The owner of Lynch Bages in 1855 was André-Louis Jurine, son of Swiss wine merchant Sébastien Jurine who bought the property in 1824, and it is this name that you find on the 1855 listing, without the term Château (it would have regularly been called simply Lynch-Bages or Cru de Lynch at the time). Today seen as one of the 5th Growths that has far outgrown its original rank, this 2005 shows just how well Lynch Bages can age, just stirring into full life at 20 years old. The tight fruits from a few years ago are finally starting to soften, and this is showing gorgeous black cherry and cassis fruits, tobacco and cigar box edging, still muscular but now letting the mint leaf and fresh acidities fill the palate. 80% new oak, Daniel LLose winemaker. This was the last year that Jean-Michel Cazes was in charge before handing over to his son Jean-Charles.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

(72% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot; 3.67 pH; 70 IPT; 13.4% alcohol): Deep ruby. Delicate aromas of blackcurrant, mocha and graphite are lifted by minerals and violet. Enters pure, dense and round, then shows lively, precise flavors of black fruits, dried nuts, ink and minerals. This has greater volume and flesh than the 2006, along with a brooding, sneaky concentration and a very long, supple finish. The best Lynch-Bages in years, this should prove to be a great wine in time, and a huge success for this estate.

The 2005 Château Lynch-Bages is terrific, with a ripe, yet also surprisingly elegant profile in its medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, graphite, and leather. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, it has ripe, nicely integrated tannins, good balance, and is already surprisingly accessible. I would drink bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years.

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

Bright, full ruby-red. Cassis, mocha, nutty oak and exotic spices on the nose. Very ripe, broad and rich; less focused than the 2006 but possesses considerably more volume and merlot sweetness. But this very pliant wine also boasts excellent lift. Finishes long and sweet, with lush tannins buffered by fruit. An excellent showing.

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.

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)

72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 15 months in oak barrels (80% new). Deep red colour. Full and ripe on the nose. Plush but fresh at the same time. Still youthful, although aromatically there’s a bit of evolution. Some sweetness to the fruit but balanced by the freshness. Big but refined tannins. Vigorous but balanced. Still plenty to play for. Lovely wine. (JL)

Blackish ruby. Not much nose but characteristic spice on the palate. And some inkiness. Cries out for food but it does build towards an interesting finish. (JR)