The beginning of a "new era" as this is the first vintage for the new winery at Lynch-Bages and what a vintage it is.
Deep ruby purple in the glass. The nose is deep and dark, full of rich cassis and savoury, earthy spices. The palate has great attack, with rich dark fruit and mouthcoating ripe tannins intense in equal measure - this is a vin de garde. Piercing blackcurrant fruit cuts through savoury spices from the oak. There is a real vibrancy and precision to the fruit core this year. Chewy and dense through to a very long and impressive finish. An excellent 2020.
The affirmation of the Lynch-Bages style came with the arrival of Jean-Charles Cazes to head the estate in 1934. An innovative winemaker, emblematic of a new generation of owners willing to break with tradition and taking risks to ensure truly ripe harvests, he was known for often being the last to harvest in Pauillac. From 1945 onwards, the fame of the château emerged thanks to a series of great vintages. Some vintages despite being considered difficult in Bordeaux, are particularly successful at Lynch-Bages. His wines are characterized by their deep colour, their tannic structure, their controlled concentration and elegant sensuality. The vintages vinified by André Cazes, and after him Jean-Michel and Jean-Charles Cazes, confirm this trend. The style of the wines has refined over the years, gaining suppleness and softness, whilst their consistency has been established over time. Château Lynch-Bages is characterised by its extraordinary qualitative homogeneity. Powerful, elegant and open, vintage after vintage, the wine has acquired greater accuracy, adding distinction to the hedonistic that made its reputation.
Winter 2019-2020 was marked by mild temperatures and heavy rain. After a particularly dry summer, the
525 mm of rain that fell between October and December 2019 replenished the soil's water reserves. The
mild winter conditions caused an early - by about 15 days - and generally homogeneous bud break: on 20
March for the Merlot and 26 March for the Cabernet Sauvignon.
The first flowers appeared on around 10 May (almost fifteen days earlier than normal), with mid-flowering
between 23 and 26 May depending on the grape variety. After a particularly rainy spell in early May, hot
and dry weather conditions allowed perfect flowering over the space of ten days, suggesting a beautiful
harvest. The rain dried up from 19 June and a gradual increase in temperatures completely transformed
the moisture profile of the vintage. The dry, sunny weather and temperature ranges ensured optimal grape
maturation.
Harvesting began on 14 September with the fully mature Merlot plants and continued over five days. It
finished with the four plots of Cabernet Franc. The pickers then harvested the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit
Verdot over the space of nine days. Picking ended on 29 September.
Hand picked and handed sorted in the vineyard. Malolactic fermentation took place in the new malolactic fermentation cellar, one third in vats and two thirds
in barrels. At the end of November, the first blends began. The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (75% new).
Best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.
99 Points - James Suckling. "A beautifully layered red with blackcurrant, hazelnut and lead-pencil character and fine, velvety tannins. Full-bodied and reserved. It's like a tightly knit ball of polished tannins that are cashmere in texture. So very long and impressive. Give this time. A terrific Lynch. Better after 2027."
