The 2023 Lynch Bages is a Bordeaux Blend from the acclaimed region of Pauillac, Bordeaux, France. This red wine, produced by Lynch Bages, features a varietal composition of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine is notably aged in 75% new French oak.
James Suckling awarded this wine an impressive 98 points, describing it as "full-bodied with juicy, chewy tannins" and noting its "excellent potential" (jamessuckling.com). Suckling highlights flavors of blackberry, black cherry, crushed stone, and graphite, with a lead pencil note that underscores its Cabernet Sauvignon character.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, represented by William Kelley, rated the wine 95 points. Kelley points out its "chunkier, broader-shouldered" nature, with aromas of dark berries, cassis, pencil shavings, licorice, and pipe tobacco. He commends its "deep, concentrated and generously extracted" profile, noting the wine’s ability to age well due to its "youthfully chewy tannin" (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate).
Vinous, through Antonio Galloni, also gave the wine a high rating of 97 points, calling it a "dark, brooding wine" with "formidable tannins" and a core of black fruit, spice, menthol, licorice, and gravel. Galloni describes it as a "somber, introspective Lynch-Bages" with significant Cabernet Sauvignon character (Vinous).
Jane Anson rated it 96 points, praising its "concentrated, intense and muscular" nature. She highlights its "deeply-rooted tannic grip" and complex flavors including cassis, blackberry, bilberry, and licorice root. Anson notes the wine’s potential for long aging, mentioning its "75% new oak" maturation (janeanson.com).
Jeff Leve also rated the wine 96 points, emphasizing its "racy, fruity, intense, long, and deep" palate with a finish that lasts. He describes the wine as a "true Pauillac" with a strong structure (TheWineCellarInsider.com).
Jeb Dunnuck awarded the wine 97 points, calling it "one of the biggest, richest wines in the vintage." Dunnuck notes its "classic Lynch richness" with smoky black fruits, smoked earth, graphite, and tobacco-driven aromatics. He praises its "ample mid-palate depth" and impressive structure (jebdunnuck.com).
The Wine Independent’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown gave it 95 points, describing it as "deep garnet-purple in color" with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants and black raspberries. She highlights the wine’s "impressive tension" and "sturdy backbone of grainy tannins" (The Wine Independent).
Finally, Decanter rated the wine 96 points, noting its "weighty and ripe" nature with a "real push pull of tannins, concentrated fruit and acidity." The review describes the wine as "both rich and cool" with flavors of liquorice, graphite, plum, cherry, and cranberry (Decanter).
Overall, the 2023 Lynch Bages is a highly regarded wine with strong aging potential, praised for its deep, complex flavors and robust structure.
