| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Lynch Bages
The 2012 Lynch-Bages comes across as a bit bombastic and ripe. Mocha, plums, dark cherry, blackberry, licorice, tar and new oak are all evident in this slightly four-square Lynch Bages. Today, the 2012 comes in as somewhat disjointed and not fully put together. It will be interesting to see what further time in bottle brings. The blend is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Because of heat stress, yields were unusually low in 2012, and that may be the reason why the wine is a bit clumsy today. I would give the 2012 a few years to come together. Drink 2020-2037.
The 2012 Lynch-Bages is deep ruby/purple with tell-tale cassis notes. Medium-bodied, but somewhat foursquare and monolithic, it has well above average concentration, impressive purity and nicely integrated tannins and wood. Nevertheless, there is something bland and one-dimensional about Lynch-Bages in 2012, making it somewhat of a disappointment. Drink it over the next 12-15 years. Drink: 2015-2030.
Tasted en primeur at the château. The Lynch Bages 2012 is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot picked between 12th and 18th October and is being raised in 75% new oak just before the rains. It has a very attractive bouquet with crisp blackberry, sous-bois and graphite aromas that are very controlled. No frills here, but it does not need them. The palate is medium-bodied with taut tannins and again, crisp acidity. I like the line here - nicely focused with a grainy finish. Very fine. Tasted April 2013.
Aromas of blackcurrants, blueberries and lemons follow through to a full body, firm tannins and a fresh, clean finish. A little tight now but excellent. Precision to this. Back ended. Better in 2018.
Dark ruby, a touch closed but as it opens reveals plenty of bilberry and blackcurrant fruit, grilled cedar and slate. Tannins still firm, you can begin to drink but will benefit from a few more years ageing. In the 2012 horizontal tasting held recently it absolutely stood out, and is one of the best to choose in the vintage - but within the Lynch Bages vertical, it falls behind the 2014. 70% new oak, Eric Boissenot consultant.
Blackish purple. Lots of minerals on the nose. Tight and taut and almost painfully tart but there is energy here certainly!
Lynch Bages is one of the most popular and reliable Châteaux of Bordeaux. Release prices of this classic Pauillac are usually modest compared to those that consumers are happy to pay for mature vintages. This much-loved Chateau consistently makes one of our most demanded and biggest selling wines and we are fortunate to have an excellent relationship with the Cazes family and good allocations which we have built up over many years. A wine to buy en primeur every year. If you are thinking of only buying a few cases en primeur then Lynch Bages should always be one of them. Jean-Michel Cazes' son Jean-Charles is now in charge here and recent vintages have been really outstanding. This year the percentage of Merlot (26%) is the highest ever with 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc (the lowest ever) and 1% Petit Verdot. A dense black colour and a really classic Pauillac nose with tobacco and cedar notes. Big, succulent and rich on the palate. This coats the mouth with dense black cassis fruit. The tannins are ripe and velvety. Multi-dimensional with notes of cherry, mulberry, blackberries and blackcurrants. Powerful, complex, elegant and classically structured. A very fine Lynch Bages that reminds us of the excellent 2006 that was made here. The yield was the smallest since 1991.
The fruit on the nose is rich and there is a good weight and depth of flavour on the palate. The tannins are firm and quite obvious but behind the structure there is depth and richness of fruit. The finish is a touch dry and lacking a bit of generosity. 2020-35.
This wine contains the lowest percentage of Cabernet at Lynch since 1994, reflecting the
tricky growing conditions in the Médoc. This is still a pretty serious wine, mind you. The oak
is a little intrusive, but it's still a classic Pauillac with notes of green pepper, blackcurrant and
graphite and densely packed tannins.
Drink: 2022-35
Some of Lynch Bages's tell-tale cedary, black currant, earth and spice characteristics are present in the 2012's moderately intense bouquet. This wine exhibits good purity, a healthy dark ruby/purple color and medium body. There is a slight deficiency in the mid-palate, but it recovers sufficiently and offers up a decent finish that tails off ever so slightly. This good to excellent wine could use more fat and charm in the mid-section. Cellar it for a couple of years and drink it over the following 12-14 years.
A fruity wine for the vintage with dense tannins. Full body, with impressive structure. Long finish. Generous and attractive. I like the balance and precision for the vintage
Still muscular at 10 years old, this has grip and a sense of tingling minerality, plenty of eucalyptus and fresh mint leaf. This maintains its Pauillac character even in a softer goumet vintage like 2012, and is pleasing for it. Slate and graphite, far more intensity than some, with subtle a sweetness to the blackcurrant puree fruits. 65% new oak.
