Château Lynch-Bages 2023

Discreet, deep, dark, stony, smoky, cool, noble; on the palate, densely built, powerful, taut, masses of tannins, plenty of breed, impressive length, mineral finish. A top Lynch-Bages, built for a small eternity.

Weighty and ripe, but high-toned and sharp, a real push-pull of tannins, concentrated fruit and acidity. Feels very complete, not necessarily all in harmony right now; this is quite intense, but there’s a statuesque element which is impressive. Both rich and cool with liquorice, graphite, plum, cherry and cranberry. Layers of freshness and a real sense of classicism make you want to go back for more. Leaner and more streamlined than 2022, this is focused and there is bite and edge to the tannins that will settle, but this is very good. 65% grand vin, 25% second wine, 10% third wine. 6% press wine. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Flowers, tobacco, spices, blackberries, currants, espresso, and herbs, with additional notes of mint, make up the aromatic profile. The palate is full, deep, long, and chewy, delivering the essence of Pauillac with every sniff, swirl, and sip. The long finish packs a spicy, peppery, currant, and savory-herb punch, with a strong beginning, middle, and end. The wine blends 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2030-2065.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. A hint of mint, dark cherries, some cassis, inviting, very typical bouquet. Juicy, complex, ripe dark forest berries, vivid, ripe tannins, fine fruit expression, some nougat, complex style, shows length and certain ageing potential.

Intense, delivering on En Primeur promise, a ton of tannins, crayon, graphite, mint leaf, crushed rocks, powerful and muscular. Needs time, but no question it has texture and lift and a true sense of Pauillac character. Lynch-Bages seems to be wrought from a different place than it was a decade ago, impressive, powerful Pauillac, with an eye on the long term. 75% new oak, Jean-Charles Cazes owner, Nicolas Labenne technical director.

Score: 94–96. A nose full of charm and delicate floral scents (iris, violet) along with blackberry and stewed plum, lifted by sweet spices, for a sensual yet restrained bouquet. The palate, echoing the floral aromas of the nose, is dense, taut, aromatic, structured by a lively acidity and agile, grainy, gripping tannins. A hedonistic and refined wine that invites contemplation.

This extracts a bit more from the vintage, with a supple plum skin note wrapped around flavors of dark cherry and black currant preserves. Charcoal, ink and roasted apple wood add depth and drive as the fruit pumps through the finish. Muscular for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2028 through 2043.

Deep black colour. An intense, subtle and complex nose with beautifully ripe fruit. Full-bodied on the attack, with flavour through the mid-palate and a noble texture, the wine melts across the palate, suave and profound. The finish is long and powerful, wrapped in a superb tannic structure. More unspittable than ever at this age. Bravo! This vintage is close to 2022, in a more relaxed style.

The 2023 Lynch-Bages remains broad-shouldered in style, yet the élevage confers a more accessible profile than in some past vintages. It opens with aromas of spices, cedar, dark berries, creamy new oak and pipe tobacco. Medium- to full-bodied, rich and muscular, it is built around a dense, generously extracted core of fruit, framed by chunky tannins and balanced by well-integrated acidity, extending into a long, expansive finish. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in 75% new oak, it reflects the character of the vintage, with a mid-palate that is straighter and more tensile than usual at this address.

The 2023 Lynch Bages has a very well-defined bouquet, with blackberry and bilberry fruit, crushed stone that gains precision with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a vibrant, saline entry, finely spun tannins, exquisite balance, with a finish that fans out wonderfully. Silky texture and very long, this is a superb Pauillac that might merit a higher score in the future.