Pauillac, 5ème cru classé
Comments
Long called Mouton for... those who cannot afford Mouton. For it offers a similar style and pretends to be of similar quality, and these pretensions are fully justified by the ratings of successive vintages of this wine.
The estate is owned by the famous Cazes family and offers the market wines well into the fifth class, in which it was placed in 1855. One of those châteaux that definitely deserves a promotion.
Jean Michel Cazes, one of the most important figures in the history of the entire region, is personally responsible for how beautiful wines are made at the estate today. He managed it from 1973 almost until his death a few months ago. Each new vintage, more beautiful than the one preceding it, is a tribute to his dedication, work and talent.
2016 is confirmation that Lynch-Bages measures high above fifth grade. It is an almost complete wine, deserving of all the accolades. Dark, rich, intense, it smells like cassis, dark chocolate, followed by a bit of mint, dried herbs and a hint of dry earth characteristic of the region. The charm, however, is not only based on the bouquet, for the structure is truly excellent, clear, but almost fully hidden under the soft robe of the wine. A candidate for a legendary vintage.
