Lynch Bages - Pauillac 2018

Vinous

96

byNeal Martinthe8/2/2023

The 2018 Lynch-Bages has a decadent bouquet, sexy almost, with luxurious black and blueberry fruit, a touch of glycerine that develops with aeration. The palate is dense and powerful with lush black cherry, blueberry and plenty of vanillary notes. Silky in texture, there is wonderful weight and poise on the finish, but it clearly needs many years in bottle. Tasted at the Lynch-Bages vertical at the château.

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe3/31/2021

An utterly fabulous wine, the 2018 Lynch-Bages captures all of the richness and generosity that make the year so appealing, and yet doesn’t stray too far from its classic feel. Rose petal, lavender, spice, sweet red berry fruit and mint are all beautifully lifted in the glass. Racy and silky to the core, the 2018 is a real head-turner from the very first taste. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. Readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine.

Wine Advocate

96

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/31/2021

Composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Lynch-Bages was aged in 75% new barriques. Deep garnet-purple in color, it soars out of the glass with a magnificently expressive nose of blueberry compote, black cherry preserves and blackcurrant pastilles, plus suggestions of dark chocolate, licorice, tar and violets with a waft of hoisin. The medium to full-bodied palate is just as impactful as the nose, coating the mouth with juicy black berry and spicy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with a refreshing earthiness coming through at the end.

Jeb DUNNUCK

98

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/16/2021

One of the finest vintages I've ever tasted from this address, the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages has everything you look for in a great wine: incredible aromatics, richness without weight, perfect balance, and a purity of fruit that's just about off the charts. Dense purple, it reveals a glorious perfume of blackcurrants and blackberry fruits, a deep, unctuous mouthfeel, building tannins, and a complex array of cedar pencil, tobacco, wood smoke, and chocolate. A true blockbuster in every sense, with masses of fruit and tannins as well as moderate acidity, it will probably merit a triple-digit score in a decade and is a 50+-year wine from this team.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

Deep and dark in color, the wine exudes crème de cassis, blackberry, black cherry liqueur, BBQ smoke, Cuban cigars and a background note of roses. On the palate, you find richness, round, juicy, multi-layered essences of rocks, stones, earth and lusciously textured, ripe, succulent fruits. The wine liberally coats your palate with layer after layer of sweet berries that hang with you for at least 50 seconds. With a decade of aging this will clearly be one of the top vintages of Lynch Bages ever produced! And considering their crack record, that is really saying something. The wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, 14.1 ABV.

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe3/12/2021

The 2018 Lynch-Bages has a wonderful bouquet of supremely well-defined blackberry, briar, crushed rock and pencil lead aromas that develop more floral scents with continued aeration (the samples were monitored over 6–8 hours). The palate is beautifully balanced with fine-grained tannins and superb acidity. Fresh and focused with a touch of graphite toward the finish. There is a swagger, a bit of brio, about this Lynch-Bages, one that will age over 30–40 years with style. Bravo, l’equipe Cazes!

Wine Spectator

97

byJames Molesworththe2/1/2021

Vibrant, with a violet and cassis lead-in that then expands to include steeped black cherry and plum fruit as well as extra savory, iron and licorice root notes. Nice latent grip too, with a mouthwatering tug of earth at the very end. The fruit is so vibrant, it's a tease now, but there's structure here for the long haul, so be patient. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040. –JM

Falstaff

96

byPeter Moserthe1/29/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Attraktive Cassisfrucht, zart nach Minze und Lakritze, angenehme Edelholznuancen, feiner Nougat, sehr verführerisches Bukett. Saftig, engmaschig, frische Kirschen, reife, tragende Tannine, gute Frische, Brombeerkonfit im Abgang, braucht noch etwas entwicklungszeit. (2025 - 2050)

Yvesbeck.wine

97

byYves Beckthe1/26/2021

Lynch Bages se positionne de manière brillante, convaincante. Il incarne très bien la typicité de Pauillac avec des effluves de cèdre et de graphite ainsi que des parfums de baies noires. En bouche c'est la finesse qui prime avec un bel équilibre entre la pertinence de tannins compacts et le tempérament d'une fraicheur conférée par l'acidité. Je relève l'aptitude de Lynch Bages à assumer sa finesse sans oublier sa puissance. Quelle belle réussite !

Jamessuckling.com

97

byJames Sucklingthe1/15/2021

Aromas of blackberries, cloves, licorice, dried leaves, graphite and black olives. It’s full-bodied with firm, tight tannins. Structured and tannic with beautiful austerity and a long, mineral and layered finish. The tannins grow on the palate. Try from 2026.

Decanter.com

96

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Wine Enthusiast

96

byRoger Vossthe1/5/2021

The Lynch-Bages style is unmistakeable in this wine's richness and the density of its structure and tannins. In addition it conveys a great sense of style, restrained power and opulence. Drink this wine from 2027. 

WeinWisser

19

byTjark Witzgallthe5/7/2019

Bettane & Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2019

Robe intense, prise de bois marquée mais ne cachant pas une structure monumentale, tout en puissance, sans agressivité. Attendre, forcément.

Vinous

93-96

byAntonio Gallonithe5/3/2019

The 2018 Lynch-Bages is a potent, racy wine endowed with real textural depth and intensity. Even so, it retains terrific nuance and vibrancy. All the classic Lynch-Bages signatures are present, but amped up, with huge tannins and equally huge fruit. The 2018 is going to need at least a few years to shed some of its baby fat. Today, it is decidedly rich and unctuous in style. Rose petal, lavender, mint and sweet spice add striking layers of aromatic nuance. The blend is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

Jeb DUNNUCK

96-98

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/1/2019

Cassis, graphite, blackberries, scorched earth, and graphite notes all emerge from the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages, which is a rich, blockbuster style beauty up with the finest vintages to date from this historic estate, which by the way, is just about complete with a massive new cellar construction project. Checking in as a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, brought up in 75% new French oak, it's incredibly concentrated, opulent, and sexy on the palate, with building underlying structure, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It reminds me of the 2009 with its fleshy, powerful style. The IPT, or amount of tannins, is a through the roof 95 and it hit 14.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.66. It’s going to live for just about forever. 96-98+

Yvesbeck.wine

97-98

byYves Beckthe5/1/2019

Pourpre violacé. Bouquet complexe, révélant son élevage, des notes fruitées ainsi qu’une touche de graphite et de lard grillé. Avec un peu d’air je relève des parfums de baies noires et de réglisse. Au palais le vin se révèle lentement. Le corps est crémeux, ample et doté de tannins puissants qui se révèlent très lentement en fin de bouche. Ils sont suaves et soutiennent l’ensemble du palais avec brio. Finale rafraîchissante et fruitée avec des arômes de cerises et de réglisse. Belle persistance. Un très grand Lynch-Bages ! 2024-2048

Vinifera

94-96

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

Style épicé, assez démonstratif, crémeux. Bouche riche et extraite, nombreux tanins serrés, le vin a besoin de temps pour définir sa trame et sa finale, mais c'est une grande matière.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Blue-black with purple accents, the pure crème de cassis aromas stand out easily. This wine combines power with layers of ready, succulent, dark penetrating fruits. Even though this is probably the densest Lynch Bages I recall tasting, the unique vintage character keeps the wine light on its feet. All this strength and purity is wrapped up nicely with ripe tannins and a long finish. Clearly, 2018 is a contender for the best vintage of Lynch Bages ever produced -- and with their string of hits, that's a real statement! Produced from 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 14.1% alcohol. The picking took place September 18 to October 9 and 65% of the harvest was used to produce the Grand Vin.

Wine Advocate

96-98

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

The 2018 Lynch Bages is made up of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot aging in 75% new barriques. Very deep purple-black in color, the nose is quite coy and restrained to begin, fanning out to offer pure, ripe blackcurrants, black cherries and preserved plums with wafts of red roses, cigar box, incense, cardamom and fenugreek with savory touches of black olives, Marmite toast and smoked meats. Full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, with a solid foundation of very firm, very ripe, grainy tannins and superb freshness supporting the generous black fruit layers, finishing long with provocative ferrous suggestions.

Decanter.com

97

byJane Ansonthe4/17/2019

This is hugely impressive right from the off - strap on your walking boots, get your crampons at the ready, there is a wall to climb - not one that you ever hit by the way, because contrary to expectations this unfurls slowly, keeping the peak just out of sight.
It’s great quality and one of my favourites from this property because it’s full of power but with a caress, so much tannic power too and yet so light of foot. It’s filled with absolutely delicious black chocolate, rosemary, cardamom and pepper but also lets the light in thanks for a fresh core running through. Having tasted it a few times it’s clear it’s going to age extremely well. A yield of 38hl/ha.

Wine Enthusiast

95-97

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2019

This vintage shows the elegant side of a typically powerful wine. It offers dense black fruits that are balanced by the stylish wood aging and bold tannins. This impressive wine is likely to age well.

Jamessuckling.com

97-98

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

This is incredibly powerful and structured with so much tannin backbone and length, yet it’s cool and fresh with a compact palate and great length. Muscular.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

97

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

96-99

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

Dark cassis, plum and cherry fruit flavors stream through in this red, harnessed well by bolts of iron along the way. Sweet tobacco detail echoes through the finish, which is seriously long. An extremely rock-solid wine in the making here.