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Lynch Bages 2000

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

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Tasting Notes

Beginning to open magnificently, the still dense purple-colored 2000 reveals a blossoming bouquet of blackberries, cassis, graphite and pen ink. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that have resolved themselves beautifully over the last eleven years, this wine is still an adolescent, but it exhibits admirable purity, texture, mouthfeel and power combined with elegance. One of the all-time great examples of Lynch Bages, the 2000 is just beginning to drink well yet promises to last for another 20-25+ years. Drink 2011-2036.

97
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (196), August 2011

Finally rounding the corner, the 2000 Château Lynch-Bages is mature, with classic Pauillac darker currants, lead pencil, tobacco leaf, and spice-laced aromatics. With a deep plum color and slight lightening at the edges, it's medium to full-bodied and has a layered texture as well as integrated tannins. A classic, elegant, yet still powerful Lynch-Bages, it delivers plenty of sweet fruit and a great finish. It benefits from an hour of air and will certainly hold at this stage for another 10-15 years with no issues.

95
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, April 2021

This is more taciturn on the nose than Pontet-Canet ‘00, but is well defined with some lovely savoury, chestnut and black truffle aromas developing in the glass. Touches of damp moss/lichen. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, gentle grip, foursquare but good weight, blackberry, graphite, leather and cedar, chewy towards the dry, structured finish. Very fine, perhaps a little broody and introverted at the moment. But great potential. Drink 2016-2040.

94
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, September 2010

This is a superstructured wine with loads of plum, blackberry and licorice. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long finish. Gorgeous. Tight. Needs time.--Lynch-Bages non-blind vertical. Best after 2010. 35,000 cases made.

96
James Suckling, Wine Spectator, March 2007

Deep ruby, softening in colour around the rim, packed with pencil lead, cigar box, slate, mint leaf, chewy tannins, great quality with an innate confidence. Has walls to scale, and a ton of life ahead, an exceptionally enjoyable 2000 vintage that remains young. 70% new oak.

95
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2022

Very, very deep, blackish crimson. Singed, fireworks on the nose. Excitement! Full, punchy. Very solid and dependable. Quite smooth. Makes the most of the vintage.Drink 2008-2020.Date tasted 20th Jan 05.

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, August 2005
94+
Farr Vintners, April 2001
Read more tasting notes...

There were two bottles of this wine tasted, one of my own and one from another person's cellar. Although both were outstanding, one was much more evolved and displayed a slight dirtiness, but it was still impressive. The other displayed beautiful creme de cassis, and cedar in a surprisingly full-bodied and evolved style that could be drunk now. I originally predicted 2008-2025 for the window of full maturity, and that looks accurate, as this wine, which exhibits a little amber and loads of glycerin, is probably the biggest, richest Lynch Bages produced after the 1995 and before the 2005. Succulent, with lots of juicy black fruit and silky tannin, this is a beauty that can be drunk now or cellared for another 15-20 years.

95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (189), June 2010
95+
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003
95+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (149), October 2003

An utterly profound Lynch-Bages, this wine continues to remind me of a hypothetical blend of the 1990 and 1989. Interestingly, when I asked Jean-Michel Cazes to rank his top four vintages of Lynch-Bages, he ranked the 1989 first, followed by three vintages that he said were essentially equivalent in quality - 1990, 1996, and 2000. The 2000 Lynch-Bages exhibits a dense purple color, loads of glycerin and extract, big, muscular, sweet creme de cassis notes, with hints of new saddle leather, earth, and tobacco leaf. The 2000 is forceful yet plush, with a thick, juicy, succulent mid-palate, ripe tannin, and a long, layered finish. I know it will be tempting to pull corks on this wine in its youth, but it really will not hit its stride for 7-10 years and will last for at least 25. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.

95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (146), April 2003

A profound Lynch Bages, the 2000 is a huge, massive, concentrated effort that coats the palate with an unctuous display of black currant fruit bolstered by considerable levels of glycerin and extract. There are no hard edges, but there is considerable tannin in this beefy, full-bodied, muscular, incredibly well-balanced, pure wine. It should drink well young, yet last for twenty-five years. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. A tour de force for Lynch-Bages.(93-96) points

93/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (139), February 2002

A prodigious Lynch-Bages, the 2000 exhibits a saturated purple color as well as exploding aromatics of new saddle leather, creme de cassis, creosote, truffles, and oak. A sweet entry reveals a full-bodied, concentrated, succulent style with tremendous class as well as charm. This mouthfilling, lush, super-concentrated, gorgeously pure Lynch-Bages stains the palate. It will undoubtedly firm up during its barrel aging, or after bottling, but it offers a hedonistic mouthful of massive Pauillac at present. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025. For statisticians, it is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot aged in 70% new French oak.

(94-96) points Drink 2004-2025

94/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (134), April 2001

Gorgeous aromas of plums, blackberries and licorice, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with full, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Big and solid. Fantastic. If you love Lynch, you won't be disappointed. Best after 2010. 35,000 cases made.

96
James Suckling, Wine Spectator (Mar 31, 03), March 2003
96
James Suckling, Wine Spectator Weekly (16 Jan 03), January 2003

Incredible aromas of violets and currants. Full-bodied and very tannic, but loads of ripe fruit and a superlong finish. What can I say? This is amazing. If you love Lynch, buy this.

95/100
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, January 2001
95
Farr Vintners, April 2001
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.