Lynch Bages Vertical Focused on Parker 91+ Point Reds

I decided to organize this event with the aide of some of my Chicago tasting buddies. We had some of the vintages in the past and were impressed enough to want to sit down and get to know the Lynch Bages house style. We felt that Lynch Bages is better than its original 5th growth status and decided to find out for ourselves.

Wines were sourced through various reputable sources over the course of about 3 months. With the exception of the 1986, all the wines were in excellent condition. Jamie - one of the group attendees graciously supplied the 1970 at a great cost and the 1961 as a holiday treat to everyone. He was most generous in his contributions.

Wines were decanted at various times depending on age with the exception of the 1970 which was opened on site. ALL bottles were double decanted allowing for air time of various lengths based largely on age (as previously stated).

My notes below were based on consuming the wines from Schott Zwiesel Tritan Diva Bordeaux glasses.

Some of the tasters were so kind to provide some Lynch Bages Whites to whet our palates.

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

  France, Bordeaux

  Sight: Pale straw color; medium viscosity
  
  Nose: Initial impression was that this was more expressive and exciting than the 2001 of the same. Plenty of zest and grapefruit along with nutty components playing a supporting role. The nose was enticing and invited you to spend some extra time with it - a playful nose is what I might say.
  
  Palate: Acidity was bracing - but I suppose that will be excellent for aging. Minerals and stone washed over with citrus spritz backed up by some nutty components again. Palate and nose were very much aligned.
  
  Overall: Impressive to say the least. May grow to a 93 point white over the next 10 years. The balance and form exude a high level of pedigree. Pretty good QPR considering the prices of Bordeaux these days. 91 points.

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

  France, Bordeaux

  Sight: light lemon color; medium viscosity
  
  Nose: A clean nose that exudes a crisp feeling. Zest notes and mild oak notes. One of the more aromatic white Bordeaux I have tasted.
  
  Palate: Citrus and melon notes.
  
  Overall: This wine seemed like it was closed at the time of tasting. 87-88 points.

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The main event was based on selecting wines from the house of Lynch Bages that scored a Robert Parker 91 points or higher score. All of the wines below were originally scored by Parker at 91 points or higher.

• 1961 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  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.

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• 1970 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Dark red blood - no bricking.
  
  Nose: Pillows and mounds of fruit and florals. Toasted nuts and very elegant. Hazelnuts come to mind.
  
  Palate: Smooth and balanced. Strawberries, Asian spices, just a great wine.
  
  Overall: 90-91, started to fade in the glass so I gave it a 90. Still a compelling wine that is wonderful to experience.

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• 1982 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: dark garnet red wine of medium viscosity
  
  Nose: Lush and rich. Imparts the impression of total elegance. Slightly sweeter notes than the '61 or the '70. Dark berry symphony with a special focus on cassis. Spice house herbal notes and rinsed quartz rocks.
  
  Palate: Lush and exuding luxury. Plenty of leather saddle, vanillins/oak, cassis. A mouth-coating lush feeling while also being balanced in acids and tannins. Awesome from attack with a nice lengthy finish.
  
  Overall: All around amazing Bordeaux wine. Those who have more will not be disappointed. Minor notes of heat on the finish. 93 points.

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• 1985 Château Lynch-Bages 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Dark garnet with no signs of aging and medium viscosity.
  
  Nose: The nose of the evening in our Lynch vertical. Amazing and awesome. Elegance abounds. Black currant fruits and blackberry partner with toasted oak vanillins and some spice components and a bit of exotic dried teas all displayed in a floral garden
  
  Palate: Seductive and sexy. Balanced and opulent. Fruits and florals kept me intrigued for a long time. The acidity is low and the mouth coating aspect is amazing. Love this flavor profile.
  
  Overall: A lush and opulent seductress of a wine. 94-95 points.

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• 1986 Château Lynch-Bages 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Dark red with no signs of aging
  
  Nose: Some corked aspects to the wine; however a lot of the initial interruption blew off the wine. Classic lynch profile came through for me.
  
  Palate: I did not get some of the tannic components described by others; I was expecting a heavier wine. Fruits were acceptable but at lower levels than the 1982.
  
  Overall: The taste was still good to me for a slightly off bottle. 90 points (which is still impressive for a slightly off bottle!)

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• 1988 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Dark ruby and purple. No signs of aging.
  
  Nose: Conveys the image of dark and brooding. Torched bush fruits and plenty of black currants. Earthiness and toasted oak vanillins are present as well. Perfume components less than others tonight - more of a leather/smoke component and some dried herbal teas.
  
  Palate: Great taste and very good from attack through finish. Medium-full bodied with rich character. Cedar components seem to come through more on the palate along with the rich profile of dark bush fruits.
  
  Overall: A great wine that impresses. 92-93 points.

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• 1989 Château Lynch-Bages 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Oxblood and eggplant.
  
  Nose: Raspberry explosion was the first impression. Layers and layers keep coming forth on this powerhouse wine. Wood notes supported by mushroom and other bush fruits. This is focused while yet revealing itself in layers.
  
  Palate: Amazing and incredible. As powerful as this wine is, it is still dominated by an effeminate stance that is so enticing. Harmony and symphony. Full coating across the palate in all stages and can possess the capability to put you into a short-term trance.
  
  Overall: This is a precision wine that is simply a thing of beauty. This is my epiphany wine. 95-96 points.

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• 1990 Château Lynch-Bages 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Dark Plum Red with no signs of bricking.
  
  Nose: A wonderful but slightly different nose than that 1989. My initial impression was that it was slightly more muted than the 1989. Also - the 1989 had a larger raspberry component as well. But with those minor things out of the way - the 1990 Lynch Bages also gushes out of the glass with layers and layers of complex and alluring scents. Oodles of dark red bush and tree fruits, and some smoke components combined with an alluring soft wood smell. Leather and cassis intermingle in folding layers too.
  
  Palate: A very fine taste. Rich, hedonistic, seductive, demure. A very crammed wine with tons of fruit extract that coat that palate all over and has an impressive run from attack through finish on the palate. I perceived a lower level of acid than the 1989 Lynch Bages - but that's OK. Pure velvet - keeps changing, one can spend a lot of time with this bottle.
  
  Overall: Many people have had heated discussions around the 1989 vs. the 1990 as to which one is superior. They are different, but yet similar. For me, I fall on the 1989 side of the discussion. However, this 1990 is so amazing as well that have to say that I would be most pleased if I had the choice to drink either. 94-95 points.

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• 1995 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight - Ruby/eggplant color. Medium viscosity.
  
  Nose: A wonderful nose. Crushed black fruits in a floral garden are what hit me initially. Later waves included cedar, lead pencil, cigar wrapper notes. It has a "damp earth" quality as well - earthy? That also made the nose so appealing. The floral component combined with all the other elements makes for a very pleasing wine.
  
  Palate: I detected some tartness which led me to believe that this was still on the young side of things. Minerality came through along with cassis jam. Velvety tannins.
  
  Overall: A lovely and fine wine that could potentially score better with additional aging. 91-92 points.

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• 1996 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Dark purple, but not as dense as some of the others tasted this evening
  
  Nose: Saddle leather and tobacco were the first notes to impress me. Plenty of cassis and black fruit ensemble joined in a supporting cast by charred oak with a spritz of vanillins. Herb wisps also accompany what is my favorite nose when compared/contrasted to the 1995.
  
  Palate: Intense dark fruitiness to the point where you also feel like you are consuming a floral liquid as well. Not surprisingly, the tannins are still in place and should smooth further in time. Cassis party with some mint components and great spices and some lead pencil notes. Mouth coating and lush.
  
  Overall: More approachable than the 1995 and very fruit forward and lush. 93-94 points.

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• 2000 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Dense purple/plum color.
  
  Nose: Initial impression that leaped at me was tobacco and a dark, lush, fruit brooding nose. Similar to some of the other great wines this evening in nose - buckets of cassis, leather, tobacco, cedar, pencil, and some minor flower notes.
  
  Palate: Can a wine be tough and tame at the same time? Perhaps a gentle giant is how I would describe this. Mouth coating, immense, plush, velvety and just oh so pour me some more and leave me alone feeling. Well balanced and just a wonderful example from Lynch.
  
  Overall: I think this will become greatness and warrant higher scores in the future, but is just too young at this point. 93 points.

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• 2005 Château Lynch-Bages 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Sight: Dense purple ink
  
  Nose: Dark brooding and young. Herb notes hit me first along with some Mediterranean notes like olives. As usual - the black fruit ensemble is ready to sing in time - cassis and blackberries. Burned coffee folding in the layers as well.
  
  Palate: Long and plush but the tannins are still strong. Decanted this wine for 9 hours prior to the tasting and in reality it could have used 18 hours in the decanter.
  
  Overall: Great potential. Greatness awaits those who will be patient for this wine to come forwards - needs at least 15 years on its side. 91 points.

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One of the tasters, Ward, was generous enought to bring an after-tasting treat as we hopped to the right bank. A delicious wine as well and a great treat!

• 2000 Château Le Bon Pasteur 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Sight: Dark ink of purple and black tones
  
  Nose: Heavy, lush, concentrated fruits - plenty of red bush and tree fruits. Chocolate notes as well. Roasted nuts and oak notes wisped in a supporting role as well.
  
  Palate: Tannins were still prominent, however at this point it is still a lush, seductive, oh so fruity and mouth coating wine. As elegant as it is - it's still a powerful wine.
  
  Overall: This is going to be a very great wine. With some additional age - I imagine it will increase 2 additional points. 92 Points.

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The tasting was amazing and everone had a great time.

I am ever more convinced that Lynch Bages is one of the greatest houses in Bordeaux.