CHÂTEAU LYNCH BAGES

Bright red-ruby. Dark berries, redcurrant, licorice and mint on the nose. Sweet, tactile, chewy and rich, with a firm edge of acidity giving cut and definition to the flavors of crushed cherry, redcurrant, minerals and spices. The building tannins come across as smooth. An elegantly styled Pauillac with a firm spine of acids and tannins for aging. Rating: 90 Stephen Tanzer, www.vinousmedia.com (Dec 2014)

Deep purple-ruby. Pure nose offers blackcurrant, minerals and spicy bitter chocolate. Suave and rich, with flavors of blackcurrant and spicy plum. At once fatter and finer-grained than the 2007, with harmonious acidity buffering its voluptuous texture. The broad, mouthcoating finish features fine tannins, excellent length and a floral note. Rating: 89-92 Ian d'Agata - Stephen Tanzer website (May 2009)

Deep purple-ruby. Pure nose offers blackcurrant, minerals and spicy bitter chocolate. Suave and rich, with flavors of blackcurrant and spicy plum. At once fatter and finer-grained than the 2007, with harmonious acidity buffering its voluptuous texture. The broad, mouthcoating finish features fine tannins, excellent length and a floral note. Rating: 89-92 Ian d'Agata, TerroirSense (May 2009)

This strong effort from Lynch Bages may turn out to be the finest wine produced here since the 2000. It is a backward, powerful, opaque purple-colored 2008 with fine acids, firm but sweet tannins, and thick, dense levels of attractive blackberry and cassis fruit intertwined with notions of underbrush, lead pencil shavings, and roasted herbs. It appears to be a denser, richer effort than some of the more lightweight Lynch Bages offerings of recent years. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030. Rating: 91 - 93+ Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Apr 2009)

Quite brutal smelling. Then rich and sweet and silky at first but followed by lots of acidity. A bit green and awkward. Very drying finish. Needs lots of time. Not charming at the moment... though it’s certainly solid and gets better toward the end. 2016-26 Rating: 16.5+ Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2009)

This has a cohesive nose: blackberry, cedar, just a faint hint of thyme – good definition and focus although not quite the thrilling clarity of Pichon Baron. This is a very “correct” Lynch Bages that reminds more a little of Latour, very pure black fruit, cedar, a touch of briary, a slight tertiary notes towards the finish. Very well balanced and defined, good length, nice persistency. Excellent – unadulterated Cabernet that should drink well over two decades. Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2009)

Black-red, plummy concentration of blackcurrants with smoky fragrance, good rich fruit on the palate, good length, depth of fruit and ripe tannins to mature well. Drink 2016-25. Rating: 17.5**** www.decanter.com (Apr 2009)