Following the superb 2009 vintage, came 2010 to rival it…Both 2009 and 2010 had great amounts of alcohol, tannins and color. The big difference between the vintages is in the acid levels. Indeed, thanks to the cool nights and generally lower temperatures, 2010 had much higher levels of acidity. In a nutshell, the growing season was extremely dry but without extremes of temperature, so the grapes were small with thick skins, rich in color and tannin and fresh of flavor. The relatively cool, sunny weather that prevailed during ripening was propitious to preserving fruit and acidity. The harvest started in summery weather on Monday September 27, and was completed on October 14. 2010 Lynch-Bages has all the hallmarks of a very great vintage. Its deep color, complexity, intense fruit, freshness, and tannic density indicate enormous potential.

World famous fifth-growth Lynch-Bages is planted to 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with over 200 acres of vineyards. This large estate has remained essentially intact since the 16th century, and was named for the Bages plateau and the ownership of the estate by Thomas Lynch in the 17th and 18th centuries. The wine spends about 15 months in oak with 60% new oak, and tends to be a big, powerful wine. Robert Parker says that, 'Since the mid-1980s, Lynch-Bages has been performing well above its fifth-growth status, producing wines equivalent to a second-growth. Often referred to as the 'poor man's Mouton Rothschild,' it is a sure bet in most vintages.'

James Suckling

js98

What incredible precision and clarity here. Currants, mineral, mint and lead pencil. Full body, with super refined A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I love the precision here.

April 2011

Wine Advocate

wa97

Still a saturated ruby-black in hue, the 2010 Lynch-Bages offers up aromas of rich cassis fruit mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by firm, powdery tannins and lively acids. The most brooding, backward Lynch-Bages of the decade and one of the real successes of the vintage, this is a vibrant, tightly wound wine that is still an infant at age 10. Readers with bottles in their cellars might try one now out of curiosity, but this 2010 won't begin to hit its stride until age 20.

February 2013

Wine Enthusiast

we96

This sumptuous wine is driven by perfectly ripe fruit as well as dense, dusty and dry tannins. Great swathes of blackberry sweep across the palate, followed by juicy acidity. Such a combination will make this impressive wine a delight to drink in 10 years and beyond.

Roger Voss, February 1, 2013

Wine Spectator

ws96

Roasted cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes start off this structured but lively bottling, with intense currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors at the core. The iron-laced grip and pleasantly austere plum pit and licorice snap accents fill in on the tar-tinged finish. Great range, character and typicity. If you ever need to explain Pauillac to someone, give them this. Best from 2018 through 2037.

James Molesworth, March 31, 2013

Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac 2010

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James Suckling

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