Bordeaux 2025: Chateau Lynch Bages

LYNCHIAN MASTERPIECE

Following hot on the heels of Lafite, we have another big hitter from Pauillac, Chateau Lynch Bages. Under the stewardship of Jean-Charles Cazes, Lynch has been producing some of the most uncompromisingly powerful wines from the Medoc. We couldn’t help falling for the wonderful 2025, a wine of impressive stature and refinement. Although grand and quite noire in character, there’s a gracefulness to the fruit and an elegance to the tannins, which make this the most harmonious and compelling example of recent years. It’s a superb Lynch Bages!

Also released by the Cazes family, we have their excellent St Estephe, Les Ormes de Pez, which has proven to be one of the best value buys from the Medoc. A recent showing of the 2016 humbled many of the big names from this appellation. Echo de Lynch Bages, the second wine of Lynch Bages and Lynch Bages Blanc, their excellent white wine are available to buy.

CRITICS’ NOTES

“The 2025 Lynch-Bages was picked 9 to 21 September and matured in 75% new oak barrels. This has a stunning bouquet with exceptionally pure blackberry, cassis and subtle violet scents, the oak seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with finely embroidered tannins, perfect acidity, a touch of cedar and black pepper that dovetails into a peacock's tail finish that “clings” to the mouth. This continues the strongest run from Lynch-Bages since the 1980s and, perhaps with the 2025, it is close to surpassing that. Drinking Window 2032 - 2060.”

96-98/100

Neal Martin, vinous.com

“The 2025 Lynch-Bages wafts from the glass with aromas of dark wild berries, lead pencil and spices, framed by well-integrated new oak. Full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it’s deep and muscular, with a broad-shouldered profile, yet more velvety and precise than usual, showing a touch of freshness through the mid-palate, concluding with a long, cassis-inflected finish. Without departing from its customary style—combining power and generosity in youth—it is more approachable en primeur, with softer, more polished tannins than in recent vintages. This is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, matured with 75% new oak.”

94-97/100

Yohan Castaing, The Wine Advocate

“Lots of great energy, with a precision and focus that sends you down the road to gorgeous dark fruits and mineral nuances. A cool, minty note. Medium- to full-bodied. Racy and intense, with a lightness at the end. Juicy fruit, too. A blend of 66% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.”

97-98/100

James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

“Damson, cassis, bilberry, a wine that doesn't feel so far away from the very top vintages of the estate, clear expansion in the mid palate, with an uncompromising architecture that has the supple tannins of a warm year, with pomegranate, incense, blackberry, cedar, slate, crushed rocks. Excellently put together with juice, promise and personality. 3.68 pH. 75% new oak. Harvest September 9 to 21. Jean-Charles Cazes owner, along with his three sisters, Nicolas Labenne technical director. 2036-2055”

96/100

Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com

“The 2025 Lynch-Bages is a wine only very patient consumers should contemplate. Dark and explosive, with incisive tannins, the 2025 is quite the powerhouse. Huge beams of tannin lend serious intensity and power. In many warmer years, this level of richness is accompanied by commensurately high alcohols and viscosity, but the 2025 is built around fairly classic lines, which only reinforces its sheer brawn. 2035-2075.”

95-97/100

Antonio Galloni, vinous.com