2005 Chateau Lynch-Bages 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac

Chateau Lynch-Bages 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2005

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

96 WS

Textbook, with mouthfilling and slightly gutsy black currant, fig and blackberry fruit flavors bound together by singed cedar, iron and tobacco notes. Features a tug of loam followed by a second wave of fruit through the finish. This is just starting to stretch out.—Blind '01/'03/'05 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2017). Best from 2020 through 2040. JM

Wine Spectator

96 JS

A meaty and decadent Lynch with very ripe currant aromas on the nose. Full body, velvety-textured tannins and a powerful finish. It shows so much structure and fruit yet remains polished and focused.

James Suckling

95+ AG

The 2005 Lynch-Bages is a surprising wine. Whereas so many 2005s have begun to enter their first plateau of early maturity, the 2005 comes across as still young and in need of further cellaring! The purity of the fruit is striking. Readers who want to get the full Lynch-Bages experience will have to wait at least a few more years. The 2005 is a wine of substance and depth, with all of the raciness that is typical of this wine. It is one of the dark horses of the vintage, and still has room to go. Impressive.

Antonio Galloni

94 DR

Almost forward but still young; spicy cassis lifts and lengthens its rich dark berry flavours. One of the best Lynch-Bages ever.
Drinking Window 2018 - 2040
Tasted by Ian D’Agata

Decanter

94 NM

The Château Lynch Bages 2005 has an enthralling graphite and cedar scented bouquet, like a young cousin of the Grand Puy Lacoste. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, one of the most feminine and elegant Lynch Bages in recent years with a lightness of touch on the finish. That is not to say it lacks fruit intensity, but the balance is so assured that is just seems to glide over the mouth. Stylish, assured and meticulous winemaking here.

The Lynch Bages 2005 is crisp and full of guile on the nose, aloof at first, but then opening up like a old friend who suddenly realizes who you are. Blackberry, cedar and here, just a suggestion of Hoi Sin sauce. The palate is full-bodied and very well structured with firm backbone. Like previous bottles, it is sulky at first but it soon open up and the tannins are more resolved towards the finish that is sweet and seductive. Excellent. Tasted November 2011.

– eRobertParker.com, Feb 2015

Neal Martin

930 WL

Quality 893 | Brand 997 | Economics 898 | buzz brand, investment staple
Quality: Above the average quality score of its peer group for the 2005 vintage, 791 Brand: #3 strongest restaurant presence on Wine Lister, featuring on 54 of the world's top wine lists, including Auberge du Soleil Economics: Below its peer group average price of £110 for the 2005 vintage Production: Older vines than its peer group average of 32 years

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Wine Lister

93 MS

Dark, narrow rimmed red; fine, fresh, cedar and ripe red fruit bouquet; rich, generous, fleshy wine with a lively acidity and fine, firm tannin; deep, sweet and spicy to taste, gently gravelly, long and sapid and juicy across the palate and with great length of aftertaste; very satisfying already with so much fruit and generosity, if still on the tannic side. 2018-40

Michael Schuster

92 RP

As for the 2005 Lynch-Bages, it is a sexy, surprisingly soft and accessible style of wine, with a deep ruby/purple color, loads of crème de cassis, cedar wood and forest floor notes, medium to full body, ripe tannin and a long, fleshy finish. Drink it over the next 15+ years.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #219, Jun 2015)

Wine Advocate

Chateau Lynch-Bages 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac