2020 Château Lynch Bages Pauillac Grand Cru Classé

CHÂTEAU LYNCH‑BAGES Grand Cru Classé - Pauillac - The power and elegance of a great Pauillac

Bold, innovative and with a reputation for being the last to harvest, Jean-Charles Cazes defined Lynch-Bages style in the 1930s. The distinctive character of the wine has earned it a place among the best of Pauillac. Combining structure, finesse and elegance, it offers generous aromas in its youth and develops deeper complexities with bottle aging. The estate's reputation as a top quality wine producer began in 1945 after a series of exceptional vintages. Since then, Lynch-Bages has continued to produce excellent wines, even during years considered difficult in the Bordeaux region. The wine's deep color and tannic backbone have become part of his signature style. Jean-Michel Cazes, grandson of Jean-Charles, has worked hard over the years to develop and refine the wine's supple and smooth structure. Vintage after vintage, the estate's precise and excellent winemaking techniques have firmly established Lynch-Bages' reputation for consistent quality.

The 2020 Lynch Bages is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot which has matured for 18 months in French oak barrels of which 75% are new. It has a modest alcohol content of 13.41%. In the glass, the Lynch Bages has a very deep purple-black colour. The wine needs some time so decanting in its younger years is definitely recommended but then a legion of aromas is released with pure, ripe blackcurrants, black cherries and preserved plums which seamlessly transition into roses, cedarwood. (cigar box), incense, cardamom and savory notes of black olives and smoked meats. The taste is full with a solid base of very firm, very ripe, grainy tannins and an excellent freshness that supports the generous layers of black fruit with a great finish. Not surprisingly, both Parker and Suckling give this one a very high score.