Chateau Lynch Bages

Since the inspired 2006 Lynch-Bages broke the mould there has been no looking back for this great estate. Don’t get me wrong, it was wonderful before, and if you have been lucky enough to have tried awesome vintages such as 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1996 and 2000 you will know what I mean, but since the unveiling of the 2006 there are extra elements and dimensions lurking at the bottom of a glass of Lynch-Bages. 2011 is absolutely no exception.

Fabulous intensity and concentration. Glorious grip. Super fine tannins dance around the palate and rest elegantly upon the layers of multi-coloured red and black fruit. This is a very serious wine, not as in it’s stern and broody, and too thoughtful and ponderous for its own good, far from it. I mean this would be a great 2009 or 2010 in virtually every châteaux in Bordeaux. Powerful, complex, decadent and compelling. It’s rock 'n roll wine making and Lynch-Bages is playing like Led Zeppelin in 1971.

If they ever re-classified Bordeaux again, Lynch-Bages would fly up the charts quicker than any other château. Outstanding!
Simon Staples, Asia Fine Wine Director

Ch. Lynch Bages, a Cinquième Cru Classé, is one of the best-known Médoc estates and has always had a particularly strong following on this side of the English Channel. The wine can be surprisingly soft and approachable when young; however, when fully mature, it develops a succulent richness and a heavenly bouquet of minty blackcurrants and cigar boxes. As Oz Clarke says, “Lynch Bages is impressive at five years, beautiful at 10 years and irresistible at 20.”

This is a remarkable 2006: voluptuous and sexy, its massive tannins are cloaked by the hugely concentrated, ripe, cedar-y, brambly fruit, while the sweet, rich, toasty aromas add an extra je ne sais quoi. The purity of fruit on the finish is sensational too. Certainly we cannot recall Lynch having been so far up the Bordeaux quality ladder in any previous year.

A classic offering posessing the weight of the 1999... this structured, tannic 2002 offers a dense ruby/purple color, medium to full body, and the tell-tale Lynch Bages black currant and earthy nose. There is good power on the attack, mid-palate and finish. It will need 2-3 years of cellaring, and should age nicely for 12-15 years. If more texture and length develop with bottle age (and they should), this wine will merit an outstanding score. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Oct 2003

Following on from successes in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Ch. Lynch Bages has yet again proved itself to be equivalent to Second Growth quality in 2008. Aromas of lovely, warm red and black bramble fruits immediately greet the nose and are followed by a creamy textured, rich yet beautifully balanced palate. This is a serious wine but the tannins are incredibly elegant and the gorgeous, crunchy fruit finish goes on and on. Certainly the addition work in the vineyard and low yields have paid off for Jean-Charles Cazes in 2008. This is a stunner.

This the pure essence of Pauillac: profound, ripe cassis aromas flow from the glass and herald a palate of cool, spicy, incredibly concentrated blackcurrants, and cream, vanilla and bitter dark chocolate all tightly woven together in a precise core. Lynch-Bages has again performed as well as many of the super-Second Growths.

A sublime masculine heavyweight Lynch. It is Pauillac personified with an impenetrable but incredibly ripe nose bursting with pure, minerally cassis. Mouthfilling creamy black cherry and blackcurrant fruit is phenomenally smooth and boasts great structure with hints of tobacco, coffee, leather and mint. The tannins are rich and silky with a rare freshness. The wine is aged in 80% new oak which is the most they have ever used, feeling it necessary to cloak the exceptional fruit and powerful tannins. This is set to be a legendary Lynch so don't miss out.

With its dramatic nose of such intense black, black fruit, this is a Cabernet cluster bomb! With super-fine, seamless tannins, and a rich, sumptuous mouth, this is concentrated without being pushed, and makes you feel like you are in super second territory this year. Vastly superior to its 2005 and even surpassing its heavenly 2006, 2009 is a cellar must-have.
Simon Staples, BBR Sales & Marketing Director

This exceptional château continues to make a mockery of its 5th Growth status, and in 2003 has re-emphasised just how good the Left Bank wines are. Huge wafts of muscular, minty, cassis-laden Cabernet Sauvignon on the nose introduce a powerful structured palate with savoury hints of liquorice. This is unquestionably Lynch-Bages, and a great one at that. Displaying even more elegance than other recent vintages, this Cabernet-dominated wine (83%) will gain even more weight in barrel and looks likely to prove absolutely stunning with a bit of patience. Drink 2012-2030.

The fleshy, mouth-filling flavours of this wine, from the exceptional 1996 vintage, leads to great finesse on the finish. With its voluptuous cassis fruit it is a blockbuster to enjoy now but will improve with age. Pauillac at its best.

Very dark ruby with some evolution. Toasty and appetising. Very appealing subtlety and complexity on the nose though on the palate it is clearly not as ripe as some. Maybe higher yields? An attractive drink but far from intense.
Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com, 23 Mar 2010