The 2017 Blanc de Lynch Bages, which was slightly affected by frost, especially the Sauvignon Blanc, had been bottled the previous week. A blend of 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 41% Sémillon and 19% Muscadelle and matured in 45% new oak, it has a fresh green apple and gooseberry scented bouq...(read more)

52% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon, 18% Muscadelle. Such clever winemaking: a lovely mix of sweetness than tantalises and sets off the bright nettley and acidulous elements of Sauvignon Blanc. Bravo.

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Cool weight of black, fresh, sexy suave fruit. Classical and rich, with impressive weight and power. Graphite minerals and sumptuous cassis. Seriously attractive, very long and one of the hits of the year.

This marks a better showing for Lynch Bages, this bottle retaining the austere, stoic facade but behind it more evidence of blueberry, iodine and violets. Good lift with an undercurrent of sous-bois. Very ripe entry, chewy tannins, blackberry, boysenberry and graphite leading to a dense, d...(read more)

Rich and dense, but not the dense concentration of Pontet Canet, for example. Velvety and pure, very harmonious on the palate. Power builds and the finish comes through with plums and black cherries and lots of ripe rich tannins. There is a lovely length to the fruit.

An utterly profound Lynch-Bages, this wine continues to remind me of a hypothetical blend of the 1990 and 1989. Interestingly, when I asked Jean-Michel Cazes to rank his top four vintages of Lynch-Bages, he ranked the 1989 first, followed by three vintages that he said were essentially equ...(read more)