2015 Château Lynch Bages Pauillac 5th Classified Growth

Have you ever seen such unanimity? Some of the world’s most respected wine critics all agree the 2014 Lynch-Bages is a gem of a wine hitting it's stride in 2023-2024. One of 18Fifth Growth Grand Cru Classe wineries in Bordeaux, this wine alwayspunches above its weight and over-delivers. Château Lynch Bages consistently outperforms its ranking, and it’sthe highest-profile estate in its classification.

Owned by the Cazes family, this property always seems to be on the up and up. The family purchased the estate in 1939, ensuring this hundreds-of-years-old winery continues its prestigious work. The modern estate has 100 hectares of vines split into two parts, one near the château on the Bages plateau in the southern half of the Pauillac commune,not far from Château Latour, and the other near Château Mouton Rothschild. The soils are mainly gravel and sand, which allow for good drainage.

These soils, plus mastery in the cellar, never fail to createwines of great quality, and consumers clamor for that quality. When we offer futures of Château Lynch-Bages, we sell more of thepowerhouse Poulliac than any other wine offered in futures.Bordeaux lovers and collectors know they can’t go wrong with Lynch-Bages, every single vintage of this wine is spectacular.

This wine is hitting its stride now and has at least another 10+ years on the upside as it develops in bottle. Don't miss it.

Aging: 75% new French oak for 18 months.

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Full-bodied and rich with intense aromas of blackberry, mulberries, chocolate, and the tell-tale lead pencil of Cab Sauv. Big fruits, baking spices, and tobacco on the palate with ripe tannins and a minerally finish. 

One of the finest Pauillacs of 2015, Lynch-Bages is rich, racy and voluptuous. A rush of dark red and purplish stone fruit, mint, new leather, spice and blood orange give the 2015 a very decidedly exotic character that is impossible to miss. Raspberry jam, mocha, new leather and expressive floral notes appear with time in the glass, rounding things out nicely. Even though the 2015 is quite forward and open at this stage, the wine has plenty of stuffing as well as the underlying structure to support many years of exceptional drinking. This is a stellar showing for Lynch-Bages. ~96pts, VM

This vintage was ideal for the rich style that this estate has made its own. This wine is full bodied and ripe with black-currant and dark berry fruits. The tannins fall into the cushioned wine with ease and richness. Of course, the wine should be aged, so wait until 2026. ~96pts, WE

Brambly and attractive ripe blackberries and red-plum aromas with some floral accents, too. The palate has a very plush, polished and regal shape as tannins frame up a core of ripe black fruit. Succulent, impressive finish. Best from 2022. 95 JS

The 2015 Lynch Bages is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that was picked from 23 September until 2 October, matured in 75% new oak. There is an overwhelming sense of purity on the nose: perfumed, almost floral blackberry, wild strawberry, graphite and cedar scents, unmistakably Pauillac in style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, a keen citrus thread that impart tension and ample freshness. Tasting this as the first wine of the day, it instantly refreshes the mouth and leaves it tingling with energy after it has departed. This is an excellent, top-grade Lynch Bages that deserves 8-10 years in bottle and then will offer three decades of pleasure, maybe more. 93-95WA