Description: Chateau Lynch-Bages has been characterised by its extraordinary qualitative homogeneity. Powerful, elegant and open, vintage after vintage, the wine has acquired greater accuracy, adding distinction to the hedonistic character that made its reputation.
Robert Parker: Wine Advocate # 188. Apr 2010. Reviewer : Robert Parker. The highest levels of polyphenols ever measured at Lynch Bages (20% higher than any prior vintage) are found in the 2009, which achieved 13.4% natural alcohol, and a normal pH of 3.64. Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it is the greatest Lynch Bages since the outstanding duo of 1989 and 1990. The black/purple-tinged 2009 exhibits a glorious perfume of graphite, black currants, and subtle smoke, powerful, thick, unctuously textured flavors, huge yet sweet tannins, fabulous purity, and a finish that lasts 40-45 seconds. Five to eight years of patience will be required, but this is a 30-40-year wine from this popular estate run by the affable and highly respected Cazes family. (Tasted three times.) Drink: 2010 - 2050.
Jancis Robinson: Published : 07-Apr-2010. Dense crimson. Rich and spicy and lifted. Really rather flirtatious. Not heavy or dense but very nicely balanced without aggressive notes of rough tannin or greenness. When to drink : 2016 to 2028.
Wine Spectator: Updated: April 15, 2010. The nose shows amazing aromas of mint, spices and currant, with underlying licorice and tar. Full-bodied, with amazing fruit and a long, long finish. Powerful. Blockbuster, but balanced. So structured. Lynch has not made a wine like this since perhaps 1989 or 1982. Better than Wine of the Year 1985 Lynch. —J.S.
Stephen Tanzer: May/Jun 10. By Ian D'Agata. (a blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 13.4% alcohol; pH 3.64; 93 IPT) Inky purple. Sexy, forward aromas of red cherry, cassis, minerals and violet; very Pauillac. Then rich and lush, with impressive volume to its ripe, creamy strawberry, cedar and chocolate flavors. As full and sweet as this is, it can seem almost chunky at first, but thanks to harmonious acids, which nicely extend the flavors on the back, it does not leave any impression of excess weight. In fact, this finishes rather easygoing, even though serious tannins are present to provide adequate backbone and aging potential. A classic example of an '09 Bordeaux that will be ready to drink far sooner than usual but should also hold up well for another 20 years after that.
Decanter: Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, 18 pts - Dense purple red, concentrated Cabernet cassis plus rich spiciness, big volume on the palate, expressive elegance over the natural vigour, lifted and long. Drink 2015-30. (18 points)
Neal Martin, erobertparker.com, 94-96pts - "Tasted at the château and UGC. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, raised in 70% new oak. Merlot was cropped from the 28th to 30th September and the Cabernet Sauvignon was picked from the 6th to the 12th October. The nose soars from the glass, pure blackberry, briary, pencil lead and a touch of tobacco. Very fine definition: reminiscent of the 2006 but with a little more horsepower. The palate is full-bodied with very well integrated new oak that really sings with the concentrated black fruit and does not disguise the minerality in this wine. Tons of freshness, that acidity really driving the wine to the finish and then the persistency is superb. Still very linear, with a strictness that is seductive. Tasted March 2010. "
Chris Kissack, thewinedoctor.com, 16.5-17.5+pts - "A deep and glossy appearance, with a crimson-blue rim. Very dark fruit on the nose, dark berries, and forest fruits, all with a sweet and slightly gritty character. On the palate a very sweet depth of fruit to match, creamed forest berries, velvety tannins, with lots of grip and spice. The acidity takes a backseat here, and overall it seems very open and approachable now. All the same, very good."
Tim Atkin, www.timatkin.com, 93 pts - "Deeply coloured, aromatic and impressive, this is a powerful wine, with lots of extraction, firm tannins and plenty of new oak. The wine finishes a little dry (which is why it doesn’t get 94 points or more), but it has masses of fruit, so I expect it to come together in barrel and bottle. 15+ years."
Vinification: The fruit is harvested manually, then destemmed and crushed before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The wine macerates in vat for a total of three weeks with malolactic in tank, before the wine is run off into oak for up to 15 months, with 60% new wood for every vintage.
