicated this wine was well past its prime, if the color left any doubt.
On the palate the wine was surprisingly tannic, and surprisingly complex. It was dominated by light red plums and Braeburn apple. There was also a good deal of truffle and the flavor of spirit-soaked cranberries like those used in making holiday glug. There were also small amounts model paint or acetone flavors, but not so much as to make the experience unpleasant. It also had a very Port-like character, but muted - almost like Port in the distance, if that means anything.
Even after nearly 50 years in the bottle, this wine still had a thirty-second finish. I can only guess what this wine must have been like 25 years ago.
I have an insufficient frame of reference to truly rate a wine of this age, so my score should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2010 - viking60 wrote: 92 Points
Mid shoulder, totally green apple. Decent tannins still, mid palate of mineral, for 50 years old, awesome character!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Cedar, cherries, tobacco, earth, forest floor, truffles, mushroom, minerals and cassis are easy to spot. Full bodied, rich and concentratedr, this still powerful wine pairs grace with elegance and the patina of age to deliver textural and aromatic sensations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Nice life still. Very enjoyable.
Some nice reductive notes here. Lots of stewd red fruit and vegetables.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2009 - MatthewF wrote:
Low shoulder fill. Decanted for 20 minutes. Some red currant aromas and tobacco, but overwhelmed by a tomato leaf character. Decent palate, with some fruit remaining with a good bit of mineral. Moderate finish. The 4th bottle I've had from the same case and I'd put this one in third place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
Phil's MONUMENTAL 33rd Birthday Wine Tasting (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Ruby brick red. Tomato juice/Bloody Mary play (agreed Phil and Matt). Brown tea leaves, exotic Asian spice.
Rose petals with a little light soy balsamic oxidation that is quite enjoyable on the nose. Rusty nail on the back end. Very nice. Elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2009 - MatthewF wrote:
A Weekend of Excess; 7/24/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicago/Northbrook, IL): 2nd bottle this weekend. Both had low shoulder fills. With this bottle there was a good bit of iron on both the nose and palate along with notes of tomato leaf and juice. Still some sweet dark fruit with a bit of tea flavors. A good bottle of wine, but not near the bottle had last night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2009 - psmith wrote:
Birthday Weekend; 7/23/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicagoland): Lucky to try this twice in one weekend. This bottle is more bloody mary type tomato juice notes. Some tea leaf and tobacco. Showing its age a bit. No tannins, but some balancing acidity leaves this a bit top heavy. Enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2009 - zimmy07 wrote:
Phil's B-Day; 7/23/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicago): Had this wine twice in two days! This thing was still humming, tasted far younger than a '61. A masculine profile with rich dark fruits, an earthy core and tobacco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2009 - MatthewF wrote:
A Weekend of Excess; 7/24/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicago/Northbrook, IL): A powerful Pauillac nose with sweet dark fruits and earth. Sweet, lush fruit on the palate with nice acidity. Still just a bit of tannin on the backend. A beautiful wine with nice structure. Had three bottles from the same case in the past 6 weeks and this one was the best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2009 - psmith wrote:
Birthday Weekend; 7/23/2009-7/25/2009 (Chicagoland): Still big, but in a superposition of young/old at the moment. Some tomato juice notes, with cassis and dark fruits. Tobacco. Toned down structure that leaves things a bit angular; still, a very enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2009 - Samantha wrote: 93 Points
This was a really nice wine. Sweet red cherry fruit, good acidity, very soft. Very earthy, some cedar notes, quite Burgundian. It really opened up in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2009 - MatthewF wrote:
Low shoulder fill and the cork simply slid right into the bottle with touched (no pressure at all) with the corkscrew. Fantastic aromas of black fruit and cedar with dark flowers and saddle leather. Great mouthfeel and kept getting better with time in the glass. Wine showed wonderful, but a little worried about the cork issue. Will need to try another from the same case soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2008 - Jeff W wrote:
Lunch at Dan Bailey's
Rusty colour. Very Burgundian, and sits easily alongside the 1981 Chambolle Musigy. Lovely sweet fruit and nice acidity. It is elegant, decayed, and not at all a typical Bordeaux (which may be why I like it!) dg-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2008 - DAN BAILEY wrote: 88 Points
Audouzed for 6 hours before serving alongside the 88 and an 88 Pape Clement. A dark, plummy colour with similar sweet plummy, but somewhat sombre nose and palate. No real complexity. Not a very exciting showing and no way of identifying this from AN Other aged claret let alone as a pauillac or lynch bages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2008 - Claudio161 wrote: 93 Points
Lynch Bages Vertical Focused on Parker 91+ Point Reds (Sweets and Savories. Fullerton near Ashland. Chicago. IL): Sight: Amazing dark red with little to no bricking. Medium viscosity.
Nose: Rose petals; perfume; oak, pencil shavings; leather saddle; and lush, rich red fruits
Palate: Fois gras; Toasted nuts; slightly showing its age. Amazing palate coating and consistent from attack through finish.
Overall: An amazing wine with an amazing nose. 92 -94 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2008 - jordanj wrote: 93 Points
Lynch Bages Vertical (Sweet and Savories): Extremely young in color-a healthy red with no bricking. Clearly a well stored bottle. If given the choice though, I would not have opened it hours prior as it was. Bright and aggressive nose of mushrooms, a hint of funk and leather, with great grilled herb undertones. The palate showed some liveliness with a little bite of acidity but with some fruit clearly drying out. The finish was very long. The wine went through two changes while it sat in glass. After about 20 minutes it took on a much darker quality with a sexy charcoal and darker fruit personality. Then, after another 20 minutes it started to fall apart. Excellent experience though from a great cellar I am sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
Lynch Bages Vertical 1961-2005 (Sweets and Savories, Chicago IL): nose: very youthful with a good amount of verve to it providing tones of dark red cherries, cedar, pencil lead, rich cranberry tones, spice box, and some undertones of saddle leather. Very vibrant for a while that completely belies its age. It sat in teh glass for a while and took on some older tones of mushrooms and some traces of barnyard. This bottle had an amazing nose while it held up, just so pungent and vibrant with great amounts of depth, it was a pure pleasure just to smell while it was together
taste: Medium tannins still persist on this bottle with exalted tones of dark red cherries, pencil lead, cranberries, spice box tones and bits of barnyard. Nice medium/light feel that shows off the age while still being well put together
overall: a triumph of cellaring. This bottle was in pristine shape and held itself together in the glass for a while. There was little to no bricking and the color was very youthful. Great nose that was seamless and a pure joy while it held itself together for a while. It did start to fall apart after about 1 1/2 hours, but at that point it had been open for nearly 3 hours. It didn't completely fall apart as it more just smelled like the age that one would expect on it, but still had a vibrant character to it that certainly held together. A real treat
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2008 - SD-Wineaux wrote: 95 Points
Uncorked and allowed to stand for 5 hours before tasting. Clear rim, but still a good garnet color through the center. An expressive nose dominated by the old wine character. On the palate, there was red fruit in the background with generous spice along with the funky earth and leather flavors. Great balance and fully integrated tannins. Held up for nearly an hour after pouring before it started to fade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2008 - Eric wrote:
A Trip to Bern's for Old Bordeaux and Burgundy (Tampa, FL): Yumm! Wowza, textbook LB. I love this stuff. Black fruit, graphite, tobacco, very ripe and lush. This makes me wonder just how terrific the 1989 and 1990 Lynch Bages will be with another 25 years. Stupendous nightcap!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2007 - PontetCanet wrote: 94 Points
This was the first time I've experienced an aged Bordeaux of this caliber. I did not know what to expect from this wine. My friend purchased it from a charity auction a few years ago. We did not have an Ahh-So cork remover so removing the cork was a bit of a challenge. The cork was in excellent shape for a 46 year old bottle with the wine soaking it only about halfway up the cork. There was only about 1.5 cm of ullage. After some drilling with a waiter's corkscrew and a bit of straining the wine was on its way into the decanter to remove any sediment and excess cork. It was amber, dark tea-like in color. The nose reminded me of the sweet, almost stink-like odor a rose can sometimes emit. The wine may have indicated initially that it was a bit past prime. The flavor, however, was delicious. Unbelievably vibrant with puckeringly tart cherry that was mouthwatering. Some tannins still prevailed as was evident by the sweet dryness on the outside portion of the midpalate and inner cheeks. A great experience! Score reserved as I don't feel I really have a measuring stick with which to judge. Thanks Rosey! It was a memory I'll cherish forever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2007 - PSirah Tampa wrote: 92 Points
Consumed at Berns Steakhouse in Tampa; this bottle has been well cellared. Decanted 30 minutes before brought to the table. The wine had a brickish mahogany color in the decanter. The initial boquet in the glass was rater closed, but opened up with a little more time. The wine was youthfull, in balance, with a medium body. The finish went on for a full 30 seconds. Obviously this wine has peaked, but should go on for many more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2007 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
A nice display of Cuban tobacco, forest floor, plums and cassis. Good weight, but as a matter of style, this wine was almost brutish. Very masculine and brawny, almost simple. The finish ended with a hint of tart flavors. I've tasted better bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2007 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 93 Points
A lovely colour – this could be 10-20 years younger to judge from the colour. Very perfumed nose with a mint and lavender fragrance. This is nice and pleasant on the palate with quite forward sweetish fruit, yet also light and elegant. There are some nice spicy tannins on the finish, followed up by super length. Very Good Indeed. It holds up very well in the glass with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2007 - JohnB wrote:
This was just a lovely bottle of wine, this bottle was in excellent condition. The color retains a deep garnet, clear at the rim with no signs of bricking. As one would expect, this wine is fully mature and showing well for a 47 year old bottle. It still possessed a delicious core of sweet dark fruit, cassis being dominant. A touch of leather and cedar fill in the earth notes. Showing excellent balance and a wonderful sustained finish these characteristics round out the experience. The freshness of this bottle was excellent and one may think they were drinking the 1990 if not for it’s fully resolved nature. Not decanted and consumed over a period of 3 hours it would have lasted still longer. Note that this tasting note is for this bottle. At this age storage really is an important factor in ones perception of the wine. It’s really difficult to extrapolate from this note how other bottles would show.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2006 - Rupert wrote: 89 Points
Lynch Bages vertical (Washington Hotel, London): Mahogany colour, nose seemed tainted, but on the palate fresh, citrus, underlying sweetness - pleasant but not great
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2006 - BradE wrote:
This has always been a favorite for me, and this bottle was spectacular. Wow, wow, wow. Sex in a bottle. Just a touch less evolved than typical, which was part of the enjoyment. Let me repeat, I love this wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2006 - Dubliner wrote: 92 Points
Found this for a relative steal on a hotel wine list and couldn't resist. Decanted at the table, it opened up immediately. It's clearly showing its age, first by the bricking in the glass, and then a muted nose. On the palate it has gorgeous fruit, but maybe not quite the silky mouthfeel the first LB I fell in love with, the 1985. Long satisfying finish. I think this vintage is at or slightly past its prime; drink up and enjoy !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2006 - Tubbs wrote: 94 Points
Incredible Pauillac nose of pencil shavings and forest floor, also some soy, leather, mushroom - you name it. The palate was not as good as the nose however, it was more then adequate. Drink Up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2006 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
I didn’t get to compare the color, but it didn’t look obviously older than the Latour. The nose and the taste are incredibly smooth and seamless, yet it is still structured. It will be interesting to learn how long this wine can hang on, as it showed no real signs of aging. I am amazed at how well the older wines performed during these two days of wine tasting. I would have expected more signs of aging, but these could have all passed blind for much younger wines. Another great experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2006 - Ben Andersen wrote:
Great Wines at Brad's House (Minneapolis): Same bottle as Siggy's TN... Again, this was a dynamite bottle of Bordeaux. I slightly preferred the other-worldly '82 Latour tonight (thanks, Brad!), but the '61 L-B did have an extra dimension in its aroma and texture - due to its extended bottle age - that was quite flattering for the wine, IMO. Dark fruit, tobacco, cedar; earthy aromas rose effortlessly from the glass. Gorgeous, and amazingly youthful for a 40+ year old wine...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2006 - Siggy wrote: 98 Points
Follow Up Dinner of (Mostly) Bordeaux (Brad's House, Minneapolis): This is a 45 year old wine? Wow, this just bursts with sweet, jammy cassis and blackberry fruit. More supple and fruit-forward than the 1982 Latour that proceeded it, this wine had a seriously rich, juicy mouthfeel and loads of glycerin. Impressive structure, concentration and length. Blind, I would have guessed this was a 1990. Amazing stuff!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2004 - bacchus wrote: 96 Points
this is the second bottle that keith and i have shared together. the notes for this tasting are not available. we recall that the wine was still going strong. a truly memorable lynch bages. wish we had more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2002 - sdr Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Jim’s bottle. Clearly past its best. Too dry on nose and finish. Decent but lacking flesh in the mid palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 91 Points
Consumed at the Brasserie in single-blind fashion. Bottle taken from my personal cellar. Deep garnet robe with orange rim. Clean but somewhat subdued nose, opening to a plateau after approximately one hour in decanter. The predominant aromas are black fruit, violets, coffee and smoke. Full-bodied on the palate, with ample sweet tannins and similar flavors as for the nose, with the addition of licorice and light chocolate. Long, smooth finish. This wine is drinking very nice now, but clearly has the structure and fruit backbone to enable several more years of enjoyment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2000 - JeffJo wrote: 91 Points
Very rich and complex. Tannins are totally integrated and still has a wide, tobacco, leathery scent. Creamy and smoky with a moderately long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/1997 - sdr wrote: 86 Points
Bel-Air bottle. Very orange, no brown. Loosening up on nose and palate. Still complex though and not without interest but past its prime if this bottle is representative.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/1997 - sdr Likes this wine: 88 Points
Better color than the ‘59. Orange rim. Much fresher nose, too. Rather elegant for Lynch Bages. Medium full. Surprisingly tannic. Very attractive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/1996 - sdr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bel-Air Bottle. Hand carried to San Francisco. About as good as Lynch Bages can be. Huge spicy bouquet. Concentrated and pure. Strong spine of acidity. Lightly tannic. Immensely flavorful if a bit simple. Manly and thick. Splendid claret at peak with a good future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/1993 - sdr Does not like this wine: 79 Points
A poor bottle. Astringent and too tannic. Bitter. Did not improve in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/1993 - sdr Likes this wine: 94 Points
It traveled very well; I brought it to San Francisco where we drank it at the “Dining Room” at the Ritz-Carlton. Excellent grip. Mature but not loosening up. Cedar, oak, blackberry, all in harmony. Very fine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/1993 - sdr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Slipping a bit. Very mature bricky edge. Expressive. Hearty Cabernet Sauvignon cedar fruit. On the palate, the structure is weakening as is the fruit. The bones are showing (tannins, acid). Not as creamy luscious as 5 years ago but still enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/1991 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby, no orange. Outstanding bouquet of cedar and cassis. Big and rich. The finish is not totally clean, however.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/1989 - sdr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hugh’s bottle, from Marin Wine Cellar. Another great showing for this wine. Youthful color. Big bouquet of cedar and spice. Full, delicious, perfect finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/1989 - sdr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Good deep color, just barely turning at the meniscus. Powerful cedary fruit. Really fine. Easily held its own in a blind tasting of ‘61 First Growths.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/1988 - sdr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely glowing mature color. Very viscous. Marvelous sweet fruit. Exciting wine. Great finish. Soft impression despite noticeable tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/1988 - sdr Likes this wine: 97 Points
Dry dark, no sign of age. Incredible gorgeous flowery cedar nose. Refreshing acidity of the best kind. Tannins resolved. Will last. Magnificent. Surely one of the best wines of this great vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/1987 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby, no brown. Penetrating cedar Cabernet bouquet which held easily for 3 hours. Not overly complex but deep rich flavor through to the fine lingering finish. Tannins resolved. Perfectly mature now but should hold. Outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/1983 - bacchus wrote: 96 Points
keith presented this bottle for a cellar tasting. it was absolutely spectacular. dark, red/brown color, still firm rim. rich bouquet, full bodied, flavorsome, mature now. heavy sediment tending cloudy, needed filtering.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment