2018 Blanc de Lynch Bages
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Tasting notes
Passion fruit, lime blossom and scraping citrus, with a touch of gunsmoke and slate to keep things tight and focused. 50% new oak, harvest September 5 to 11. The grapes are handled in a variety of ways at Lynch Bages, using a mix of pressing both with and without stems, followed by fermentation in barrel for two thirds of the crop and in vat for the rest, then ageing on the lees for 6 months. A great moment to drink, but no rush and this is a white wine with enough structure to age.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Pretty pineapple, white grapefruit, and a touch of chalky minerality emerge from the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages Blanc, a fresh, lively white that has a bright spine of acidity, medium-bodied richness, and a crisp, clean finish. Drink this outstanding Bordeaux Blanc over the coming 2-4 years or so.
Bottled in May, the 2018 Blanc de Lynch Bages was matured for six months in 50% new oak, the Sauvignon Blanc fermented in tank. This has more vigor and attack on the nose compared to the 2017, delivering citrus fruit, Granny Smith apples and fresh pear aromas. The saline palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and a pretty, fresh malic finish. I prefer this to the 2017.
59% Sauvignon Blanc, 21% Sémillon, 20% Muscadelle. 13.1% pH 3.08. Two-thirds fermented in tank, one-third in barrel. Will be bottled in 10 days. Complex aroma that is herbal, spicy and with a lovely nose that is so typically Bordeaux Blanc. Cedary but with lemon and grapefruit freshness too. Slight grip, moderate concentration, more interesting aromatically than for its intensity. Not very long but super-fresh. (JH)
About the producer
Ch. Lynch-Bages is one of the largest and best properties in Pauillac, in the Médoc. While officially classified as a Fifth Growth estate, it regularly competes with the First and Second Growths when it comes to quality and ageability.