Lynch Bages vertical (1986-2017)

Tasted Monday, March 14, 2022 by sirpat00 with 330 views

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

  • 1986 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Nice earthy base notes with floral and perfume overlays. Red cherry, black current in a beautifully fresh style. A bit of lead and pencil shavings. Plenty of cigar box and tobacco on the palate and the fruit had a nice bite to it, unfortunately with a greenish, unripe sting. Tannins still coating mouths left right and center, especially towards the finish. Mid palate was lacking and acidity was a bit too prominent.

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  • 1989 Château Lynch-Bages 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    A potpourri of aging notes including earthy notes, sous-bois and leather frame a nicely scented fruit core showing sugar coated red berries. Sweet spices as a bonus. The palate adds flavors of tobacco and cigar box. The palate is velvety and soft beyond belief, harmony is mostly impeccable, even if the scale tips marginally towards acidity. Decent length finish. One of the highlights in this vertical and luckily a much better bottle than a year ago.

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  • 1988 Château Lynch-Bages 80 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Beef juicy aromatics here, looks past its prime. This masks aging notes and the fruit. Palate was barely intact.

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  • 1990 Château Lynch-Bages 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Sweet spices, a bit of earth and mushrooms, a pretty bright fruit profile boasting fresh red berries. The flavor profile on the palate was dominated by nice aging notes, but vibrant and lively acidity is pretty vibrant awarded this with a pretty youthful appearance. Unfortunately, this was lacking the finesse and elegance I loved in the last bottle a few months ago.

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Flight 2 (4 Notes)

  • 1997 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Red cherry and red currant, rose pedal, graphite, a bit of black tea and dried herbs, just hints of cigar box, leather and scorched earth. palate shows fresh, just marginally unripe fruit, but good tension and firm structure. A pretty decent off-vintage effort.

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  • 1996 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    This didn‘t exactly have world-class precision with pretty blurry, hard to discern aromas. That said, complexity was there if you fully focus. Tobacco, cigar box and wood, a bit of spice, mixed dried berries as well as perfumed and floral dimensions. A juicy palate with good tension, good balance and overall very high drinkability.

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  • 1994 Château Lynch-Bages 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Aging notes somewhere in the distance, but without making a big impression apart from some leather. Red and dark cherry fruit. Some spice. Not even remotely integrated with drying tannin and wild acidity. Too rustic and wooden and I worry that the bouquet could fade before palate settles in.

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  • 1995 Château Lynch-Bages 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    A sweet angle is the highlight on the nose, otherwise not much complexity with slightly unripe dark cherry fruit and maybe a bit leather. Palate is hyper-tannic, no balance nor harmony and a gaping mid-palate hole.

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Flight 3 (4 Notes)

  • 1999 Château Lynch-Bages 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    A backdrop of aging notes, rather ripe and dark fruit profile of dark cherry and bramble berry but also some red currant in the distance. Floral layer and a pinch of dried herbs and lavender round off the picture. The palate is juicy, sweet and even sexy. Grippy tannin, but in good balance with the fresh acidity. Intensity was rather muted, however, and the overall impression was a bit boring.

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  • 2000 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Slightly aged profile, marginally porty fruit of dark cherry and plum, mineral base notes and cedar wood. A fruit-forward, juicy palate, but with slightly green tannins unfortunately and mediocre structure. This could be in a bad spot right now as the last bottle I had a year ago was outstanding.

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  • 1998 Château Lynch-Bages 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Distinctly herbal, minty and menthol-heavy profile in contrast to the rest of the vertical. Dark and leathery fruit. Some smoke and oak. Palate was fruit-forward, but with searing acidity and brutal, greenish tannins. Too austere to be pleasurable, although I did like the nose.

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  • 2005 Château Lynch-Bages 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Ripe, extracted fruit profile. Black leather and a bit of oak. Black cherry fruit. Pretty basic with limited layers. Palate rather wild with plenty of acidity and truck loads of tannin. But I wouldn’t write this off, could very well be another one of the notoriously late-aging 2005s.

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Flight 4 (4 Notes)

  • 2002 Château Lynch-Bages 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Ripe and pretty extracted fruit profile with borderline liqueur-like dark cherry, slightly herbal with a layer of menthol, fresh wood, cedar wood and iodine. Unexpectedly, the palate had a beef juice sting to it of which there was no sign on the nose. Otherwise youthful and decent balance, even if pretty wild. The beef juicy notes did climb up to the nose after a few minutes. Judging from this single experience, this is approaching end of life.

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  • 2008 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Nice and ripe fruit profile of dark cherry, plum and bramble berry. Rather dark with an animal, almost meaty layer and cold black coffee. Palate was heavy with plenty of weight to it and starts off with decent harmony in the attack, but tannin and acidity diverge into the finish.

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  • 2009 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    A red cherry fruit that came across markedly less extracted than the rest of the flight. Complexity pretty limited with only a few mineral and leather notes beyond the fruit. Fruit-forward and juicy palate in ok balance even if still very wild. Otherwise a nice, classic expression. This left me with the impression that there could be more potential here, but was hard to nail down in this quick pass-through tasting.

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  • 2012 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    A rather bright, more red type of berry fruit. Elements of sweet spice, a few herbs, hints of leather. The palate is juicy and shows electric and fresh acidity, but also stands firmly on a firm structural footing. This drinks really nice, but didn’t feel quite ripe enough. Pretty consistent with the last bottle 1-2 months ago.

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Flight 5 (4 Notes)

  • 2017 Château Lynch-Bages 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Sexy, sweet cherry confit fruit, blueberries, scents of fresh flowers. Actually quite Napa-esque with vanilla beans, espresso and roasted coffee beans. There was also a layer of slightly animal or meaty notes. Quite dense and concentrated bouquet which is reflected in the palate through good harmony and depth, a concentrated fruit and silky texture. This is a great example of why 2017 should be considered an early-drinking vintage and has already come a long way since bottling.

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  • 2014 Château Lynch-Bages 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    A bit rustic and animal nose with dark cherry fruit and a bit of black coffee. Lacks precision and delineation. Searing acidity, drying tannin. there is substance and structure and definitely potential, but it seems it will take quite a few moons before this moves into the drinking window. This bottle felt even less ready than my last one about a year ago, but that one was decanted and consumed over 2 days with noticeable improvement on day 2.

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  • 2015 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    Blue berries and red cherry. Comes across pretty nice and classic at first, a faint impression of too much extraction notwithstanding. Palate is somewhat imbalanced and austere. This was in a very closed phase and hence best to store away for a few years.

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  • 2016 Château Lynch-Bages 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Lynch Bages vertical spanning 20 vintage (1986-2017) hosted by a private collector. My key observations were: 1/ The “twin peaks” of 1989 and 1990 continue to perform well, 3/ among the younger vintages 2017 and 2016 stood out, 3/ mid- to late-90ies were unimpressive as a group, rustic with harsh tannins, 4/ 2000-2008 showed extracted fruit profiles, but with juicier palates, 5/ After 2009 the fruit turned brighter and more red in nature, less extracted and fruit-forward palates. Note the wines were not decanted and served blind in flights of 4.

    Tasting note:
    An array of sweet and herbal spices, hints of leather dark and red cherry, blueberries and black currant – probably the broadest array of fruit flavors in this vertical. The palate is slightly creamy, has lots of fresh acidity and a good amount of layers. Tannins are still very present and have lots of grip, but are ripe and soft in nature. Undoubtedly this will continue to improve over then decade, but is already delicious today and keeping the promises made at the Arrivage tasting!

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