2001 Chateau Lynch-Bages 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac

Chateau Lynch-Bages 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2001

Region: Bordeaux, Pauillac

Is there a wine anywhere in the world that can boast the global affection and recognition of Château Lynch Bages? Once known as the “poor man’s Mouton” this iconic Pauillac now plays second fiddle to no one, residing as it does in the finest collections and on the most coveted wine lists in the world. Lynch Bages is surely one of the most underrated chateaux when it comes to the 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines, belying its fifth growth status and producing outstanding wines year on year. Under the Cazes family, first Jean-Michel and now his son Jean-Charles, the estate has seen massive investment - most notably a huge, modern new winemaking facility - and the rewards have been duly reaped. Stylistically, Lynch Bages is quintessential Pauillac, highly consistent in quality, with the trademark regional Cabernet Sauvignon character of black fruit, pencil shavings and leather.

Tasting Notes and Scores

92 DR

Soft curl of smoke, the beginnings of tertiary notes , this is showing some evolution at 20 years old, as does the slight sediment that has formed in the bottle. Tobaocco smoke, saffran, brambled fruits, melted tannins. An elegant 2001 and one that I would suggest beginning to drink. It will continue at this level for a few decades but will not improve much from here. 65% new oak. Drink now - 2038
Tasted March 2022 - Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Decanter

92 NM

The 2001 Lynch-Bages has a complex bouquet, well defined with a mélange of red and black fruit mixed with freshly rolled tobacco, sage and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit. It's sweet and candied with veins of orange peel and hints of sloes and fig towards the finish. I appreciate the harmony here, plus the persistence. Very fine, though on this occasion, it is just pipped by its millennial counterpart. Tasted blind at the Lynch Bages vertical at the château. 92 points - tasted July 2023
Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. The first bottle of this was denuded of vitality and out of sorts (indeed this is a major problem with this vintage.) Not corked, but previous experience old me that it was not “happy” bottle. Fortunately I stayed for another to be opened and this far more representative. Ripe, dark berried fruits on the nose with touches of mulberry, briary, graphite and sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp entry, tarry black fruits on the entry, sharp acidity, very tight but that is probably because this bottle had just been opened. Very fine. Tasted March 2011.

– 92 points eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Neal Martin

88 RP

The fully mature 2001 exhibits aromas of tapenade, bay leaf, licorice, red and black currants, damp earth and new saddle leather. Medium-bodied and atypically elegant and charming for a Lynch Bages with soft, fully resolved tannin and a moderately long finish, it is much lighter than a great vintage such as 2000.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #196, Aug 2011)

Wine Advocate

856 WL

Quality 701 | Brand 997 | Economics 960 | buzz brand
Quality: Above the average quality score of its peer group for the 2001 vintage, 676 Brand: #3 strongest restaurant presence on Wine Lister, featuring on 54 of the world's top wine lists, including Auberge du Soleil Economics: Above its peer group average price of £92 for the 2001 vintage Production: Older vines than its peer group average of 32 years

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Wine Lister

Chateau Lynch-Bages 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac