Château Lynch Bages, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2006
The Fiche technique from Lynch Bages was titled 'Earth, Wind & Fire' - nothing to do with the 1970s at all as it turns out. In fact, this is a very 21st century wine. The team here has worked meticulously to produce a very smart Lynch Bages. The yields are the smallest seen since 1991 at 31hl/ha. Produced from 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. There is a lovely perfumed bouquet of violets, griotte liqueur and cassis. There is admirable texture and depth, with waves of charming, sweet, glossy black fruit. This is verging on decadent - certainly for the vintage. It is big and velvety with a floral finish; lovely precision and detail. Sexy yet strict and firm. Another really fine effort from this venerable Pauillac estate.
critic reviews
The 2006 Lynch-Bages has an airy bouquet, open but missing the same fruit intensity as other vintages. Light wild hedgerow, bilberry and touches of seaweed emerge but never fully get into fifth gear. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly rigid tannins that frame the dusky black fruit. More austere than vintages from this era, it just tapers a little towards the finish. Not bad, but missing a bit of substance and length. Tasted at the Lynch-Bages vertical at the château.
A touch subdued on the aromatics, still holding back even at 16 years old. As it opens it majors on earthy, rustic fruits, undergrowth, tobacco, tar, a big tannic body that is reflective of a vintage that was more complicated than the 2005, but that offered wines with frame and long ageability. As it opens, waves of liqourice root and rose petal appear. First vintage where Jean-Charles Cazes replaced his father Jean-Michel as director of the estate, and the first for Nicolas Labenne as technical director. 70% new oak.