Truly great fine wine: ‘heavenly’ Château Lynch-Bages 2009 Bordeaux 5ème Cru Classé: ‘greatest vintage since the celebrated 2000’ rates Robert Parker: case of three bottles delivered

98/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
97/100 Gilbert & Gaillard
96/100 Wine Spectator
96/100 Wine Enthusiast
95/100 The Wine Cellar Insider
95/100 Decanter
94/100 Falstaff
93/100 Tim Atkin
Average critic score 94/100

Château Lynch Bages, a 5ème Cru Classé, is one of the best-known Médoc estates and is one of the most celebrated and well loved among wine lovers in the UK. Lynch-Bages can be soft and approachable even when young. When fully mature, it develops a succulent richness and a heavenly bouquet of minty blackcurrants and cigar boxes. As Oz Clarke writes, ‘Lynch-Bages is impressive at five years, beautiful at 10 years and irresistible at 20.’

According to Robert Parker, the 2009 ‘appears to be the finest Lynch-Bages since the 2000, 1990 and 1989. It is an expressive, voluptuously textured wine with unctuosity and powerful, juicy, succulent blackberry and black currant flavours, low acids, a layered, massive mouthfeel, but no sense of heaviness or fatigue. This exquisite Lynch-Bages should drink well for 30-plus years.’

Neal Martin, vinous, notes: ‘The 2009 Lynch-Bages has an intense bouquet. Layers of blackberry, bilberry, brine and a touch of graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannin, dense and sinewy towards the finish. You cannot help but admire the brawn underneath its aristocratic coat. Drink until 2036.’

The Decanter critics note: ‘Layers of rich olive, cassis, exotic spices, cracked pepper and garrigue. You get the heat of the vintage and the ripeness of the fruit, balanced by muscular, chewy tannins and gorgeous chocolate notes. This is great.’

Château Lynch-Bages 2009 Grand Cru Classe. Case of three bottles. Code LB09LW15. RRP £850. CCUK £537.

May be available as single bottles and gifts; please inquire.