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| | Vintage | 2003 |  Label 1 of 2270 
 | | Type | Red | | Producer | Château Lynch-Bages (web) | | Variety | Red Bordeaux Blend | | Designation | n/a | | Vineyard | n/a | | Country | France | | Region | Bordeaux | | SubRegion | Médoc | | Appellation | Pauillac | | UPC Code(s) | 000004351122, 000008738028, 000009137073, 014100076629, 031259016894, 0400005643774, 041224152502, 072180692740, 078742374604, 087000336834, 204022504342, 206331002649, 206486002594, 3277034947138, 3388111072916, 346817202139, 3554770032428, 3760020131197, 3760020131661, 3760020133979, 400006110763, 649185961968, 715700175070 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.6 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 343 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by whitmanlholt on 4/27/2024 & rated 92 points: Popped and poured. This is a medium-red wine—the color and texture feel totally age appropriate for a 21-year-old Bordeaux—with some mild sediment cake throughout the bottle. On the rather serious nose, I get damp soil, stones, pencil shavings, and saddle leather. In the mouth, the wine is midweight and focused, showing light red fruit and leaving a lingering, chewy finish. Overall, this is classic Pauillac down the line; I didn’t notice any heat or other issues from the 2003 vintage. I found this wine open and enjoyable today, but it should easily continue to fly for another 10+ years. 92 points. (429 views) | | | Tasted by Turtlerider on 4/27/2024: Very barnyardish on opening. I actually thought the wine had gone off, but that blew off in less than a minute. I’d call this classic Bordeaux. Some red fruit, leather, a little tanic. A great companion to the T-Bone steaks off the BBQ, roasted potatoes and roasted veggies and goat cheese. The wine was very good, which was great because I over cooked the steaks…Sadley, my last bottle. (363 views) | | | Tasted by CatCreptIntoCrypt on 2/10/2024 & rated 93 points: Fantastic, fully mature Bordeaux. Well-rounded, soft, smooth and sexy.
You cannot go wrong with this! (1191 views) | | | Tasted by Kevdog on 12/25/2023 & rated 94 points: This wine was at its peak... drank with 05 Lynch and 05 Leoville Poyferre, so I was expecting a relative poor showing due to hot vintage. Obviously it did lack power and fruit of 05s, but they both needed more time in my opinion (LP is a beast), and the 03 was hitting on all cylinders. It was elegant, but still backbone and complexity. Dark fruits still present, a little leather, a nice floral element... paired perfectly with bone marrow glazed prime rib for Christmas dinner. Opened two hours prior, but did not require decanter until time to serve. It opened up much faster than 05s. (1430 views) | | | Tasted by NebHeadLA on 11/22/2023 & rated 94 points: The wine showed beautifully after a 45 minute decant. My guests were thrilled with the wine as was I. (1782 views) | | | Tasted by hitechnomad on 9/2/2023 & rated 93 points: Drinking very well. Still has a few years left (2288 views) | | | Tasted by billcow on 8/26/2023 & rated 89 points: Somewhat indistinct. (2181 views) | | | Tasted by Tao on 8/10/2023 & rated 95 points: Ripe, sumptuous, spicy dark fruits, with the proper size and scale, the bottle is trying to give you what they've got, a crowd pleaser, looks so easy to drink, but I guess there must be lots of calculations and techniques behind it in order to look that easy. I say, Bravo to the team, you just delivered my ideal Lynch Bages! (1999 views) | | | Tasted by DoubleD1969 on 8/5/2023: PnP. Another terrific wine in a fantastic lineup. Delicious aromas of warm currant jam, redwood forest. Palate was surprisingly soft and fruit forward but not spirity. Balanced. Voluptuous. No hard edges for a Lynch Bages this young. Perhaps not surprising from a hot vintage. Does it have the structure for another ten years? WOTN #2. (1812 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 7/30/2023 flawed bottle: CORKED.........undrinkable...........grrrrh! (1667 views) | | | Tasted by speedywine on 6/19/2023 & rated 92 points: Again a fantastic 03 Bordeaux. Opened and decanted 2 hours before.
Even better than the 2003 Leoville from the day, before because of its tasty body ! (1675 views) | | | Tasted by remyworldpeace on 6/9/2023 & rated 94 points: Initially started quite thin and dried out but really bloomed with 60-90 minutes in the decanter.
Darker fruits - dark cherry, blackcurrant, blackberries. Graphite and iron with touch of spice. A certain ash or smokiness on the finish culminating in lovely tobacco leaf and cedar.
Nice mature claret drinking at its peak. Very glad we gave this time as it turned out to be the strongest of the bottles I have tasted yet. (1608 views) | | | Tasted by ThompsonandFrench on 6/5/2023 & rated 90 points: Some weeks after tasting (with no notes): was slightly disappointed, but on the back of elevated expectations.
Decanted thru rabbit, 2hrs previously. Ok, but nothing spectacular. Towards end of bottle some more interesting characteristics began to emerge.
No hurry for next bottle, and give it at least 3 hours in decanter as and when. (1616 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 4/25/2023: En Primeur campaign for the 2022 vintage Day Four (Bordeaux): From Double Magnum. Baked black fruits with a meaty underpin, sweet spice, a little leather. Medium plus intensity acidity (adjusted?) baked and concentrated black fruits; currants and berries, plenty of chalky drying tannins. Woof. (2146 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 4/15/2023 & rated 88 points: Tasted a bit tired to me and showing some of the heat effects of the vintage. I might've thought it was a poorly stored bottle but we drank it at the Chateau so perfect provenance. (1816 views) | | | Tasted by steveiiiiii on 3/12/2023 & rated 92 points: Had double blind, managed to call Pauillac, so a lot of classic terroir with good length. Drinking wonderfully with both some power and a lot of finesse. No hurry to drink up but it's hard to see it getting better from here. (928 views) | | | Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 3/5/2023 & rated 92 points: Académie des Cinquante Tasting and Dinner with the Académie du Vin de Bordeaux (Restaurant Entrepot, Amsterdam, NL): Walkaround tasting, brief note. Hint of currants, the warmth is noticeable, firm tannins are a bit dry. (2631 views) | | | Tasted by amateur62 on 2/3/2023: Private dinner (Lynch-Bages 85, 90 and 03): Aged 15 months in French oak barrels (70% new wood). Blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, 13% vol.
Decanted an hour before dinner. We could not agree in the group whether the wine had a hint of TCA or not, so I do not rate it but it was still very good though not at the level of the other wines we had this evening.
On the nose a bit restrained with tobacco, blackcurrant and a hint of stewed stone fruit, on the palate full bodied but with still a certain elegance, smooth tannin and long finish.
Still quite primary and has still at least a decade ahead. (2132 views) | | | Tasted by nwebstar on 1/30/2023 & rated 94 points: Very stylish and elegant. Presented as a classic vintage bordeaux - no 2003 heat.
Quite chiselled and still fresh - perhaps a little closed. Got better in the glass and a great complement to the food.
Decanted for over 1hr. Deep and youthful look in the glass. Classic darker structured berries and drying earthy tones. Still fresh acidity. (2301 views) | | | Tasted by FabesMTL on 1/28/2023 & rated 94 points: Really enjoyed this wine. More plush and soft than the chiseled ‘05 had last fall. Classic nose of cassis, cherry, chocolate and cedar. A soft feel in the mouth and an elegant, soft finish that lingers, prefect balance and acidity. More fruit driven, reminded me of a California cab, but not overpowering. Really enjoyed. (1846 views) | | | Tasted by burlingtonm on 1/18/2023 & rated 90 points: Vertical of Lynch-Bages from 1989 to 2018: not one of the better wines on the night and suffered in comparison to the better vintages though it improved in the glass but lacked freshness. (1912 views) | | | Tasted by BlackStar on 1/13/2023 & rated 91 points: Enjoyed with RC, paired with braised beef and winter roots. (545 views) | | | Tasted by asgerG on 1/9/2023 & rated 94 points: D3h. Dark red, red-yellowed tinged, 5.5. Generous elegant bouquet, ripe dark fruits, pencil, spicy, jasmin, complex. Harmonious palate, mT, m-B, m+A, again ripe fruit, elegant, long finish. Drink now-2035 (1831 views) | | | Tasted by mwellington on 12/4/2022 & rated 93 points: Since first tasted in ‘19 this has mellowed further and softened, but remains a well-balanced and classic, if a bit understated. Remains vibrant. Lots of years left, but drinking beautifully. (1913 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 10/3/2022 & rated 90 points: Rich black plum and currant with faint liqueur and nearly sweet spice, this retains the hedonism of the vintage but easily keeps its balance. Not the most depth or nuanced vintage for Lynch Bages. I think this is likely my first time tasting the wine since en Primeur in 2004. (2976 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Michael Godel
WineAlign (1/17/2024)
(Château Lynch Bages, Ac Pauillac red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, A Century of Bordeaux: The Threes (Aug 2023) (8/1/2023)
(Lynch-Bages Lynch Bages Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, Passing the Baton: Lynch-Bages 1945-2018 (Jul 2023) (7/1/2023)
(Lynch-Bages Lynch-Bages Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/13/2021)
(Ch Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/21/2013)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, March 2013 (3/1/2013)
(Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Ian D'Agata
Vinous, January 2012
(Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac (Pre-Arrival)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/1/2010)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/28/2009)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/18/2008)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | The World of Fine Wine, December 2007, Issue #18
(Château Lynch-Bages) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (11/3/2005)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2005
(Chateau Lynch-Bages Pauillac) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2005, IWC Issue #120
(Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (4/7/2005)
(Ch Lynch Bages Pauillac Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2004, IWC Issue #114
(Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/13/2009)
(Château Lynch-Bages) Light nutmeg and roast coffee nose; sweet coffee, black fruit and espresso palate; medium-plus finish 90+ pts. 90 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (1/18/2009)
(Château Lynch-Bages) Very dark red violet color; tart cassis and menthol nose; tart cassis, tart plum and menthol palate; medium finish 88+ pts. 88 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of WineAlign and Vinous and JancisRobinson.com and Winedoctor and The World of Fine Wine and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Lynch-Bages Producer website - Read more about Chateau Lynch Bages
Vineyard map
BACKGROUND: The wine of Château Lynch-Bages is part of the lineage of the great Pauillac wines. Blended mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon, it combines structure and finesse, elegance and longevity. It is further distinguished by its opulence. Generous right from its youth, it develops more flavours and greater complexity as it matures.
The affirmation of the Lynch-Bages style came with the arrival of Jean-Charles Cazes to head the estate in 1934. An innovative winemaker, emblematic of a new generation of owners willing to break with tradition and taking risks to ensure truly ripe harvests, he was known for often being the last to harvest in Pauillac. From 1945 onwards, the fame of the château emerged thanks to a series of great vintages. Some, despite being considered difficult to grow in Bordeaux, are particularly successful at Lynch-Bages. His wines are characterized by their deep colour, their tannic structure, their controlled concentration and elegant sensuality. The vintages vinified by André Cazes, and after him Jean-Michel Cazes, confirm this trend.
The style of the wines has refined over the years, gaining suppleness and softness, whilst their consistency has been established over time. Then as now, Château Lynch-Bages has been characterised by its extraordinary qualitative homogeneity. Powerful, elegant and open, vintage after vintage, the wine has acquired greater accuracy, adding distinction to the hedonistic character that made its reputation.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.Pauillac Read more detailed information about Pauillac Looking full onto the river from the earliest days, with an important port activity, traces of which go back to ancient times (shipment of bronze as long ago as 2000 B.C.), Pauillac's life has always been intimately linked to the history of wine. Although port activities were at the root of its prosperity, Pauillac had to wait until the eighteenth century when Bordeaux ceased to hold its privileged position to become a wine port. The town then became the natural outlet for the wine production of neighbouring cantons before reaching its zenith in a period when the vineyards were exceptionally prosperous.
The characteristic of the Pauillac terroir is its exceptional relief: the many undulating ridges make it unique morphologically speaking. Highly favourable conditions facilitate the dissection of the layer of gravel. This thin, Garonne gravel from whose very poverty springs great richness, has an extremely effective natural drainage.
With their velvet red colour with a hint of amber, the wines from the Pauillac appellation, full-bodied and rich in tannin, are vigorous. Powerful when young, their aromas of red fruits (black-currant, raspberry) or flowers (violets, roses, irises) melt with the passing of time into a bouquet which is long in the mouth.
Rich and complex, the wines of Pauillac deserve to be laid down for a little longer.
Production conditions (Decree dated November 14, 1936)
In order to have the right to the Pauillac appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Pauillac and from precisely defined parcels in the communes of Cissac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe and Saint-Sauveur, "excluding the parcels situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils",
- satisfy precise production conditions : grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare). |
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