Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac 2022 - 5ème Grand Cru Classé

World-renowned for its opulence and consistency, this Pauillac Fifth Growth has been owned by the Cazes family since the 1930s and has gained widespread acclaim since Jean-Michel Cazes took over its management in 1973. Following the successful handover from Jean-Michel to his son Jean-Charles, the estate has maintained all its vigor and vitality in recent vintages, retaining its depth while gaining precision in its tannins. The château produces an increasingly stylish dry white Bordeaux, though we are still awaiting a more precise wine for its second label, Écho. A new wine-making facility is under construction, and it promises to be monumental—after all, the estate must hold its own in a highly competitive market!

Ripe and full-bodied on the palate, this wine is smooth, crisp, and lively. It features notes of ripe fruit—blackcurrants and sweet, juicy cherries—that are full-bodied and rich, as is the concentration of flavors. A delicate interplay of elements gives the wine structure on the palate, lending it power, precision, and concentration. It is still a bit reserved, with a certain tension in the unfolding of the flavors and a relatively lively finish, though this will lengthen with time. Fresh blueberries, damp stone, pencil lead, and graphite add a mineral touch. There is no excessive warmth, nor any oak or spice, which is also excellent. A wine with great aging potential, designed for the long term, I think. 2030–2050

The name of this wine combines that of the Irish merchants who owned it in the 18th century with that of a hamlet located just south of Pauillac. Since the 1930s, its success has stemmed from the ongoing efforts of three generations of the Cazes family: Jean-Charles, André, and Jean-Michel. The contribution of Jean-Michel, who has since handed the reins to his son Jean-Charles, has been essential. His success is linked to the quality of the wines, produced from a vast 100-hectare vineyard, as well as to a sound development strategy that includes wine trading and tourism infrastructure (hotel-restaurant, shops).

 

This may be the most impressive Lynch-Bages we’ve tasted en primeur. What intensity, what brilliance! With tremendous concentration, it balances this with its harmony and lively freshness, which comes through in the salinity of its finish. Its definition is unprecedented.

It is now up to Jean-Charles Cazes to steer this prestigious Pauillac estate. His father, Jean-Michel—an exceptional figure in the Médoc, a tireless ambassador for Bordeaux wines, and the architect of this Fifth Growth’s reputation—is, however, never far away. The magnificent family estate, superbly situated on the Bages plateau, has produced an impressive series of wines without a single weak link since the early 1970s, establishing its rich, seductive, and immediately approachable style, while also aging with grace. Now equipped with a spectacular, brand-new, state-of-the-art winery, the estate is more on track than ever, and its popularity among many wine enthusiasts is simply a well-deserved reward.

A superb Lynch from a hot vintage, with notes of blackcurrant, mint, dried lavender, graphite, and thyme on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, it features fantastic tannins and a pleasant, cashmere-like texture that becomes slightly velvety on the finish. Let it age 4 to 5 years in the bottle. Best enjoyed after 2028.

Château Lynch-Bages 2022 is composed of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its intense purple color reveals a sensational Pauillac with a breathtaking (and classic Lynch-Bages) style, featuring aromas of dark blackcurrant, smoked tobacco, pencil lead, and crushed stone. These notes carry through into a full-bodied, powerful, and extremely concentrated 2022, featuring a dense and complex mid-palate, velvety tannins, perfect balance, and a rare blend of power and elegance. This estate is clearly in top form, and this magical beauty will need a decade (or more) to reach its peak. Not to be missed! 2035–2075

The finesse and smoothness of the tannins are the hallmarks of this vintage, as is its flavor profile, which is richer than usual for a wine at this stage of its development. Its deep purple color, followed by aromas of candied red cherries, cocoa, roasted coffee, licorice, polished leather, blackcurrant, and peppermint, never cease to charm, and its refined acidity promises a long aging potential.