In Bond Fine Wine. 2021 Château Lynch Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France. Fifth Growth • Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 94/100 (JA). Drinking window: 2027–2061. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Chateau Lynch Bages has roots stretching back to the 16th century and was transformed in the 18th century under the influential Lynch family. Much of its modern reputation is owed to the charismatic Jean-Michel Cazes, whose dynamic leadership from the 1970s onwards helped propel Lynch-Bages onto the world stage, combining traditional Pauillac character with a more polished, approachable style that won a global following. Lynch Bages combines the classic structure of Pauillac with a warmth and generosity that have made it a favourite of collectors and restaurants across the globe. Planted on superb deep gravel soils south of Pauillac, the wines combine impressive concentration with elegance and longevity. Lynch Bages continues to evolve while remaining one of Bordeaux’s most dependable and widely loved classed growths.
Antonio Galloni (AG) — 94/100 · Vinous, 27/02/2024 · Drink 2031-2061
The 2021 Lynch-Bages is rather somber today. Black fruit, mocha, licorice and chocolate are all amplified in this decidedly muscular wine from a cool year. This is a distinctly cool-climate Lynch-Bages built on power, with less of its usual flash.
Neal Martin (NM) — 94/100 · Vinous, 22/02/2024 · Drink 2027-2055
The 2021 Lynch-Bages has a wonderful bouquet with intense blackberry and bilberry fruit, retaining the estuarine element I remarked upon from barrel. The oak here is seamlessly integrated and gains complexity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, very supple and focused, a little more peppery toward the finish with impressive grip and depth in context of the vintag…
Jane Anson (JA) — 94/100 · Inside Bordeaux, 10/04/2024 · Drink 2028-2041
Has the austerity that you want of a great Left Bank wine at the beginning of its life, with cool vintage savoury raspberry leaf, capsicum and peony. Tons of slate-textured tannins, not hugely concentrated which makes it an outlier of recent Lynch Bages vintages, but it's exceptionally well balanced, and has excellent appellation character, with cassis and blackberry fruits. A high tannin index o…