Château Lynch-Bages 2022

Discreetly fruity. A massive yet remarkably tonic wine with flesh, structure and tension, great aromatic length, perfectly integrated tannins; a magnificent Lynch Bages crafted with perfectionist precision.

There’s an iron spine buried in this red, providing a sleek grounding wire for the core of succulent blackberry and black currant preserves. Singed alder, chestnut leaf and ink notes fill in along the way. Ends with authority thanks to the precise, fine-grained finish, which sports a regal mouthfeel. Offers exactly what this vintage is all about — ripeness and freshness. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2050.

Ripe and generous on the palate, this is chewy, crunchy and alive. Ripe fruit is there – chewy and sweet black currants and cherries – fleshy and filling – as is concentration of flavours, but there's a delicate layering of elements which builds the wine on the palate giving power but also focus and precision. Still feels a little shy, with tension there in the funnelling of flavours and a relatively crisp finish but this will elongate in time. Cool blueberries, wet stones, pencil lead and graphite give the mineral touches. No overt heat, oak or spice which also is excellent. One for the long haul. Built with ageing in mind I think.

A terrific Lynch from a hot vintage with blackcurrants, mint, dried lavender, graphite and thyme on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied, it shows fantastic tannins with a lovely texture that reminds me of cashmere, becoming slightly chewy in the finish. Give this four to five years of bottle age. Try after 2028.

Tasted blind. Very dark. Gentle texture. Undertow of freshness and tannin. Sinews and a future! Though a very drying end. (JR)

The 2022 Lynch-Bages has real class on the nose: blackberry, bilberry, graphite and light minerally notes, with much more freshness and vibrancy here. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannins, real intensity and just as much elegance, persistent with a captivating, quite spicy finish. This is an outstanding Lynch-Bages for the ages. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

A vibrant, energetic vintage with intensity and a palate-staining presence, this wine is also balanced and fresh, perfectly reflecting its Pauillac style. The finish captivates your attention for 50 seconds or more as the wine develops, expands, and refreshes with a cool touch of mint on the backend. The blend consists of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2029-2060.

Dark ruby in colour with purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, aromas of black forest fruits, dark cherry, nuances of fine oak, some nougat and tobacco notes. The palate is full-bodied, with fine, ripe fruit, round tannins, mineral and persistent, showing length and good ageing potential. (1/25, +30, PM).

The 2022 Château Lynch-Bages is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its inky purple hue is followed by a sensational Pauillac that has a blockbuster (and classic Lynch-Bages) style in its darker currants, smoked tobacco, lead pencil, and crushed-stone-driven aromas. These carry into a full-bodied, powerful, massively concentrated 2022 with a dense, layered mid-palate, velvety tannins, flawless balance, and a rare mix of power and elegance. This estate is clearly firing on all cylinders, and this magical beauty will need a decade (or more) to reach the early stages of its prime drinking window. Don’t miss it!

Exceptional: liquorice, slate, graphite, pumice-stone tannins and a scrape of salt on the finish that is key to balancing out this ripe, full-bodied Lynch. Great stuff, with ageing potential in spades. High alcohol for a Pauillac, no question, but it walks the line with grace. 75% new oak for ageing, Nicolas Labenne winemaker.

On the nose, a granitic minerality with a touch of black fruit, then on the palate a rich layer of red and purple fruits—penetrating, sumptuous. A wine built to stand the test of time.

The nose is elegant, precise, airy and offers a lovely fine grain. It reveals notes of Boysenberry, fresh wild blackcurrant and morello cherry, combined with touches of roasted, elegant small red berries, hints of fresh tobacco and nutmeg, and a discreet almost cinnamon-stick note. The palate is nicely guided, supple, fresh, beautifully pulpy and offers some flesh, bright fruit, a tangy backbone and a gourmet feel. On the palate, this wine delivers notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, bright raspberry and, more slightly, crushed strawberry, combined with touches of roasted, elegant small red fruits and rhubarb, as well as fine hints of lily, racy gravel/flint, flint, a touch of Timut pepper, and a subtle almost chocolatey and vanilla note. Lovely airy creaminess.

A beautiful deep colour with black highlights. The nose is intense and subtle, fruity, velvety and profound. Delicate and silky on entry, the wine develops into a juicy, full and deep palate, leading to a long, complex finish. The structure is very tightly knit as often, but the power of the flavours outweighs the tannins. Decanting is recommended. A truly distinctive vintage.

66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. An extraordinarily dense and profound bouquet with refined cassis spice, delicate lilac and iris notes, graphite and chocolate pastilles. On the palate, complex and linear, with a silky texture, perfectly balanced verve, a tightly knit, gripping tannic framework, and a well-trained physique. The concentrated, long finish shows dark-berry contours, deep-seated minerality, and a granular astringency. What a precise powerhouse this year.

A plump wine that has a big, bold rounded texture, blackberry aromas and dense fruits. It has intense tannins, juicy black fruits and great richness. Its ripeness is typical of this estate. Drink from 2028.