1989 Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

1306411 Views

1989
97
Fully mature, right off the bat, the nose, with its cedar, tobacco, herbs, currants and cigar box aromas hit you just right. As good as that is, and it’s good, the palate, which is loaded with ripe, spicy, leafy red fruits delivers length, complexity and character. This is simply fabulous in your glass. Drink from 2023-2040.

Fully mature, right off the bat, the nose, with its cedar, tobacco, herbs, currants and cigar box aromas hit you just right. As good as that is, and it’s good, the palate, which is loaded with ripe, spicy, leafy red fruits delivers length, complexity and character. This is simply fabulous in your glass. Drink from 2023-2040.

4,052 Views   Tasted
The first thing you notice is the unmistakable aroma of an unsmoked Cuban cigar, with its hint of bitter chocolate, coupled with cedar, smoke, tobacco, mint, spice, herbs and roasted blackberries. Full-bodied, concentrated, intense and firm, there is a sweetness to the fruit, a hint of green pepper and a gorgeous display of blackberries and cassis in the long finish. This is not about finesse. Instead, it is all about the fabulous, big juicy gulp of mouth-filling cassis that really hits the spot! The wine is showing great today. If you have a bottle, do not hesitate to check it out.

The first thing you notice is the unmistakable aroma of an unsmoked Cuban cigar, with its hint of bitter chocolate, coupled with cedar, smoke, tobacco, mint, spice, herbs and roasted blackberries. Full-bodied, concentrated, intense and firm, there is a sweetness to the fruit, a hint of green pepper and a gorgeous display of blackberries and cassis in the long finish. This is not about finesse. Instead, it is all about the fabulous, big juicy gulp of mouth-filling cassis that really hits the spot! The wine is showing great today. If you have a bottle, do not hesitate to check it out.

23,635 Views   Tasted
This is a beauty. Powerful and refined, with load os sweet, perfectly ripe, red fruits and elegant, classy tannins, the goes on and on with all its delicious red fruits, earth and tobacco. This is probably at peak, but there is no hurry to drink it. Well-stored bottles should remain here for another 15-20 years with ease.

This is a beauty. Powerful and refined, with load os sweet, perfectly ripe, red fruits and elegant, classy tannins, the goes on and on with all its delicious red fruits, earth and tobacco. This is probably at peak, but there is no hurry to drink it. Well-stored bottles should remain here for another 15-20 years with ease.

62,398 Views   Tasted
It took close to 30 years to enter full maturity but this has hit peak maturity, All the tannins have softened and the texture has taken on the patina of age. The smoke, tobacco, cigar wrapper, blackberry, cassis, forest floor and cedar notes are apparent with little effort. The wine is full bodied, concentrated and offers length and substance. You can age it further, but I am not sure there is any benefit to waiting. There is no hurry to drink it however If well stored, I am sure another 20 years of pleasure will not be a problem, if the bottles have been well stored.

It took close to 30 years to enter full maturity but this has hit peak maturity, All the tannins have softened and the texture has taken on the patina of age. The smoke, tobacco, cigar wrapper, blackberry, cassis, forest floor and cedar notes are apparent with little effort. The wine is full bodied, concentrated and offers length and substance. You can age it further, but I am not sure there is any benefit to waiting. There is no hurry to drink it however If well stored, I am sure another 20 years of pleasure will not be a problem, if the bottles have been well stored.

82,364 Views   Tasted
Just great wine. The old school nose, with lead pencil, cedar wood, forest floor, tobacco and cassis popped with no effort. Full bodied, deep and concentrated, the finish had so much fruit, you wanted to eat it! Truly, a fabulous bottle of Pauillac.

Just great wine. The old school nose, with lead pencil, cedar wood, forest floor, tobacco and cassis popped with no effort. Full bodied, deep and concentrated, the finish had so much fruit, you wanted to eat it! Truly, a fabulous bottle of Pauillac.

85,455 Views   Tasted
This is such a great wine. From start to finish, it's a complete experience. Beginning with the tobacco, cedar wood, cassis, and wet earth perfume, the wine is full bodied, concentrated and allows it weight to carry through to the spicy, sweet, fruit and tobacco filled finish. I am sure well stored bottles will continue evolving for another 2 decades with ease.

This is such a great wine. From start to finish, it's a complete experience. Beginning with the tobacco, cedar wood, cassis, and wet earth perfume, the wine is full bodied, concentrated and allows it weight to carry through to the spicy, sweet, fruit and tobacco filled finish. I am sure well stored bottles will continue evolving for another 2 decades with ease.

90,541 Views   Tasted
Big, concentrated, light in its feet, with layers of vibrant, lively, cassis, and blackberries, the tobacco, cigar box, cedar and forest floor add to the wines complexity. Great texture, length and character, this is stunning and should continue to get better and better for at least another decade or two.

Big, concentrated, light in its feet, with layers of vibrant, lively, cassis, and blackberries, the tobacco, cigar box, cedar and forest floor add to the wines complexity. Great texture, length and character, this is stunning and should continue to get better and better for at least another decade or two.

102,978 Views   Tasted
From a bottle purchased on release and stored in a cold cellar, the wine opened with a complex aromatic profile packed with tobacco, cigar box, cedar, black currents, blackberry, smoke, truffle and forest floor popping from the glass. On the palate, the wine full bodied and concentrated with ripe, dark berries, refined tannins and acidity. Everything is in balance and harmony. As good as this vintage of Lynch Bages is, it's still not fully mature! If you have more than a few bottles, there is no time like the present to pop one. If you have the patience to wait a decade, it's only going to get better!

From a bottle purchased on release and stored in a cold cellar, the wine opened with a complex aromatic profile packed with tobacco, cigar box, cedar, black currents, blackberry, smoke, truffle and forest floor popping from the glass. On the palate, the wine full bodied and concentrated with ripe, dark berries, refined tannins and acidity. Everything is in balance and harmony. As good as this vintage of Lynch Bages is, it's still not fully mature! If you have more than a few bottles, there is no time like the present to pop one. If you have the patience to wait a decade, it's only going to get better!

108,598 Views   Tasted
Pungent ripe aromas of black, red and blue fruit, truffle, tobacco, ash, cassis, earth and spice grab your attention. Powerful, full bodied, intense, balanced, refined and still youthful at close to 22 years old, this text book Pauillac continues inching closer to maturity. For years I've thought the 1990 Lynch Bages was a better wine, due to its voluptuous character, but I am slowly changing my tune with each tasting of the 1989.

Pungent ripe aromas of black, red and blue fruit, truffle, tobacco, ash, cassis, earth and spice grab your attention. Powerful, full bodied, intense, balanced, refined and still youthful at close to 22 years old, this text book Pauillac continues inching closer to maturity. For years I've thought the 1990 Lynch Bages was a better wine, due to its voluptuous character, but I am slowly changing my tune with each tasting of the 1989.

108,426 Views   Tasted
One of the signs of a great Bordeaux wine is its ability to age and improve for decades. Because this was so cheap on release, I'm able to taste 1989 Lynch Bages fairly often. Each time, the wine seems to improve. With a powerful, tobacco filled perfume, complicated with juicy cassis, truffle, smoke, forest floor, spice, gravel, green herbs and blackberry, this wine catches your attention. Big, dense, concentrated and still with the stuffing to age and improve, the wine has fleshed out and offers a long, pure, blackberry, cassis and spice filled finish.

One of the signs of a great Bordeaux wine is its ability to age and improve for decades. Because this was so cheap on release, I'm able to taste 1989 Lynch Bages fairly often. Each time, the wine seems to improve. With a powerful, tobacco filled perfume, complicated with juicy cassis, truffle, smoke, forest floor, spice, gravel, green herbs and blackberry, this wine catches your attention. Big, dense, concentrated and still with the stuffing to age and improve, the wine has fleshed out and offers a long, pure, blackberry, cassis and spice filled finish.

108,641 Views   Tasted
This youthful Pauillac continues to display a dark ruby color. The purple hue it once displayed is gone, but the ruby shows very little lightening at the edges. Underbrush, cassis, cedar, forest floor, tobacco and earthy scents come alive with very little coaxing from this Bordeaux wine. Waves of sweet, ripe, black cherry, chocolate and cassis coat your mouth. The intense sweet finish remains for at least 45 seconds. In 1989, the Medoc was a mixed bag, especially when it comes to the First Growths. Along with Chateau Pichon they are both contenders for the top Pauillac of the year. This bottle was the best example of 89 Lynch Bages I have yet tasted. While 1989 Lynch Bages will improve for at least another 15-20 years,( Some tannin remains). if you have more than a few bottles, there is no need to wait. The only complaint about this wine is, in the finish, a minor hint of green could be detected. This was probably due to a lack of severe selection. That issue aside, this is a great Bordeaux wine experience I’d drink any day. I remember buying this close to a year after it was released for about $30 a bottle! Those were the days… 96Pts (And it might earn another Pt as it develops.

This youthful Pauillac continues to display a dark ruby color. The purple hue it once displayed is gone, but the ruby shows very little lightening at the edges. Underbrush, cassis, cedar, forest floor, tobacco and earthy scents come alive with very little coaxing from this Bordeaux wine. Waves of sweet, ripe, black cherry, chocolate and cassis coat your mouth. The intense sweet finish remains for at least 45 seconds. In 1989, the Medoc was a mixed bag, especially when it comes to the First Growths. Along with Chateau Pichon they are both contenders for the top Pauillac of the year. This bottle was the best example of 89 Lynch Bages I have yet tasted. While 1989 Lynch Bages will improve for at least another 15-20 years,( Some tannin remains). if you have more than a few bottles, there is no need to wait. The only complaint about this wine is, in the finish, a minor hint of green could be detected. This was probably due to a lack of severe selection. That issue aside, this is a great Bordeaux wine experience I’d drink any day. I remember buying this close to a year after it was released for about $30 a bottle! Those were the days… 96Pts (And it might earn another Pt as it develops.

109,355 Views   Tasted
The deep ruby color was assisted by a beautiful nose of cassis, mint, tobacco, and chocolate. Big, fat, concentrated and well balanced. Tannins are firm, but they have integrated well into the wine. Very broad shouldered. Still young, at 20 years of age, it’s much closer to maturity than previous bottles I’ve tasted. The long, lusty, fruit filled finish had a lot of persistence and was a pleasure to taste. Well stored bottles have at least another 20 or more years of evolution in their future.

The deep ruby color was assisted by a beautiful nose of cassis, mint, tobacco, and chocolate. Big, fat, concentrated and well balanced. Tannins are firm, but they have integrated well into the wine. Very broad shouldered. Still young, at 20 years of age, it’s much closer to maturity than previous bottles I’ve tasted. The long, lusty, fruit filled finish had a lot of persistence and was a pleasure to taste. Well stored bottles have at least another 20 or more years of evolution in their future.

104,991 Views   Tasted
This wine presents a mountain of dark, black fruit and cassis. Tannic, brawny and dense in style. Needs time.

This wine presents a mountain of dark, black fruit and cassis. Tannic, brawny and dense in style. Needs time.

104,859 Views   Tasted
Cassis, black fruit, cigar and BBQ spices on the nose. Dense, concentrated, chewy, full bodied, huge masculine wine. Ample tannin remains to resolve. This is not a wallflower of a wine. It’s a bruiser.

Cassis, black fruit, cigar and BBQ spices on the nose. Dense, concentrated, chewy, full bodied, huge masculine wine. Ample tannin remains to resolve. This is not a wallflower of a wine. It’s a bruiser.

104,922 Views   Tasted
The comparison between the 89 & 90 clearly demonstrate the differences between vintages. Opaque, purple color. Compelling perfume of ripe, black fruit, cassis, herbs and cedar that explodes from the glass. Huge, full-bodied, almost dense wine. Extremely concentrated, very thick. A long fruit filled, slightly chalky finish. This huge, hulking wine is not for lovers of finesse or for the faint of heart. It is very powerful and masculine. But in its own way, it's a compelling wine, towering over the 90. As open as it was, another 5-8 years of cellaring will improve the wine. It has a long future ahead.

The comparison between the 89 & 90 clearly demonstrate the differences between vintages. Opaque, purple color. Compelling perfume of ripe, black fruit, cassis, herbs and cedar that explodes from the glass. Huge, full-bodied, almost dense wine. Extremely concentrated, very thick. A long fruit filled, slightly chalky finish. This huge, hulking wine is not for lovers of finesse or for the faint of heart. It is very powerful and masculine. But in its own way, it's a compelling wine, towering over the 90. As open as it was, another 5-8 years of cellaring will improve the wine. It has a long future ahead.

105,196 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Lynch Bages, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Lynch Bages needs time in the cellar before it can truly be enjoyed, as the wine is quite powerful and tannic in its youth. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 2-4 hours, or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Lynch Bages is usually better with at least 10-15 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Lynch Bages offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15-50 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Lynch Bages with Wine, Food and Pairing Tips

Chateau Lynch Bages is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Lynch Bages is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Lynch Bages is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

The white wine, Blanc de Lynch-Bages is perfect for a wide variety of seafood dishes, raw and cooked, chicken, veal, pork, and of course, cheese.

The Cazes family owns vineyards in several regions outside of Bordeaux. Since 2006 the Cazes family owns vines in the Rhone Valley, in Chateauneuf du Pape they own Domaine des Senechaux and they also make wine at Domaine de L’Ostal Cazes in Minervois. They have a partnership in the Douro with the Roquette family to produce Xisto Roquette E Cazes.

Wine, food, and hospitality are not the only things the Cazes family is invested in. In 2015, Jean Michel Cazes announced he was producing beer as well. The first beer from the Cazes family Brasserie de Bages beer is aptly named "D2," which takes its name from the famous Route de Medoc highway in Bordeaux that runs north to south in the Left Bank. Three beers are being made, Le Cask, which is aged in old, used Lynch Bages barrels, and a 100% wheat beer, La Beneze.

The Cazes family is also involved in arranging for customers to produce their own wine through their company, VINIV. Customers can purchase grapes from either the Right Bank or the Left Bank, and with the help of winemakers at Chateau Lynch Bages, they can create their own custom blend and label it as they wish, provided they purchase at least one barrel, which is 25 cases of wine.

Starting with the 2015 vintage, Chateau Lynch Bages upped their technology game when they became the first estate in Bordeaux to use the "Winegrid" system. Wine grid monitors the development of the wine inside the barrel or vat, keeping track of the wine's alcohol level, sugar content, color, and ambient temperature. The technology is being developed with the help of Jean Charles Cazes.

www.lynchbages.com