Château Lynch-Bages 2010

The 2010 Lynch Bages is an absolutely brilliant wine, somewhat reminiscent at this stage of its development of the profound 1989. Jean-Charles Cazes, who took over from his father a number of years ago, has produced a magnificent wine with the classic crème de cassis note interwoven with smoke, graphite, and spring flowers. It is a massive Lynch Bages, full-bodied and very 1989-ish, with notable power, plenty of tannin, and extraordinary concentration and precision. This is not a Lynch Bages to drink in its exuberant youth, but one to hold for 5–6 years and enjoy over the following three decades.

Roasted cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes start off this structured but lively bottling, with intense currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors at the core. The iron-laced grip and pleasantly austere plum pit and licorice snap accents fill in on the tar-tinged finish. Great range, character and typicity. If you ever need to explain Pauillac to someone, give them this. Best from 2018 through 2037. 25,000 cases made.

Perfumed, fleshy and serious. Has a darker, moodier flavour profile than some. Blackcurrant, plum, black cherry, with soft tobacco and dark chocolate notes. Tannins are chewy and broad. Very Pauillac in its show of power. Gorgeously mouthcoating, giving weight and a frame, carrying the dense fruit but still keeping the detail. On the larger side, but with a moreish juicy acidity. Compelling if not very accessible right now.

A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full-bodied, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I love the precision here. Try in 2018.

The 2010 Lynch-Bages has a tightly wound nose: introverted black fruit, cedar and mint. Touches of iris flower and pencil box both emerge with aeration. These aromatics say: "Come back later." The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity and firm grip. It feels linear towards the finish but is fresh with an attractive underlying marine note that enlivens and lends complexity to the finish. This is outstanding, but it is only for those with patience. Tasted at the Lynch-Bages vertical at the château.

Just an infant in its development, the wine is all about its potential. Powerful, full-bodied, concentrated and quite bright, fresh and tannic, the wine is not in a fun place to drink. The fruit is bright, lifted, fresh and firm, and there is a lot of it. But the structure and tannins are so front and center today that it demands at least a decade of aging before becoming civilized. For classic Pauillac fans, this is going to be worth the wait. But patience is warranted.

The 2010 Château Lynch-Bages is straight-up brilliant and shows the quality of this incredible château – as well as the vintage – beautifully. Still deep purple-hued, with a stunningly pure and classic Pauillac nose of cassis, darker currants, smoke tobacco, and lead pencil, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, polished yet substantial tannins, and an awesome finish. This beauty is up with the finest vintages from this château and has another 30-40 years of prime drinking.

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. Blue- and black-berried bouquet, compact and well-knit, of medium intensity. Surprisingly silky on the palate, fleshy tannins, balanced astringency, slightly firm substance with plenty of breed. A Lynch-Bages powerhouse, related to the 1990, but with significantly more concentration and power! If you've already finished your 2000, this is a worthy replacement to acquire.

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. Compact blue- and black-berried bouquet, tight as well, showing medium intensity. Surprisingly smooth on the palate, fleshy tannins, balanced astringency, revealing at the core a slightly firm substance with plenty of breed. A powerhouse Lynch-Bages. A kind of 1990 with significantly more concentration and power! Anyone who has already finished their 2000 should acquire this as a worthy replacement. (19/20). 12: Deep, dense garnet with a lilac sheen. Crazy cassis and blackberry bouquet; the fruit is immediately complemented by notes of dark precious wood, licorice, smoke, truffle, with lots of drive yet remaining classically elegant on the nose. On the palate, almost over-aromatic, generous extract, balanced astringency with noble tannins; the finish is already harmonious, so this Lynch will make for a classic — yet extremely refined — Lynch-Bages. A mix of its own 1990 and 2000. It’s pricey — but it delivers in a big way! (19/20). 21: Incredibly youthful color, which is actually logical for a 10-year-old Bordeaux. But even if you looked for the slightest hint of maturity, you wouldn’t find it. Floral bouquet, elderberry, blackberries and lots of black cherries, rock candy, dark roasted notes, peppery touch. On the palate, coming across as monstrous, undeveloped, yes, still arrogant. A truly great vintage in itself, but it makes me somewhat pensive, as I likely won’t experience this wine at full maturity. I estimate this 2010 will only start to give real pleasure from 2040 onward. (19/20).

Concentrated, profound, closed, complex, dark bouquet; black cassis, dark noble woods, graphite, black tobacco, black tea. Concentrated, multi-layered, powerful palate with plenty of high-quality tannins, a concentrated, massive structure, dense dark fruit, dense dark aromatics, and a very long, firm, aromatic finish. 19/20 2028 - 2050

This is tannic architecture fully realised in a glass, one to taste to understand just how muscular Pauillac can become. Even at 15 years old it is still closed and a little austere, even a little raw, but with zero doubt that it will smooth out. Punchy, liquorice root, black fruits, bilberry, crayon, crushed rocks, smoked earth, pomegranate, gunsmoke, curling violets as it opens.

The cru did not present its wine at the blind tasting, and this note reflects our most recent tasting at the château: deep color, very fine velvety texture, still massive but without hardness, noticeable alcohol, great ageing potential.

The nose is beautifully shaped, elegant, racy, and offers lovely power (all in delicacy), a multi-layered character, depth, density, a fine grain, and complexity. This wine needs decanting and patience during tasting. We find notes of fairly ripe wild strawberry, vibrant wild blackberry and, more subtly, fairly ripe raspberry, combined with small touches of Sichuan pepper, small blue fruits, lily, cornflower, as well as hints of incense, sweet spices, toasty notes, nutmeg, a very discreet hint of clove, undergrowth, an imperceptible saline touch, and blond tobacco. The palate is elegant, delicate, juicy, fresh, pleasantly powerful (well controlled), very finely tight, racy, and offers density, depth, a multi-layered character, structure, and a lovely fine creaminess. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of vibrant wild blackberry, ripe wild raspberry and, more slightly, small wild berries, combined with a touch of fresh plum, violet, lily, as well as hints of blond tobacco, clove, and an imperceptible hint of undergrowth. The tannins are racy. Good length and persistence. A very discreet firmness on the finish. A lovely wine!

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Aromatic nose, delicate, pure, fruity, and noble. Juicy, flavorful, fresh, sappy, and perfumed palate, with body and power. Slightly astringent finish. Good length. Blend: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Aged in 70% new barrels.

This sumptuous wine is driven by perfectly ripe fruit as well as dense, dusty and dry tannins. Great swathes of blackberry sweep across the palate, followed by juicy acidity. Such a combination will make this impressive wine a delight to drink in 10 years and beyond.