Chateau Lynch Bages 2011

DECANTER: "One of the clear standouts where the fruit has real depth and is laced with black chocolate, liquorice, cassis as well as cassis bud. Cabernet dominant, will some angularity to the tannins but this is high quality, and has a floral lift and juiciness to it. A food vintage, because acidities are pretty high, but this delivers one of the best wines of Pauillac. New optical sorter used this year. 65% new oak, 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 66% of production in the first wine. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040"

WEINWISSER: "Beeindruckendes Bouquet mit reifen Schattenmorellen, dominikanischem Tabak und dunklen Schokotrüffeln. Im zweiten Ansatz Ebenholz, getrockneter Rosmarin und Ledernoten. Am mächtigen Gaumen mit weicher Textur und einer ungeheuren Konzentration, mehr Muskeln als Saft, trotzdem balanciert und ausdauernd. Im nicht enden wollenden konzentrierten Finale Wildkirsche, Wacholder und edle Graphitnoten. WOW, wer hier gekauft hat, wird in 2–3 Jahren (noch mehr) Freude haben!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a luxurious wine that's opulently rich. Ripe black fruits dominate, lending fullness to the firm structure in the backdrop. It's a wine with great potential, density and weight. Touches of chocolate and licorice combine with flavors of dark plum, toast and spice. Drink from 2018."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A dense, chewy wine for the vintage, with plum, currant and blackberry character. Full body, polished tannic texture and a bright finish. Very pretty indeed. This needs time to soften."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zart mit Minze unterlegte schwarze Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Cassis, Brombeeren, zart nach Menthol. Saftig, elegant, reife Kirschen, reife Tannine, gute Frische, mineralisch, feiner rotbeeriger Zitrustouch im Nachhall."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has solid guts, with plum, currant and blackberry fruit melded together at the core, while notes of charcoal, warm tobacco and singed iron form the backdrop. Should be very solid when it comes together after some cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2028."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The medium-bodied 2011 Lynch Bages possesses a saturated ruby/purple color as well as beautiful creme de cassis notes, a generous, concentrated, well-made, medium to full-bodied style and supple tannins. A successful effort in 2011, it should be drinkable in 3-4 years and last for 15+. It is a sleeper of the vintage."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Tight, the wine needed coaxing to develop its cassis, tobacco, earth, cedar and tobacco nose. Medium/full bodied, the tannins are a bit dry on the palate. there is a good sense of crispness in the cassis, blackberry and cranberry finish. This will be better after a few years in the cellar."