1996 Lynch Bages
By Chateau Lynch Bages
The 1996 Lynch Bages from Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 1996 vintage in Bordeaux holds a tapestry of narratives, one of peak veneration being spun around the hallowed plots of Chateau Lynch Bages. This particular year stands as a portrait of precision and poise, expressing the quintessence of Pauillac's formidable terroir.
A Year Defined by Dichotomy
Within the boundaries of Chateau Lynch Bages, the 1996 season was marked by contrasts - a stern challenge succeeded by an exemplary late-summer reprieve. The finale gifted us with Cabernet Sauvignon berries of optimal ripeness, unlocking the doorway to structured, age-worthy wines.
Tasting Notes: A Legacy in the Glass
It's in the glass that the 1996 Lynch Bages asserts its legacy. There is an aristocratic boldness interwoven with a lacework texture that belies its years. Cassis and charcoal engage first, followed by a symphony of cedar and tobacco leaf - an ode to the storied gravel beds that cradle these distinguished vines. Clasping onto youthfulness with every fiber, it remains alluringly vibrant.
Investors deliberate over which vintages represent not just brilliant drinking but also judicious acquisitions. The storied provenance of the 1996 Lynch Bages combined with its graceful ascent towards maturity renders it magnetising to both connoisseurs and investors alike.
In Summary: The Investment Calibre of 1996
Savouring the '96 from Chateau Lynch Bages is akin to perusing a chapter from viticultural literature - every sip narrates a story of climatic trials, varietal triumphs, and meticulous craftsmanship - a storytelling maintiained splendidly as we journey through its decades. Investing in such a bottling is to own a piece of enological finesse, a physical manifestation of market acumen blended with sensorial splendour that continues to yield impressive returns in cellars globally.
Market price (USD)
$2,120.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
133.08
Scores and tasting notes
The 1996 exhibits a dark plum/ruby/purple color that is just beginning to lighten at the edge, surprisingly velvety tannins and a classic Pauillac bouquet of lead pencil shavings, cedarwood, black currants, sweet cherries and spice box. This medium to full-bodied, elegant, savory, broad wine is still five years away from full maturity. It should continue to drink well for another 10-15 years.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #196 Aug 2011
The 1996 Lynch Bages has a delightful fresh, minty bouquet that does not quite deliver the complexity of recent vintages, nicely perfumed with hints of wilted rose petal developing with time. The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity, fresh from the start with blackcurrant pastilles, a touch of tobacco with a tightly coiled, minerally, slightly sharp finish that perhaps just needs a little more depth. I appreciate that lingering pencil lead note on the aftertaste, completing a solid if unspectacular Lynch Bages. It's the kind of Pauillac I would grab from a restaurant list at the right price. A point. Tasted July 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 October 2016