2001 Ch. Lynch Bages, Pauillac

Since the early 1980s Ch. Lynch Bages, under the charismatic guidance of Jean-Michel Cazes, has consistently performed far above its designated 1855 classification. The 2001 is no exception. Tasting a line up of 2001 Pauillacs at the Union des Grands Crus tasting, Lynch-Bages shone out like a beacon. A very generous, powerful nose of ripe blackcurrants, liquorice, cedar and toasted new oak is complemented by a dense, brooding, muscular palate with ripe black fruits, minerals and a gloriously long finish. This quintessential Pauillac should be a definite for any serious cellar. This is as good as the their magnificent 1996.
 

Sweet, spicy and lifted. Juicy. Transparent. Very easy to like. A bit chewy on the end. A very solid performance. Looking good!
(Jancis Robinson - Bordeaux 2001s 10 years on - janicsrobinson.com - 30 Mar 2011)

Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. The first bottle of this was denuded of vitality and out of sorts (indeed this is a major problem with this vintage.) Not corked, but previous experience old me that it was not “happy” bottle. Fortunately I stayed for another to be opened and this far more representative. Ripe, dark berried fruits on the nose with touches of mulberry, briary, graphite and sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp entry, tarry black fruits on the entry, sharp acidity, very tight but that is probably because this bottle had just been opened. Very fine.
(Neal Martin- The Wine Advocate- March 2011)