Lynch Bages 2015

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

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.