Slowly and confidently inching towards its drinking window, but needs another three to five years before it gets there. Deep plush fruit with tight liquorice root and menthol edging against rich blackberry coulis. Beautiful subtle tension and complexity on display. Really a huge amount that uncurls slowly in the glass. Very seductive. Drinking Window 2018 - 2040
Tasted by Jane Anson

This classic, powerful, firm Lynch Bages may be as concentrated (if not more so) than the 2005. It possesses a dense purple-tinged color, tell-tale cassis notes interwoven with hints of roast beef, savory herbs, spice box and subtle oak, good acidity and ripe tannin. The result is a full-bodied, fleshy Pauillac that will benefit from another 3-4 years of cellaring. It is capable of lasting 20-25 more years.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #196, Aug 2011)

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Lynch Bages has another quite vivacious bouquet with lively black cherries, kirsch and wild mint aromas that do not hold back. I love the purity here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine supple tannin, well-judged acidity, a gentle grip in the mouth, and plenty of lightly spiced and surprisingly intense fruit on the bravura finish. The Cazes family oversaw a very sophisticated Lynch-Bages in this vintage that may well surpass many peoples' expectations. Tasted January 2016.
– eRobertParker.com, May 2016

(a blend of 79% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot; 3.54 pH; 6.03 g/l total acidity; 81 IPT; 13.2% alcohol): Fully saturated bright ruby. Currently in a slightly dumb phase and aromatically compressed on the nose, revealing cool blackberry and cassis aromas with extended aeration, complicated by notes of cola, flowers, red cherry and sweet spices. Then soft, round and ripe in the mouth, with persistent flavors of black cherry, cassis and cinnamon. A very serious wine offering impressive definition and very good balance, turning almost austere at the back, but with a pretty, pristine quality to its repeating floral and black fruit notes. Finishes with smooth, building tannins: don't even think of opening this beauty for another eight to ten years. One of the best vintage for Lynch-Bages in recent memory. Ian D'Agata

(a blend of 79% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot; 3.54 pH; 6.03 g/l total acidity; 81 IPT; 13.2% alcohol): Fully saturated bright ruby. Currently in a slightly dumb phase and aromatically compressed on the nose, revealing cool blackberry and cassis aromas with extended aeration, complicated by notes of cola, flowers, red cherry and sweet spices. Then soft, round and ripe in the mouth, with persistent flavors of black cherry, cassis and cinnamon. A very serious wine offering impressive definition and very good balance, turning almost austere at the back, but with a pretty, pristine quality to its repeating floral and black fruit notes. Finishes with smooth, building tannins: don't even think of opening this beauty for another eight to ten years. One of the best vintage for Lynch-Bages in recent memory.

(13.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.72) Bright ruby. Pure, rather cool aromas of cassis, blackberry, minerals, licorice and mint. Juicy, intense and penetrating, with impressive definition to the primary black fruit and shoe polish flavors. Serious, even a bit inky, but not hard. Less exuberant at this early stage than the 2005 was a year ago, but this boasts rather broad shoulders and lovely depth of flavor. Jean-Charles Cazes says the combination of focus and big but ripe tannins reminds him of the '96.

The 2006 Lynch Bages exhibits a fairly traditional style, with curranty fruit aromas accented by eucalyptus and flint. The blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc and a hint of 1% Petit Verdot was aged fifteen months in cask (70% new). Unlike some of its neighbours, the texture here seems hard, with tannins that are firm and somewhat astringent. The development was somewhat disappointing, yet several in our group appreciated the style.

Quality 760 | Brand 997 | Economics 933 | buzz brand
Quality: Above the average quality score of its peer group for the 2006 vintage, 718 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 £89 for the 2006 vintage Production: Older vines than its peer group average of 32 years

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 15 months in oak barrels (70% new). Deep purple-black colour. Reserved nose but plenty of depth. Nuance of graphite and dark fruit. More austere than the 2005 but authoritative. Plenty of stuffing and drive. Firm, bold tannins provide length and persistence. Just a little dry on the finish. Powerful and well built. Ideally needs a few more years and could well surprise. (JL)