2010 Chateau Lynch-Bages 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 1x6L

Vinous 92+

Bright ruby-red. Classic Pauillac aromas and flavors of cassis, black cherry, menthol, minerals and licorice lifted by a violet topnote. Intensely flavored and sharply delineated, with terrific fruit intensity to support its very bright acidity. This firmly structured, gripping wine is a bit dominated by its serious tannic spine today, but the dark berry fruit gained dramatically in creaminess with some time in the glass. Potentially one of the best vintages for this large property in many years. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/07/2013]

Robert Parker 96

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Lynch Bages appears to be going from strength to strength in this vintage. The 2010 has a glorious bouquet with intense blackberry and boysenberry fruit laced with minerals and cedar – beautifully defined and “symmetrical”. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition and a real sense of edginess and tension. Lovely focus and poise, superbly judged acidity and wonderful mineralite on the finish. Superb. Tasted January 2014. [Neal Martin, 01/01/2014]

JancisRobinson.com 17.5

Tasted blind. Second sample (and cooler because straight from the Farr cellar). Youthful crimson colour. Fragrant and cedary. A little bit herbaceous. Taut, firm and dry but beautifully structured. Juicy even with all that cedary character. Lots of tension and needs time to meld more fully. Still pretty firm, dry tannins. (JH) [02/12/2020]

Anticipated maturity: 2023-2040