Château Lynch-Bages 2024 en Primeur

A brooding nose, showing pulpy blackberries, ripe mulberries, peppercorns and violet extract. The signature Lynch-Bages tannin structure with good concentration of fruit helps deliver an almost full-bodied, structured red and a long, fruity finish. Wait and see. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.

Floral and herbal on the nose with dark bramble fruit. Very Cabernet. Milk chocolate and vanilla too. Charming and relaxed with lovely tannin finesse. There’s ripeness and richness, this is silky with some fleshiness that adds a layer of texture but overall feels gentle and calm. Some bite at the end, wet stone and liquorice but actually this feels very complete. I like this expression, really not trying too hard. Sophisticated. Balanced. Nothing sticks out and although there’s tension and a sense of high, lean acidity the tannins do well to balance it out. This will be very enjoyable. Accomplished winemaking. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Ageing 75% new oak for 18 months in French oak barrels. 3.67pH. (Georgina Hindle)

Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2024 Château Lynch-Bages will spend 18 months in 75% new oak. It reached 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.67. This is a rich, powerful Pauillac, just as you'd expect from this address, with a dense purple hue and rocking aromatics of smoky currants, cassis, violets, lead pencil, and spicy wood. Medium to full-bodied, it has beautiful purity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This is a classic, impeccably balanced Lynch-Bages that will be long-lived.

The 2024 Lynch-Bages is packed. Cedar, scorched earth, licorice, incense and pipe tobacco weave through a core of dark, sepia-toned fruit. I especially admire the long, polished finish and overall balance here. The 2024 is a virile Lynch Bages with a bright future. Tasted two times. (Antonio Galloni)

Intense and very deep brooding cassis and damson fruit aromas with some slight notes of spicy oak appearing. Violets and liquorice. Spices and sweet herbs. Graphite and clay. Very Pauillac and very well done. This is one of the vintage's wines very much to guard, and will benefit enormously from its 18 months to come in oak (75% new) and at least a decade subsequently in bottle, but will stand testament to what was possible in such a vintage with the right amount of dedication and hard work.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate notes of wood, goji berry, tobacco savouriness, some cassis and blackberry, attractive bouquet. Juicy, red berry, lively structure, mineral, a hint of nougat in the aftertaste, elegant and with maturity and certain ageing potential. (Peter Moser)