2025 Lynch Bages

Currants, smoky oak, chocolate, and hints of violets all define the 2025 Château Lynch-Bages, a remarkably balanced, elegant Pauillac from this estate that has more than a passing resemblance to the 2019. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has ultra-fine tannins and nicely integrated acidity, and it builds beautifully with time in the glass. It should have some reasonable accessibility, but as with most vintages here, the cellar will be your friend.

The perfume kicks off with creme de cassis, blackberries, flowers, peppery herbs, cigar wrappers, and tobacco, and mint leaves. The palate delivers its message with creamy-textures, and racy tannins. The wealth of fruit you taste, and feel wraps everything up perfectly with its ocean of of chewy currants, sweetness, lift, length, and complexity filling your palate with its weight and density. It is also seemingly weightless, and deceptively easy to drink. The character of the vintage was shaped in large part by its low yields which produced tiny berries with thick skins giving a small, juice to skins ratio. The wine blends 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 13.3% ABV. 3.70 pH. The harvest took place September 9 - September 21. Yields averaged 30 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was made from 65% of the harvest.

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.