Chateau Lynch-Bages 5eme Cru Classe 2019 Single Bottle
Country: France Region: Bordeaux (Pauillac)
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Blend/Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2019 Colour: Red Style: Dry
Producer: Chateau Lynch-Bages
Description:
Château Lynch-Bages is situated in the Pauillac commune of the Médoc region in Bordeaux. The grand vin, which is made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, is known for its structure and intensity, and can age for 20 years or more. It ranks among the best in the appellation.
The property in the village of Bages takes the other part of its name from Thomas Lynch, a Bordeaux merchant of Irish lineage who owned the property from 1749 to 1824. It was rated a fifth growth in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855, although the reputation of the property, now in the hands of the Cazes family, soared from 1945 after a string of excellent vintages.
The vineyards are situated on a plateau west of Pauillac town on gravel, chalk and sand soils. There are 90 hectares (220 acres) of vineyards, 75 percent of which are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. The rest is planted to Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a small amount of Petit Verdot.
With its blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (3%), the Château Lynch-Bages 2019 reveals a precise bouquet with pure and fresh fruit that managed to achieve perfect maturity on time for harvest. The nose offers nice notes of blackberries, cassis and black cherry, giving way to aromas of sweet spice. On the palate, the wine offers a broad texture, characterised by rich aromas upon tannins with a beautifully chewy texture that evolve great flexibility. The finish offers a very pleasant and persistent length. A perfectly accomplished wine from Lynch-Bages.
Tasting Notes:
Jean-Charles described 2019 as “Blue Velvet”, a vintage that offers “a beautiful complementarity between fruity Merlots, rich in sugar… and dense, well-structured, very fresh Cabernets”. His flagship Lynch Bages is a glorious, grandiose wine, boasting huge concentration, yet there’s a sense on grace and poise. There’s a lovely florality to the fruit; violet scented cassis, Asian spice, sumptuous crème de mûre, notes of pencil shavings, tobacco and cedar. It feels more exuberant than the cerebral, introverted 2018, yet it’s just as profound. There’s a veneer of fleshy fruit that covers the muscular, brooding core of deep cassis that delights the palate. Restrained, controlled, this builds and builds revealing layers of fruit and mineral complexity. Dense, but never weighty, this glides effortlessly coating the palate revealing swathes of purple fruit, painting a picture of fine detail with its glorious tannic profile. So much energy, so much power; what a fabulous Lynch Bages.
96+/100 Wine Advocate
100/100 Jeb Dunnuck
96/100 Neal Martin
97/100 James Suckling
Food Matches: Cheese / Game / Venison / Red Meat
