Chateau Lynch Bages 2019

• Another great year for the most popular Pauillac
• It needs another five years to reach its peak

Lynch Bages 2019 - the perfect Pauillac

Lynch Bages 2019 is incredibly concentrated, but also perfectly structured and with the attractive flavour profile that makes this chateau so popular. Cassis, mint, cedar and tobacco are not atypical of Pauillac but Lynch Bages brings it to the palate in a juicy, lush way that never feels banal thanks to its many layers, depth and complexity.

the estate of Château Lynch Bages

Allthough Château Lynch Bages is only a 5th Grand Cru Classé, it is one of the most popular Pauillacs, as the style is powerful but also supple and has a particularly attractive flavour profile. After a prolonged period of weakness, Lynch Bages has been inspiring in every great vintage, starting with the legendary 1985.

The winery has been owned by the Cazes family since 1939. The winery was founded in the 18th century and takes its name from the Lynch family, who had Irish roots and ran it for several generations, and from Plateau Bages, the geographical area where the vineyards are located. The estate is known for its consistently high standard of quality and its powerful, long-lived style, which is typical of Pauillac.

The vineyards

The vineyards of Château Lynch Bages cover around 100 hectares and are located on the Bages plateau south of the town of Pauillac. The terroir is characterised by deep gravel soils over limestone, interspersed with clay and sand. These soils are very well drained and force the vines to root deeply, which leads to an optimal supply of nutrients and water. The vines have an average age of 30 years, although some plots are significantly older and contribute to the complexity of the wine.

Grape varieties and blending in the 2019 vintage

The blend of Château Lynch Bages 2019 consists of:70% Cabernet Sauvignon: the dominant grape variety, which gives the wine structure, tannins, freshness and black fruit flavours, as well as great ageing potential.24% Merlot: Provides suppleness, fullness and complements the fruit component. 3% Cabernet Franc: Adds complexity and flavour.3% Petit Verdot: Provides additional colour, tannins and spicy notes.

99 Antonio Galloni vinous.com The 2019 Lynch Bages is every bit as magnificent from bottle as it was from barrel, if nothing more. What a wine! Towering and vertical in its bearing, the 2019 is a total stunner. There is plenty of Lynch Bages charm, but what distinguishes the 2019 most is its spine of tannin and energy. Time in the glass brings out sweet red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate and mint. The 2019 is a great, great Lynch Bages. It reminds me of the epic 1989 but with the youthful grip of the vintage. A towering Pauillyc, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar.

100 Jeb Dunnuck The 2019 Château Lynch-Bages is stunningly good, and it's going to be interesting to compare this to the 2018 over the coming decades. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 75% new French oak, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, freshly sharpened cedar pencil, spring flowers, smoke, and graphite, with an almost liqueur of rocks-like minerality. A massive, incredibly concentrated Lynch-Bages, Jean-Charles has hit a home run in the vintage, and this sensational wine has building, perfect tannins, insane purity, and a finish that won't quit. It has the purity, finesse, balance, and depth to offer pleasure not only today but to evolve for 40 to 50 years. Smart money will hide these for a good 7-8 years, but wow, what a wine. Bravo. 100/100

750 mL

14.0

Bordeaux

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Sulphites

• Dry

France

Chateau Lynch-Bages, 33250 Pauillac, France