2005 Blanc de Lynch-Bages
Our study of the Lynch-Bages vineyard shows the estate launching a white wine in 1990 with grapes sourced from 6 ha planted to Sauvignon Blanc (53%), Semillon (32%), and Muscadelle (15%). The wine is fermented in barrels and then aged for 12 months in 90% new French oak barrels.
2005 Château Lynch-Bages
A warm summer with near-drought conditions. Harvest remained largely free of rainfall.
The wine blend was 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged 15 months in 80% new French oak.
The weather leading up to the harvest had been perfect and from mid-July to mid-September there was virtually no rain. The fine weather continued through to the end of the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest in mid-October with only one day of rain to refresh the vines and momentarily worry the vignerons.
aged 15 months in 70% new French oak.
Flight 3: The 1990s
1996 Château Lynch-Bages
The 1996 vintage for Bordeaux was extremely good. A mild winter and moved to a warm spring with March bringing significant heat. May was cool heating up again in June before taking another dip in early July. Late July, early August saw temperatures pick up again before cooler temperatures set in towards the end of the month. A heavy rainstorm also struck, drenching most of the Right Bank and Margaux but leaving much of the Left Bank unscathed ... A warm, dry September helped ripen the grapes, particularly benefitting Medoc. (Wine Searcher)
79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. French oak barrels for 15 months (70% new wood)
Slight green bell pepper and smoke on the nose. Dark cherries, blackberries, coffee, and chocolate on the palate along with silky tannins. Very good.
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. French oak barrels for 15 months (70% new wood).
1990 Château Lynch-Bages
1990 Bordeaux wine remains one of the top vintages of the 20th century. All great Bordeaux vintages spring from hot years and the 1990 Bordeaux vintage was no exception. In fact, it was the second hottest year of the century. Only 1947 was warmer. 1990 also offered vintners more sunlight as well. The year was only surpassed by 1949 for the amount of sun the grapes received. Interestingly, 1990 set another second place record. It was the second wettest year on record for a hot vintage. Only 1989 surpassed it for rainfall (Wine Cellar Insider).
Flight 4: The 1980s
Fantastic vintage year for Europe. Bordeaux had no faults with reds. Abundant harvest of excellent quality.
Aged for 15 months in 66% new oak.
1986 Bordeaux wine was shaped by a difficult vintage created from heat and drought from start to finish of the growing season. The bud break occurred late, but flowering was normal. The summer was hot, sunny and very dry. By September, the vines were experiencing stress from drought conditions... The rain that fell in mid September changed that... The 1986 Bordeaux harvest got started September 23. For the next 23 days, Bordeaux enjoyed three weeks of hot, sun drenched and windy conditions that was perfect for the vines and the pickers. The few growers in the Left Bank with the willingness to wait to harvest, allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve more ripeness, made the best wines (Wine Cellar Insider)
Smoky. Cedar box along with pencil shavings on the nose. As was the case for the '89, Dark sour cherries on the palate. More tannic though. The fruit is fading some. Least favorite wine of the flight.
Overall, the 1983 Bordeaux vintage produced some rich, generous wines with the best showcasing a full, opulent character but many lacked the structure for long-term aging. In general, the vast majority of wines are likely to be long past their best but some of the very top examples from both the Right and Left Banks may still be drinking well now, although that window is closing and careful research is still advisable. (Wine Searcher).
1982 Château Lynch-Bages
The growing season was idyllic with both budburst and flowering occurring under perfect conditions. The balmy, dry weather continued throughout the summer with July seeing some particularly hot days while August brought cooler ones just before a glorious Indian summer took place in September elevating the vintage. The heat spike late in the day served to ripen Merlot perfectly and a touch of rain led to the perfect conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The resulting harvest was not only of sublime quality but was also hugely generous (Wine Searcher).
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 18 months in French barriques, 75% new.
Flight 5: 1970s and 60s
The 1978 Bordeaux growing season did not start off well with its wet, cool, spring. Things improved slowly, with the end of the growing season taking place under good, warm, sun filled conditions.
1978 Bordeaux wine earned the sobriquet of the miracle vintage from the famous wine writer and personality Harry Waugh. The vintage was awarded its title because throughout the entire growing season, winemakers all over Bordeaux were expecting the worse. Yet, thanks to a perfect September, the vintage produced several fine examples of 1978 Bordeaux wine. (Wine Cellar Insider).
1961 Château Lynch-Bages
A legendary Bordeaux vintage. Big, concentrated and tannic in their youth, numerous great wines were produced in the Medoc, the Right Bank and Pessac Leognan. If well stored, many of these wines are still offering great pleasure today (Wine Cellar Insider).
Smells of old, muted sour black cherries. Violets, herbs, and fennel accompanying. Very soft sour cherry on the palate. For the age is still amazingly "there." Surprised at how much fruit is still there, given the age. Blackberries, cherries, cassis, and an herbaceousness on the palate. Interesting and a thrill to try. I see why '61 is so prestigious. Have to call it the wine of the flight seeing how much I said about it.
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