Lynch Bages Vertical

Sweet and Savories
Tasted Monday, December 8, 2008 by jordanj with 1,227 views

Introduction

Claudio put this wonderful tasting together. The wines showed very well and only one corked bottle in the lot. Lynch is classic Bordeaux and can vary from being a big beefy dark wine (70,88, 89, 90, 2000, 2005) to a bright elegant wine (61, 85, 95). Even in less than stellar vintages Lynch Bages was capable of being an overachiever (70, 85, 88). The Group debated the WOTN amongst the 1982, 1985, 1989 and for great reason. I thought they were all spectacular but would not discount the 2000. The 1961 was also a treat. I would drink up on 61 and 70. The 1982 may not improve much and is ready. I feel what it gains in complexity it will lose in structure.
The food was decent, although I was under the impression that the meal would be a bit more involved and more related to the theme. This was based on my conversation with the Chef. While the food and service was good I was mislead.

Flight 1 - The blancs (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Château Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux

    Initially I thought the nose on this was fabulous. Showing nice aromas of flowers, maple, melons ,nuts, and smoke. The palate and the finish was lacking and didn’t have the stuffing. After it sat in the glass for twenty minutes the nose showed more oxidation. I expected more.

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  • 2006 Château Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux

    Much better than the 2001. In fact this was a great white Bordeaux. Granted it was extremely young and tight, it still however showed fabulous potential. Excellent balance with enough fruit and acidity to last a while and improve. Nice! 91-92+

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Flight 2 - The mature wines (2 Notes)

Great examples of these wines. They were both well stored bottles. Thanks again Jamie.

  • 1961 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    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.

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  • 1970 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very good. This wine had, maybe the most unique profile of all the vintages tasted tonight. It started off with a very walnut laden nose that eventually picked up on some deep brooding Asian spices with some fresh strawberry notes. In the mouth the wine was relatively smooth for a 70, and showed decent balance. I had this wine several months ago and this was heads above the last bottle. If my last bottle was this compelling I would own more. As with the 1961, this was a great bottle from a great cellar.

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Flight 3 - The 80s (3 Notes)

An excellent trio of wines.

  • 1982 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Many voted this the wine of the night and for good reason. Excellent nose, bright fruit, excellent balance. Overall a very sexy wine. I found it a bit dusty in the mouth and lacking in focus. Excellent but not legendary.

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  • 1985 Château Lynch-Bages 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    I preferred this to the 1982 tonight. I thought it was similar in style but more elegant. It was the smoothest of the wines so far and had just no hard edges from start the finish. The nose was more seductive with notes of musty tobacco/earth and a hint of perfume. This was both elegant and feminine while still holding on to that classic Lynch masculinity. Excellent wine and drinking great.

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  • 1988 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Jamie nailed it when he described this as classic. A hint of mustiness in the nose that eventually took on a cheese/horseradish scent with a detailed aroma and taste of cigar box. Very smooth in the mouth.

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Flight 4 - 1989 vs 1990 (2 Notes)

In the case the 89 the clear winner

  • 1989 Château Lynch-Bages 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Much different in style than the last bottle I opened. This showed a heavier presence of sweet red fruit vs. darker fruit. It didn’t show a big fresh tobacco streak. The nose was showed asphalt with strawberry compote and fresh raspberries served in a new leather show with a hint of shoe polish. The mouth was still big and smooth and showing great structure. This is a 50 year wine. The finish was long and showing a dominate taste of fresh cigar ash. Different, but still a fun exciting bottle of Bordeaux and perhaps the Magnus Opus of Lynch Bages.

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  • 1990 Château Lynch-Bages 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    I can not find my notes on this but I recall it didn’t wow me. In fact, the only thing I have written down was “ehhh”. Others liked this a lot.

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Flight 5 - The young ones. (4 Notes)

that 2000. WOW. 1995 was a shocker. 2005 big let down.

  • 1995 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    My surprise of the night. I thought this wine showed tremendous focus and detail that is more akin to Latour at its best. Tight and young but shows tremendous potential.

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  • 1996 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    classic lynch. Lighter in the mouth than the 95 and a shorter finish.

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  • 2000 Château Lynch-Bages 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    WOW! Great potential. This, in my opinion, will be as good if not better than the 89. This may have been my WOTN.

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  • 2005 Château Lynch-Bages 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very disappointing! Does not have any of the stuffing and balance of the better 2005s.

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Closing

Thanks to Claudio for setting this up and sourcing most of these wines. Ken for his help and Jamie for his generosity. It was a great night a good wine friendly venue.

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