Château Lynch-Bages 2014

This has beguiling hints of plum cake and melted licorice peeking out, while a core of cassis and blackberry confiture waits in reserve. There's ample grip, but this remains very polished and integrated, with lovely echoes of anise and fruitcake showing through the very lengthy finish. Will be hard to keep your hands off this while it ages. Best from 2019 through 2035.

Aromas of currants, blackberries and blackcurrants with hints of chocolate and spices. Full-bodied, with firm, silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. A juicy, muscular wine. Needs three or four years to open up. Beautiful.

Produced from 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, this classically styled Pauillac has bite, lift, fruit, tobacco, cassis, and all the tannin and structure needed to age for decades.

A solid wine in the vintage, the 2014 Château Lynch Bages is youthfully purple-hued, with some classic Lynch Bages richness and depth in its ripe black (and some blue) fruits as well as freshly sharpened pencil, graphite, and floral nuances. It's medium-bodied, has a balanced mouthfeel, ripe, nicely integrated tannins, and outstanding length, with a bright spine of acidity. It undeniably offers pleasure today and is in the early phase of its prime drinking window. It should cruise for another two decades in cold cellars. The 2014 is based on 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot raised in 75% new oak.

It is the first time that the Cabernet proportion in the blend drops below 70%. Normally it sits around 74%, and in the 2004 vintage the share reached 84%, the internal Cabernet record. The reason was not that large parts of the Cabernet had to be downgraded, but that the berries were extremely small. As a result, the juice yield was low, which logically led to less wine. The rest of the blend: 21% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with lilac hues at the rim. One of the spiciest bouquets among all the Pauillac wines tasted. So spicy that the fruit—almost exclusively in the black-fruit register—plays more of a background role. On the second nose: licorice, smoke and very dark noble woods. The palate shows a pronounced body with concentration and power, and a deeply layered aromatic profile. It certainly does not belong to the silky 2014 styles, but rather to the more powerful editions. But that is, after all, also typical for a Lynch-Bages that is often somewhat baroque.

LYNCH-BUSINESS-LUNCH We first tasted the powerful 2014 late in the morning with Jean-Charles Cazes and his cellar master Nicolas Labenne. Then we had the chance to sample a few Lynch legends (2009, 2005, 2003 and 2000). Admittedly, for one or two vintages we were too lazy to walk over to the spittoon. Afterwards there was a not particularly typical business lunch during which the 1985 (18/20), 1989 (19/20) and 1990 (19/20) vintages were uncorked. This was no longer at the estate, but at Château Cordeillan-Bages – also in Pauillac. We ate there as well as anywhere during the 13 primeur days. I’ll be going back as soon as possible… http://www.jmcazes.com/en/chateau-cordeillan-bages It is the first time that the Cabernet share in the blend has dropped below 70%. Normally it sits at around 74%, and in the 2004 vintage the share, at 84%, was the internal Cabernet record. The reason was not that large portions of Cabernet had to be declassified, but that the berries were extremely small. As a result, the juice ratio was low, which logically led to less wine. The rest of the blend: 21% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with lilac highlights at the rim. One of the spiciest bouquets of all the Pauillacs tasted. So spicy that the fruit, which lies almost exclusively in the black-berried spectrum, plays more of a background role. On the second nose: licorice, smoke and very dark fine woods. The palate shows a marked body with concentration and power and deep, probing aromatics. It certainly doesn’t belong to the silky 2014 types, but rather to the more powerful editions. Which, after all, is also typical of a usually somewhat baroque Lynch-Bages.

Concentrated and muscular, this was the time when Lynch Bages was beginning to move into its more contemporary construction, with full-on Pauillac signature at the top end. It was my wine of the year two years ago, and it delivers again—the graphite, the texture, the black fruits, the climb through the palate, it's just brilliant, and punches way above its weight. 70% new oak, Eric Boissenot consultant.

The 2014 Lynch-Bages is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. The nose is a little restrained, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of blackcurrant jelly, kirsch, and sautéed herbs followed by wafts of cedar, leather, and dried lavender. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound, with a lively line and firm, grainy tannins framing the taut fruit, finishing long and savory. Tasted blind with the Southwold Group in London in February 2024.

Blue-black color, an especially generous body with no temporary drying, strong notes of Havana cigar and smoke. A benchmark Pauillac.

Supported by a solid structure, the palate is broad, rich, yet well-defined and retains energy. Very fine finish with silky, precise tannins. Lovers of the vintage will be delighted.

A luminous, energetic nose, brimming with charm, eager to befriend its shimmering fruit and minty notes. A undulating, sumptuous tannic structure—reassuring yet powerful—hidden in a velvet glove.

Still somewhat restrained, the bouquet of Lynch Bages does not fail to show freshness. With aeration, it reveals nuances of cherries and plums. Powerful, the wine has imposing tannins that gradually come to the fore. Compared with the en primeur tasting (2016), the wine has nevertheless gained in finesse. I think it deserves at least an hour in a decanter before being enjoyed.

Logo on the cork: V Dark, intense, youthful and beautiful colour. Very aromatic nose with fresh fruit. A hint of blackcurrant. Swirling makes it creamier and spicier. Caressing on the attack, juicy mid-palate, finely woven, the wine melts on the palate while showing a lovely fine-grained tannic structure. Very pleasant. Note that decanting enhances the nose.

Oyster shell and sea spray on the nose. Sharp and tangy, acidity is at the fore, bright and upfront before this turns a little lean and focused with tight tannins and a sleek finish. It’s stylish and feels well worked, smooth and has good energy throughout, although it does feel like it’s lost some weight and instead gained in strictness for the time being. What’s left is very enjoyable, but this doesn’t carry the same impact some of the others do, even lighter ones. Give this some more time.

(69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot) Deep, dark, powerful, complex bouquet: black berries, dark chocolate, tobacco, herbs, mahogany. A classic, dense, aromatic, masculine palate with plenty of fine tannin, medium fruit, dense dark aromatics, classic structure, and a long, dense, nicely dry finish with good afteraromas. 18/20 2022 - 2038

The 2014 Lynch Bages was actually similar to the 2014 Pichon Baron on the nose: tight and surly at first, demanding a lot of coaxing from the glass. It eventually opens up with a mixture of red and black fruit, cedar and tobacco, gaining more harmony and intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite linear and focused at the moment, precise if just needing a little more body and depth to evolve on the straight-laced finish. Give this Pauillac 4-5 years in bottle and it is likely to repay you.