| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Still a saturated ruby-black in hue, the 2010 Lynch-Bages offers up aromas of rich cassis fruit mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by firm, powdery tannins and lively acids. The most brooding, backward Lynch-Bages of the decade and one of the real successes of the vintage, this is a vibrant, tightly wound wine that is still an infant at age 10. Readers with bottles in their cellars might try one now out of curiosity, but this 2010 won't begin to hit its stride until age 20. 2027 - 2067
The 2010 Lynch Bages is an absolutely brilliant wine, and somewhat reminiscent at this stage in its development of the profound 1989. Jean-Charles Cazes, who took over for his father a number of years ago, has produced a magnificent wine with the classic creme de cassis note intermixed with smoke, graphite and spring flowers. It is a massive Lynch Bages, full-bodied and very 1989-ish, with notable power, loads of tannin, and extraordinary concentration and precision. This is not a Lynch Bages to drink in its exuberant youth, but one to hold on to for 5-6 years and drink over the following three decades. Drink 2018-2048.
A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I love the precision here. Try in 2018.
Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Lynch Bages comes sailing out of the glass with notes of redcurrant jelly, black cherry compote and cassis plus wafts of smoked meats, tar, cigar box and dried roses. Full-bodied, the palate is stacked with red and black fruit layers, framed by ripe, firm, fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long. 2020-2044
Deep, brooding damson in colour, a waft of crushed mint and pencil lead from the first moment, combined with liqourice, smoked earth, turmeric, cloves, orange peel and cassis fruit. This is an excellent wine that is subdued rather than generous but is built to last. 70% new oak.
16 Drink 2016-2022
Very dark blackish crimson. Dense and superripe. Sweet black-cherry notes on the nose but rather awkward and tart on the palate. Rather 'styled' somehow. Not very well integrated. Really quite hard work with drying green notes on the end.
Tasted Blind at the Southwold Group Ten Years On tasting. This was the third highest scoring wine of the whole tasting.
Deep purple in colour with an evocative and rich nose of cassis, graphite and sweet spices. Rich and ripe but supremely refined and driven. The palate is incredibly intense and very pure in black fruit, with blackcurrants, bramble and a little dark cherry. Layers of spice build through the mid palate in tandem with mouthcoating and rich tannins. A wine of great depth and precision, this is still incredibly youthful but all the elements are in perfect harmony. The power is tightly wound through the structure, which just softens on the finish to reveal further complexity with violets, incense and cedar. Incredibly long and starting to reveal its underlying potential, this is a Vin de Garde that could be the greatest Lynch Bages ever made. Hold for another 8 years before opening, as this will reward patience and has an extremely long drinking window ahead. Outstanding.
Very good concentration of Cabernet fruits, rich and earthy, vibrant, vigorous flavours and packed with energy, a wine that once again justifies this château's reputation. Drink 2020-40.
The 2010 blew me away on each occasion I tasted it during my two week sojourn in Bordeaux. Tannic and concentrated, this huge Pauillac boasts an inky/purple color as well as impressive notes of creme de cassis, smoke, graphite and spring flowers. This dense, seriously endowed, monstrous Lynch Bages is reminiscent of some of the wines made at this estate in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It will require 4-5 years of cellaring and should be drinkable for 3-4 decades.
Over the last three vintages, Lynch Bages has returned with a vengeance after somewhat listless performances following their brilliant duo of 1989 and 1990. Much of the credit for this must go to Jean-Charles Cazes who has taken over for his father, Jean-Michel, one of the greatest ambassadors Bordeaux has ever had. The 2010 blew me away on each occasion I tasted it during my two week sojourn in Bordeaux. Tannic and concentrated, this huge Pauillac boasts an inky/purple color as well as impressive notes of creme de cassis, smoke, graphite and spring flowers. This dense, seriously endowed, monstrous Lynch Bages is reminiscent of some of the wines made at this estate in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It will require 4-5 years of cellaring and should be drinkable for 3-4 decades.
Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Château Lynch Bages appears to be going from strength to strength in this vintage. The 2010 has a glorious bouquet with intense blackberry and boysenberry fruit laced with minerals and cedar - beautifully defined and "symmetrical". The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition and a real sense of edginess and tension. Lovely focus and poise, superbly judged acidity and wonderful mineralité on the finish. Superb. Tasted January 2014.
Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London and later at the chateau. The Lynch Bages 2010 has gone back into its shell since I tasted it out of barrel. It has very fine precision and comes across as understated and poised, although I hope it develops more vigour and fruit penetration. The palate is dense and focused, with light graphite notes infusing the black fruit and a keen thread of acidity lending it fine tension towards the finish. It just needs a little more attack, but that should develop with time. Tasted November 2012.
Tasted at the chateau and at the UGC, the Lynch Bages 2010 is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot raised in 70% new oak. The nose is a little reticent at first, but builds nicely with aeration with blackberry, cassis, cedar, mint and just a touch of honey. Very good delineation. The palate is full-bodied with a firm, almost vice-like grip but with more than adequate fruit to back it up: blackcurrant, cedar, graphite and a touch of tobacco. Very tannic yet fresh towards the finish that will need a decade to reach its drinking plateau. Excellent. Drink 2020- Tasted April 2011.
What incredible precision and clarity here. Currants, mineral, mint and lead pencil. Full body, with super refined tannins and a long, long finish. I am loving this young wine. It just builds on the palate. Goes so long. 79 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 percent Merlot, 2 percent Cabernet Franc, and 1 percent Petit Verdot.
