CHÂTEAU LYNCH BAGES

The 1999 Lynch-Bages has a deep core with modest aging on the rim. The nose is austere, a little introspective, as undergrowth mixes with black truffle and morels showing fine definition. There is definitely some greenness here. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins that frame the tart red fruit laced with tobacco and smoke. This attenuates a little towards the finish that displays a touch of greenness, though it fades in the glass. Tasted blind at the Lynch Bages vertical at the château. Drinking range: 2021 - 2025 Rating: 87 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jul 2023)

The 1999 Lynch-Bages, now at 20 years of age, has a modest, quite attractive bouquet of blackberry, dried fig, leather and faint touches of mint. There is still good vigor here considering its age. The palate is medium-bodied with relatively light tannins for Lynch-Bages. There is a core of sweetness here, hints of brown sugar sprinkled over the light red fruit that appears to have faded in recent years. A simple Lynch-Bages relative to recent vintages, rather conservative and missing some grip on the finish. Drink over the next 5 to 8 years. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the estate. Drinking range: 2019 - 2027 Rating: 88 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Sept 2019)

(73% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 5.11 g/ltotal acidity; 13.2% alcohol): Dark ruby-red with a hint of garnet at the rim. Crème de cassis complemented by floral, tobacco and incense notes on the brightly aromatic nose. Very well balanced, clean, and juicy, with good inner-mouth perfume and energy to the dark fruit, cedar, herb and graphite flavors. The finish features mounting tannins that teeter on the brink of drying. This seems to have picked up some flesh and volume with bottle age, but I hope the fruit outlives the tannins. It's a lovely wine that lacks only the power of the best vintages. Rating: 90 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (Jan 2012)