The 2016 Lynch Bages, a Bordeaux Blend from the Pauillac region of France, is a compelling, robust wine with a promising future. This vintage, primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, is known for its rich tannins and profound depth.
Antonio Galloni of Vinous describes it as "dark and explosive in the glass," highlighting its "potent tannins" and "dramatic sweeping finish." Similarly, Lisa Perrotti-Brown from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate praises it as "a legendary Lynch Bages" with a "deep garnet-purple" color and "chocolate-covered cherries" aromas.
With a score of 97, Wine Spectator finds it "built for the cellar," pointing out its "invigorating" structure and "generous core" of flavors like kirsch and plum preserve. James Suckling echoes this sentiment, noting its "very rich and exotic" profile with "blackberry, black-tea, graphite and lead-pencil aromas."
The wine's ability to age gracefully is a recurring theme. Jeb Dunnuck remarks on its "masses of tannins" and suggests it will have "3-4 decades of longevity." Jane Anson delivers the highest praise with a score of 99, describing it as "muscular but finely-tuned" with "creamy black cherry and damson puree."
Wine Enthusiast adds another layer of commendation, calling it "rich, jammy and powerful," with "magnificent potential." Decanter also regards it highly as "one of the best Lynch-Bages since 1990," appreciating its "exotic, spicy fruit notes."
The 2016 Lynch Bages stands out as a wine of exceptional quality, with reviewers consistently awarding it high scores and noting its capacity for complex development over time. As captured by Neal Martin of Vinous, this release is "one of the most profound" from the estate, and it promises to reward patience for those willing to wait.