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 equivalent in quality - 1990, 1996, and 2000. The 2000 Lynch-Bages exhibits a dense purple color, loads of glycerin and extract, big, muscular, sweet creme de cassis notes, with hints of new saddle leather, earth, and tobacco leaf. The 2000 is forceful yet plush, with a thick, juicy, succulent mid-palate, ripe tannin, and a long, layered finish...Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. Robert Parker
David Kline
2000 vintage. Warm, brown bread, cherry-blackberries baked with dried black currants and nutmeg. Further aromas of porcini, portobellos, and cornflower. Smooth, with raisin and round tannins, prunes and dried cherry. Spiced judiciously with vanilla, cedar, and espresso. #chateaulynchbages #pauillac #1855classification #bordeaux #bordeauxrouge #grandcruclassé #appellationpauillaccontrôlée
2000 vintage. Warm, brown bread, cherry-blackberries baked with dried black currants and nutmeg. Further aromas of porcini, portobellos, and cornflower. Smooth, with raisin and round tannins, prunes and dried cherry. Spiced judiciously with vanilla, cedar, and espresso. #chateaulynchbages #pauillac #1855classification #bordeaux #bordeauxrouge #grandcruclassé #appellationpauillaccontrôlée
9.4Bob McDonald
Medium plus Ruby in colour - when swirled a tawny note shows. Dusty berry derived aromas - cassis/blackcurrant on the medium weight palate; cedar/cigar box with a touch of capsicum. A very good mature left bank Bordeaux from an excellent vintage. I had a bottle of this 3 years ago and received some commentary from other Delectable users that I was drinking this too early. It does have a longer life than I said 3 years ago but I am more than happy to drink it now. As LM Segal said about this wine on Delectable, “If you’ve got em drink em”. As always with Lynch Bages it deserves a higher rating than 5th Growth - but in summary not overly complex.
Medium plus Ruby in colour - when swirled a tawny note shows. Dusty berry derived aromas - cassis/blackcurrant on the medium weight palate; cedar/cigar box with a touch of capsicum. A very good mature left bank Bordeaux from an excellent vintage. I had a bottle of this 3 years ago and received some commentary from other Delectable users that I was drinking this too early. It does have a longer life than I said 3 years ago but I am more than happy to drink it now. As LM Segal said about this wine on Delectable, “If you’ve got em drink em”. As always with Lynch Bages it deserves a higher rating than 5th Growth - but in summary not overly complex.
9.2Delectable Wine
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The 2000 Lynch-Bages is well defined on the nose with blackberry, cedar, humidor and crushed rose petals, one of the most elegant of this era. There is real pedigree here, obviously from a benevolent growing season. The palate is harmonious and framed by fine-boned tannins, the acidity well judged. It is not a powerful Lynch-Bages but has an appealing sense of symmetry and poise. Drinking beautifully now. Tasted blind at the Lynch-Bages vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2023)
The 2000 Lynch-Bages is well defined on the nose with blackberry, cedar, humidor and crushed rose petals, one of the most elegant of this era. There is real pedigree here, obviously from a benevolent growing season. The palate is harmonious and framed by fine-boned tannins, the acidity well judged. It is not a powerful Lynch-Bages but has an appealing sense of symmetry and poise. Drinking beautifully now. Tasted blind at the Lynch-Bages vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2023)
9.3LM Segal
Easily WOTN with a great showing despite slight bottle variation. Fully resolved in all respects, wafting pipe tobacco keeled this baby from nose to back of palate. Bright cherry, tar and tea notes, blackberry and smoke poking through on the entry. Drink ‘em if you got ‘em.
Easily WOTN with a great showing despite slight bottle variation. Fully resolved in all respects, wafting pipe tobacco keeled this baby from nose to back of palate. Bright cherry, tar and tea notes, blackberry and smoke poking through on the entry. Drink ‘em if you got ‘em.
9.6Lee Pitofsky
One of the more accessible 2000’s right now, it is rounding the corner towards maturity flaunting a deep dark fruited profile with herbs, spices, tobacco and truffle. On the palate the tannins are integrated and its texture is elegant, layered and seamless. 2000 shows a truly great balance between power and elegance. Excellent.
One of the more accessible 2000’s right now, it is rounding the corner towards maturity flaunting a deep dark fruited profile with herbs, spices, tobacco and truffle. On the palate the tannins are integrated and its texture is elegant, layered and seamless. 2000 shows a truly great balance between power and elegance. Excellent.
9.4Bob McDonald
Mid to deep Ruby in colour. Some maturity in evidence on the rim. Cedar/cigar box aromas with black currant and cassis - classic Pauillac descriptors Only medium bodied - lacked some intensity for the vintage. Restrained - 20 years might be its limit. It will sit on the plateau but won’t improve. In summary a lovely old claret and has been better than its 5th Growth status for decades. “Lunch Bags” as old poms used to refer to it as.
Mid to deep Ruby in colour. Some maturity in evidence on the rim. Cedar/cigar box aromas with black currant and cassis - classic Pauillac descriptors Only medium bodied - lacked some intensity for the vintage. Restrained - 20 years might be its limit. It will sit on the plateau but won’t improve. In summary a lovely old claret and has been better than its 5th Growth status for decades. “Lunch Bags” as old poms used to refer to it as.
9.2Shay A
Wednesday Wine Committee from this past week. A fantastic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds, 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind as usual. En mag. Another wine that I had in the last year, and I also found it tasting different than my last experience. This bottle seemed to have more in reserve and was a bit more coy. Lots of cassis, currant, graphite, bayleaf and scorched black cherries on the nose. Very compact on the palate...dates, mocha, more black cherries and some purple fruit too. May be gearing up for a big display in the coming year or two. I called this right bank Bordeaux.
Wednesday Wine Committee from this past week. A fantastic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds, 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind as usual. En mag. Another wine that I had in the last year, and I also found it tasting different than my last experience. This bottle seemed to have more in reserve and was a bit more coy. Lots of cassis, currant, graphite, bayleaf and scorched black cherries on the nose. Very compact on the palate...dates, mocha, more black cherries and some purple fruit too. May be gearing up for a big display in the coming year or two. I called this right bank Bordeaux.
9.5Shay A
July 4th Friday was a total blowout! Killer bottles one after another. Here are just a few of the bottles we all enjoyed! En mag and insanely youthful. This was pop and poured and it could have been decanted half of the day. Enjoyed trying a glass of this shortly after it was opened to see how it was right out of the gate...currant, underripe black fruit, vanilla pipe tobacco, and leather. Powerfully tannic. Bay leaf and ripe black cherries with a dense profile.
July 4th Friday was a total blowout! Killer bottles one after another. Here are just a few of the bottles we all enjoyed! En mag and insanely youthful. This was pop and poured and it could have been decanted half of the day. Enjoyed trying a glass of this shortly after it was opened to see how it was right out of the gate...currant, underripe black fruit, vanilla pipe tobacco, and leather. Powerfully tannic. Bay leaf and ripe black cherries with a dense profile.
9.5Henrik Poulsen
Pop n’ pour. Still showing very young there’s great potential here. 94+ for me at this point.
Pop n’ pour. Still showing very young there’s great potential here. 94+ for me at this point.
9.4Conrad Green
Lovely nose of graphite, dark blue fruit, a whiff of band aid, cherry. A lovely lucid midpalate with a nice spine of acidity and cool, elegant fruit. Excellent.
Lovely nose of graphite, dark blue fruit, a whiff of band aid, cherry. A lovely lucid midpalate with a nice spine of acidity and cool, elegant fruit. Excellent.
9.4WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.