Château Lynch-Moussas 2020

Very marked by the élevage at this stage, it still needs to absorb the oak; better to let it age a little, as it also has substance and power, depth and breed.

Intense and concentrated, lots of liquorice and clove mark the palate alongside ripe blackcurrant and plum. I love the cool freshness here; despite the obvious oak, it wears it well with plenty of minerality and such smooth, enveloping tannins. There is refinement to this; it hasn’t tried too hard to overdo it. Suave, with a hint of sweetness on the mid-palate and a long, fresh finish. Finely textured with an appealing Cabernet signature of menthol and eucalyptus. A good effort, strong but stylish.

Really classic aromas of black and red currants with bark, mushrooms and black truffles. Full-bodied with lovely velvety tannins and a fluidity and brightness. Firm, velvety finish. Extremely well done for this estate. 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot. Drink after 2028.

72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot. Cask sample. Smoky, graphite, dark-fruit and mocha nose. Soft and supple on attack, then firm tannic drive. Oak needs to integrate, so a little awkward at present, but there’s potential. (JL)

Classic, firm and fresh, with a solid core of sweet, chewy dark cassis, tobacco, cedar, and a touch of spearmint that adds extra freshness. The fruits are refined, crisp, and juicy, with a firm bite of Cabernet Sauvignon and tobacco leaf on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2026–2050.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate rim brightening. Still some dominant wood savouriness, tobacco nuances, black cherries, some leather and vanilla. Medium complexity, fresh cherries and some cassis on the palate, integrated tannins, elegant and long-lasting, a fresh food companion, with some ageing potential.

Dry wood, some peppery notes, sour cherry and red fruit. Medium weight with a firm tannic backbone, slightly restrained style for long ageing.

Darker currants, ripe cherries, saddle leather, cedar pencil, and smoked tobacco notes all emerge from the 2020 Château Lynch-Moussas, a medium-bodied Pauillac offering ripe, supple tannins, terrific overall balance, integrated oak, and outstanding length. A charming, balanced, incredibly satisfying 2020, it will evolve nicely for 15-20 years.

Delicately spicy start, tobacco leaf, cedar and lilac. On the compact palate, with supportive acidity, fleshy extract, and a sinewy body. In the focused finish, the Pauillac streamlines and ends on black berries, Brazilian tobacco and Sichuan pepper.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: velvety, sweet, floral bouquet, strawberries, cassis, mocha-chocolate cream. Creamy, medium-bodied palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, supple structure, long, sweet finish

Silky, sweet, floral bouquet, strawberries, cassis, mocha‑chocolate cream. Creamy, medium‑bodied palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, plush structure, long, sweet finish 17/20 2025 - 2038

The 2020 Lynch-Moussas, 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot, is medium to deep garnet in color. It springs from the glass with ready-to-go notes of redcurrant jelly, black raspberries, and violets, leading to hints of pencil shavings, wild thyme, and cloves. The medium-bodied palate is drinking deliciously at this youthful stage, delivering bags of red and black fruits with baking spice accents and a plush texture, finishing on a perfumed note. This is very pretty!

92-93

The 2020 has closed down a little. The substance is serious, with a fine nobility of fruit, but it feels a bit compressed at the moment; the oak isn’t fully integrated yet and the finish is still a touch pointed. It’s a whole that should come together over the next few years. A little patience.

A straightforward bouquet of red fruits, with a hint of sap. Sleek and juicy on the palate, with a beautiful tannin grain. Fairly long finish.

Frédéric Castéja rightly points out: Lynch-Moussas is reaching the level we want it to be at. Our teams have worked on this over the past 10 years and the work is finally beginning to bear fruit. The bouquet clearly reflects the character of Pauillac, with notes of graphite and cedar. The palate is likewise worthy of the terroir, thanks to precise, fine-grained tannins. They provide a solid foundation and create harmony with a structuring acidity. The result is a wine that combines power and freshness and deserves our full attention!

We note the incredible indulgence on the attack, carried by a deliciously velvety texture. The subtle nose reveals gentle hints of gentian, leather, prunes and tobacco. On the palate, the integrated tannins create a harmonious whole around a rich, lifted texture. A successful balance between density and elegance. Very promising.

94–96. Barrel Sample. This is an estate that really has been turned round by the Castéja family. This new vintage shows fine potential, a balance between fruit and the rich texture of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine will age seriously well.