2003 Château Lynch Bages Pauillac Grand Cru Classé

Château Lynch-Bages 2003: ripe power from Pauillac

Château Lynch-Bages is one of those names that always crops up when discussing great Bordeaux. Located in Pauillac, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, this fifth cru classé château produces wines that often outperform their classification. The 2003 is a prime example – a wine from an exceptionally warm vintage that has now matured beautifully and is showing plenty of character.

The summer of 2003 was extremely hot. In some parts of Europe, this had disastrous consequences for the vineyards. But in Pauillac, where the deep gravel soils and old vines are somewhat more resilient, it resulted in a powerful, ripe style with a surprising amount of freshness. Lynch-Bages made a wine that year that, more than twenty years later, demonstrates how well it has managed the years.

Lynch-Bages' style: power and finesse

Anyone familiar with Lynch-Bages knows it's always a wine with structure. Cabernet Sauvignon predominates here, often around 70%, with Merlot and occasionally a touch of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in the blend. The style is muscular, with dark cassis, graphite, cedar, and firm tannins. But what sets the château apart is that this power is always supported by precision. No excessive extraction, but balance and length.

In 2003, this resulted in a wine that is fuller and slightly more sultry than usual, yet still unmistakably Pauillac. Think ripe blackberries, chocolate, tobacco, and that characteristic hint of pencil shavings so often found in Left Bank Bordeaux. The tannins are now beautifully rounded and velvety smooth – this wine is truly ready to drink.

Rating by James Suckling: 94 points

James Suckling tasted the 2003 Lynch-Bages and gave it a convincing 94 points . In his tasting notes, he describes the wine as " pretty, clean, and perfumed ," with aromas of " milk chocolate and berry ." He describes the structure as " full-bodied, with round and velvety tannins and a long finish ," and calls the wine " polished and very beautiful, caressing ." His advice at the time: pull the cork after 2014, and he says: " Find the wine."

These kinds of descriptions perfectly sum up what you can expect from this wine. The vintage's ripeness translates into soft, warm notes, but the wine still has grip, length, and complexity. It's not a blockbuster—more like a classic Pauillac with a velvety finish.

What do you eat at Lynch-Bages 2003?

A wine like this deserves a fine meal at the table. Think oven-baked leg of lamb, grilled beef, or sirloin steak with rosemary and garlic. Game, such as venison or duck, also complements this style perfectly. The soft tannins make it versatile, as long as you choose dishes with structure and savory flavors. Also try it with aged hard cheeses like aged Comté or Mimolette.

Feel free to open the bottle an hour in advance and pour it into large glasses. Decanting isn't necessary – the wine is now perfectly balanced – but a little air will do it good. Serve at cellar temperature, around 17°C.

Would you like to order Château Lynch-Bages 2003 online?

You can easily order the 2003 Lynch-Bages from Grandcruwijnen. The bottles are stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, under optimal conditions for aging and storage. Prefer to pick them up in Dordrecht? That's possible. You'll receive an immediate discount on your order. This discount will automatically appear when you select "Pick up" during checkout.