| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 1986 is finally emerging from the dormant stage that many of the wines from this vintage (especially the Medocs) have been going through. It is a full-bodied, still backward wine that will appeal to classicists and old line traditionalists given its firm structure and austere tannins. Nevertheless, the color is a healthy deep garnet and the wine exhibits wonderful freshness along with notes of underbrush, damp earth, black currants, cedar and new saddle leather. Well-balanced with good depth, medium to full body, and a tannic (although not excessively so) finish, this may not be the most finesse-styled, elegant Lynch Bages ever produced, but it is an interesting Pauillac that will benefit from another 3-4 years of cellaring. While it may never hit the peaks achieved by great Lynch Bages vintages, it will be one of those rare wines that will last 40+ years.
The 1986 Lynch Bages has a knockout bouquet that wraps its arms around you with all its loveliness: pure black cherries, mint and cedar, even a touch of glycerine still there. Vibrant and youthful. The palate is beautifully balanced, crisp and taut, linear but very precise with a fine bead of acidity. You just fall for the harmony of this Lynch Bages, the intensity of fruit that seems undiminished on the finish. Is it up there with the 1989 and 1990? Maybe not, but it is not far behind. Frankly this Lynch Bages is a 1986 Claret that you cannot own too much of and as I commented to Jean-Michel Cazes tasting alongside me, at 30 years of age it still has more to give. Tasted July 2016.
This vintage continues to test its owners' patience. In particular, the northern Medocs remain incredibly youthful, promise-filled wines (assuming they were purchased in a healthy condition and stored properly) that appear to be evolving at a glacial pace.
The 1986 performed exceptionally well in May, tasting like a 3-5 year old wine rather than one that's 14. The color is a dense ruby/purple with very little lightening. The nose offers up moderate quantities of minerals, leather, oak, and black fruits. Full, powerful, sweet, and rich, yet searingly tannic, this is an impressive, well-built, broodingly backward Lynch Bages that requires another 3-4 years of aging, although it can be consumed with some pleasure. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020.
The immense, huge, behemoth 1986 continues to exhibit a black/purple color and extremely rich, tannic flavors. This full-bodied, large-sized wine displays gobs of extract and huge tannins in the finish. The fruit is sufficient to balance out the tannin. Anticipated maturity: 1998-2020
