WCC Mostly Lynch-Bages Vertical

Taste Restaurant, Albany, NY
Tasted Thursday, March 31, 2011 by kenv with 1,355 views

Introduction

My regular Albany area group met at a fairly new restaurant in downtown Albany for a vertical of Lynch-Bages. All the wines were generously supplied by 2 members, one of whom mistakenly brought the 1978 and 1982 Grand-Puy-Lacoste instead of Lynch-Bages.

Flight 1 - Flight 1 (3 Notes)

With Kobe Ravioli (though there's only one) with Truffle & Chestnut Emulsion.

  • 1975 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [Double-decanted 4pm. Tasting began at 7pm.] Gorgeous nose of cherries and forest floor. Lovely sour cherries. Not a great wine, but very nice and quite surprising for a 1975.

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  • 1978 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 76 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [Double-decanted 4pm. Tasting began at 7pm.] Dirty nose. Tarry, tannic, a touch of oxidation. Not enough fruit left. If this were blind, I would have thought this one to be the 1975.

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  • 1979 Château Lynch-Bages 78 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [Double-decanted 4pm. Tasting began at 7pm.] Earthy, woodsy nose. Pleasant and sweet, but marred by something musty in the mid palate.

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Flight 2 - Flight 2 (3 Notes)

With Coriander-Crusted Ahi Tuna with Pressed Watermelon, Avocado Paint, & Micro Cilantro.

  • 1981 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [Double-decanted 4pm. Tasting began at 7pm.] At first I thought something was very wrong, but it was the glass. Luckily, there was enough left for a 2nd pour. Gorgeous, complex nose. A touch bitter in the mouth, but overall quite lovely. Drink up.

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  • 1982 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 97 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [Double-decanted 4pm. Tasting began at 7pm.] Restrained, but big black fruit nose. Big and thick and the mouth. Rich and complex, with a long ringing finish. Has a class to it that most of the Lynch Bages do not. WOTN for me.

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  • 1986 Château Lynch-Bages 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [1.5 hours in a decanter. Half hour in an open bottle.] Big, dark, black fruits. Thick, silky and gorgeous in the mouth. Really just starting to unwind and strut its stuff. If you own it, give it a try. The best Lynch so far tonight.

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Flight 3 - Flight 3 (4 Notes)

With Coffee-Dusted Duck Breast and Foie Gras with Caramelized Banana Puree & Torchone [sic].

Flight 4 - Flight 4 (3 Notes)

Grilled Filet of Beef with Crispy Shitakes, Braised Lentils, and Ash-Roasted Eggplant Sauce.

  • 1989 Château Lynch-Bages 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [Double-decanted 4pm. Tasting began at 7pm.] Big and structured. Tannic and impressive. Very long. Probably better in 5-10 years.

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  • 1990 Château Lynch-Bages 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [1 hour in a decanter. Half hour in an open bottle.] Much sweeter than the 89. Delicious, long sweet, black fruit finish. A joy to drink tonight and for some time to come.

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  • 2000 Château Lynch-Bages 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    [3 hours in a decanter. 1 hour in an open bottle.] LBOTN (Lynch Bages of the Night) for me. Awesome chocolate and black fruit nose. Just delicious with a long riveting finish. Young, but no reason to wait.

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Flight 5 - Dessert Wine (1 Note)

Closing

Some delicious wines are made at Lynch-Bages, but I do think they lack the breeding of better Bordeaux, something particularly notable about the 1982 Grand-Puy-Lacoste.

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