Lynch Bages 2015

The 2015 Lynch-Bages has a fresh, vibrant bouquet of blackberry, graphite, cedarwood and just a touch of spice. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh acidity and well-balanced, but not quite as complex as the aromatics augur. While I like the precision here, it just does not kick in as I expected. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Brambly and attractive ripe blackberries and red-plum aromas with some floral accents, too. The palate has a very plush, polished and regal shape as tannins frame up a core of ripe black fruit. Succulent, impressive finish. Best from 2022.

The 2015 Lynch-Bages is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot and has a deep garnet color. After a little swirling, it soars out with notions of crème de cassis, plum preserves, and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of cardamom, Indian spices, camphor, and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate has taut, muscular fruit with firm, chewy tannins and lively acidity, finishing long with loads of mineral and savory layers.

Excellent quality, but a little less depth through the mid palate than the 2014 or 2016 - making it one of the rare wines where the 2015 vintage is not beating out the 2014 in a vertical. Could simply be that it is closed down right now, as those Pauillac tannins can be pretty fierce in the early days. Certainly as it opens the texture deepens and widens, and you find coils of bilberry and raspberry fruits with waves of smoked earth, sage and saffron spice. 75% new oak.

Tasted blind. Glowing crimson. Seductively ripe on the nose. Sweet start with some green grace notes. Edgy. Chunky.
Drink 2026-2043

Lynch Bages is one of the most popular and reliable Châteaux of Bordeaux. Release prices of this archetypal Pauillac are usually modest compared to those that consumers are happy to pay for mature vintages. This much-loved Chateau, owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, consistently makes one of our most demanded and biggest selling wines. Jean-Michel Cazes' son, Jean-Charles, is now in charge here and recent vintages have been amongst the best ever. The 2015 is made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Maturation in 75% new oak and 25% second year barrels. Jean-Charles is very happy with his 2015 and, whilst he agrees that this could resemble the great 1985 made here, he points out that the yield is 20% less than it was then and a third of the crop is now relegated to the second label - Echo de Lynch. A classic young Lynch Bages of true "Super-Second" quality. Deep purple colour. Pure, ripe blackcurrants and smoky barbecue on the nose show pure Cabernet fruit and toasted French oak. Hints of damson and coffee add a layer of intrigue to tha aromatic profile. The palate is dense and expansive with initially pure cassis blooming into succulent black cherry, licquorice, nutmeg and smoky new oak. The tannins are bold and firm but ripe and refined, giving a smooth, solid structure to hold the fruit. The finish is very long, and pure with cassis and a sheen of sweet vanilla and slight char. Long and complex.

The inky colored 2015 Château Lynch-Bages is a seriously impressive Pauillac that’s up with the crème de la crème of the appellation in 2015. Notes of ripe blackcurrants, caramelized cherries, tobacco leaf and a kiss of lead pencil all emerge from this textbook Pauillac that has medium to full-bodied richness, notable concentration, and building structure. Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that saw 75% new barrels, it needs 5-7 years of cellaring and will be one of the longer-lived wines from the Médoc. 2023 - 2053

Concentrated black fruits the nose has depth the palate a rich mix of cassis and black cherry. There is mid sweetness with dark chocolate and liquorice behind the fruit the tannins are fine giving support. Impact on the back palate depth yet the finish has freshness purity and length.

Year in, year out, the Cazes make one of the most reliable classed growths, a wine that’s generally good value as well as a pleasure to drink. This intense, well structured Pauillac is firm and quite oaky, but with plenty of dark berry fruit and acidity for balance. Drink: 2022-35

The nose on this wine is amazing with dense, sweet oak and impressive Cabernet intensity. The palate is structured, full, dense and very long. This is a serious Lynch-Bages with a singular message of forthright intent and I think it will live for an eternity. Not a massive wine in terms of its frame, this is, however, extremely concentrated and pure and there is the wondrous 2015 spiciness in evidence, too.