Château Lynch Bages Pauillac 5. Cru Classé 2018 i trækasse

Anthocyanes Yohan Castaing

Vert de Vin Magazine

“The nose is fruity, full of elegance and offers power, intensity, a beautiful finesse of the grain as well as deepness. It reveals notes of black cherry, small ripe wild berries and small notes of crushed raspberry associated with touches of crushed redcurrant, blackberry, a racy minerality (hot gravels/terroir), cardamom, liquorice stick, tobacco, a hint of black pepper.  The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/mineral frame, a good definition, gourmandize, tension, a beautiful finesse of the grain, fat as well as a fine straightness and a justly controlled power. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy wild cassis, small wild black fruits and small notes of wild raspberry associated with touches of red cherry, tobacco, camphor as well as hints of toasted/caramelized oak, vanilla pod, almond and a very discreet hint of hazelnut. Tannins are well-built, delicate, fine and very finely tight. Good length and persistence.”

Robert Parker

Composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Lynch-Bages was aged in 75% new barriques. Deep garnet-purple in color, it soars out of the glass with a magnificently expressive nose of blueberry compote, black cherry preserves and blackcurrant pastilles, plus suggestions of dark chocolate, licorice, tar and violets with a waft of hoisin. The medium to full-bodied palate is just as impactful as the nose, coating the mouth with juicy black berry and spicy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with a refreshing earthiness coming through at the end.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Deep and dark in color, the wine exudes crème de cassis, blackberry, black cherry liqueur, BBQ smoke, Cuban cigars and a background note of roses. On the palate, you find richness, round, juicy, multi-layered essences of rocks, stones, earth and lusciously textured, ripe, succulent fruits. The wine liberally coats your palate with layer after layer of sweet berries that hang with you for at least 50 seconds. With a decade of aging this will clearly be one of the top vintages of Lynch Bages ever produced! And considering their crack record, that is really saying something.

Falstaff

Dark ruby with purple reflections. Already approachable. The seductive bouquet has attractive cassis fruit, delicate mint and liquorice notes, pleasant fine oak and hints of nougat. Juicy and tightly-knit, with fresh cherries, ripe supporting tannins, good freshness, and blackberry confit on the finish. It needs further time to develop

Vinous

An utterly fabulous wine, the 2018 Lynch-Bages captures all of the richness and generosity that make the year so appealing, and yet doesn’t stray too far from its classic feel. Rose petal, lavender, spice, sweet red berry fruit and mint are all beautifully lifted in the glass. Racy and silky to the core, the 2018 is a real head-turner from the very first taste. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. Readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine

James Suckling

Aromas of blackberries, cloves, licorice, dried leaves, graphite and black olives. It’s full-bodied with firm, tight tannins. Structured and tannic with beautiful austerity and a long, mineral and layered finish. The tannins grow on the palate.

The Wine Front

VV Wine

Sensational nose, profound and noble, cool, dark fruity, cassis and blackberry, plums, leather, tobacco, floral notes, a poem. Lots of pressure on the palate, a mouthful of wine, great structure, crunchy fruit, everything is in its place here, it will take time, but it will mature perfectly. A terrific Lynch Bages.

Vivino

Wine Enthusiast

The Lynch-Bages style is unmistakeable in this wine's richness and the density of its structure and tannins. In addition it conveys a great sense of style, restrained power and opulence.

Tastingbook.com

Decanter

This is hugely impressive right from the off - strap on your walking boots, get your crampons at the ready, there is a wall to climb - not one that you ever hit by the way, because contrary to expectations this unfurls slowly, keeping the peak just out of sight.It’s great quality and one of my favourites from this property because it’s full of power but with a caress, so much tannic power too and yet so light of foot. It’s filled with absolutely delicious black chocolate, rosemary, cardamom and pepper but also lets the light in thanks for a fresh core running through. Having tasted it a few times it’s clear it’s going to age extremely well. A yield of 38hl/ha.

Wine Spectator

Vibrant, with a violet and cassis lead-in that then expands to include steeped black cherry and plum fruit as well as extra savory, iron and licorice root notes. Nice latent grip too, with a mouthwatering tug of earth at the very end. The fruit is so vibrant, it's a tease now, but there's structure here for the long haul, so be patient.

The Wine Independent

Jeb Dunnuck

One of the finest vintages I've ever tasted from this address, the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages has everything you look for in a great wine: incredible aromatics, richness without weight, perfect balance, and a purity of fruit that's just about off the charts. Dense purple, it reveals a glorious perfume of blackcurrants and blackberry fruits, a deep, unctuous mouthfeel, building tannins, and a complex array of cedar pencil, tobacco, wood smoke, and chocolate. A true blockbuster in every sense, with masses of fruit and tannins as well as moderate acidity, it will probably merit a triple-digit score in a decade and is a 50+-year wine from this team. 98+

Y. Castaing