PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Lynch-Bages is one of Pauillac’s most popular names, a Fifth Growth in the 1855 classification that has long been known for rich, generous, broad-shouldered wines, and often outperforms its classification. The 105-hectare vineyard is planted on Garonne gravels, and the 2023 is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, aged in 75% new French oak and bottled at 13.7% ABV. The 2023 growing season produced a fresher, livelier style than the ripe, heavy vintages of recent years, and Lynch-Bages made one of its most structured and age-worthy wines.
Critics responded with unusual enthusiasm. James Suckling scored it 98 Points, naming it #73 in his Top 100 Wines of France 2026: “The nose of this Pauillac shows mint, asphalt, black currants and orange peel, following through to a full body with a compressed palate and a fine tannin backbone that gives this classic tension. Flavors of dried fruit, walnuts, plums, currants and tar. Classic Lynch character.” He suggests the wine is best in four to five years and should be drunk after 2029. Vinous scored it 97: “The 2023 Lynch-Bages is a dark, brooding wine. In so many vintages, Lynch-Bages is a wine of sensuality, but in 2023, it is quite the powerhouse. This is a somber, introspective Lynch-Bages with a ton of Cabernet Sauvignon character.” Decanter scored it 96, The Wine Independent 95, and the Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator each 94. Jeff Leve of The Wine Cellar Insider, tasting en primeur, scored it 95 and found “blackberries, black cherries, licorice, mint, flowers, camphor, and cigar wrappers produce an attention-seeking perfume,” a palate that is “racy, fruity, intense, long, and deep,” and called it “a true Pauillac.” The estate’s notes describe “a dense, deep color. Aromas of cedar and black fruit give it a racy character. Its balance and silky tannic structure are remarkably harmonious. The velvety finish reveals great aromatic purity. An undeniable elegance characterizes this vintage.”
This is a serious, structured Pauillac built for the cellar, with the muscle of Cabernet and the freshness of the vintage, and it should drink well for decades. Decant it if you open it early, and pair it with beef, lamb, and aged cheeses.
Château Lynch-Bages 2023 is produced at Château Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, a Fifth Growth (5ème Cru Classé) in the 1855 classification. The 105-hectare vineyard is planted on Garonne gravels. The 2023 is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, aged in 75% new French oak. Bottled at 13.7% ABV, 750ml.
James Suckling — 98 Points (Top 100 Wines of France 2026, #73):
“The nose of this Pauillac shows mint, asphalt, black currants and orange peel, following through to a full body with a compressed palate and a fine tannin backbone that gives this classic tension. Flavors of dried fruit, walnuts, plums, currants and tar. Classic Lynch character. A blend of 71% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Best in four to five years. Drink after 2029.”
Vinous — 97 Points:
“The 2023 Lynch-Bages is a dark, brooding wine. In so many vintages, Lynch-Bages is a wine of sensuality, but in 2023, it is quite the powerhouse. This is a somber, introspective Lynch-Bages with a ton of Cabernet Sauvignon character.”
Decanter — 96 Points
The Wine Independent — 95 Points
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider — 95 Points (en primeur, April 2024):
“Blackberries, black cherries, licorice, mint, flowers, camphor, and cigar wrappers produce an attention-seeking perfume. On the palate, the wine is racy, fruity, intense, long, and deep. There is a strong beginning, middle, and end, with a finish that lasts. This is a true Pauillac.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate — 94 Points
Wine Spectator — 94 Points
Château Lynch-Bages (official notes):
“Château Lynch-Bages 2023 has a dense, deep color. Aromas of cedar and black fruit give it a racy character. Its balance and silky tannic structure are remarkably harmonious. The velvety finish reveals great aromatic purity. An undeniable elegance characterizes this vintage.”
Nose
Dense, deep color. Blackcurrant, blackberry, and cedar lead, with mint, graphite, lead pencil, tobacco, licorice, and orange peel.
Palate
Full-bodied and powerful, with dark berries, plum, and currant, a fine tannin backbone, and classic Pauillac tension, with notes of walnut and tar.
Finish
Long and velvety, with aromatic purity, crushed stone, and tobacco.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France |
| Classification | 5ème Cru Classé, 1855 |
| Blend | 71% Cabernet Sauvignon · 24% Merlot · 3% Cabernet Franc · 2% Petit Verdot |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Producer | Château Lynch-Bages |
| Vineyard | 105 hectares, Garonne gravels |
| Aging | 75% new French oak |
| ABV | 13.7% |
| Critics | James Suckling 98 · Vinous 97 · Decanter 96 · The Wine Independent 95 · Wine Advocate 94 · Wine Spectator 94 |
| Drinking Window | Best after 2029 and for decades beyond |
| Style / Identity | A powerful, structured, Cabernet-driven Pauillac in the fresher style of 2023 |
| Aromas & Flavors | Blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, graphite, tobacco, mint |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Decant for two hours or more if opened young; serve at about 62-65°F.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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