Lynch Bages 2000

Very, very deep, blackish crimson. Singed, fireworks on the nose. Excitement! Full, punchy. Very solid and dependable. Quite smooth. Makes the most of the vintage.Drink 2008-2020.Date tasted 20th Jan 05.

This was a gorgeous showing by the 2000 Château Lynch-Bages, and this appears to be smack in the middle of its prime drinking window based on this bottle (which was more youthful than a bottle from my cellar). Still ruby/plum-hued, it has a pure, intense nose of darker currants, leafy tobacco, freshly sharpened pencils, and incense, which is classic Pauillac goodness. This carries to a full-bodied Lynch-Bages that has flawless overall balance, a seamless, surprisingly elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This was closed and hard to read a few years after release and over the following decade or more, but the last few bottles I've had have all showed remarkably open and accessible. I'd be shocked if it didn't continue drinking brilliantly over the coming 20+ years. (Drink between 2025-2046)

Finally rounding the corner, the 2000 Château Lynch-Bages is mature, with classic Pauillac darker currants, lead pencil, tobacco leaf, and spice-laced aromatics. With a deep plum color and slight lightening at the edges, it's medium to full-bodied and has a layered texture as well as integrated tannins. A classic, elegant, yet still powerful Lynch-Bages, it delivers plenty of sweet fruit and a great finish. It benefits from an hour of air and will certainly hold at this stage for another 10-15 years with no issues.

There were two bottles of this wine tasted, one of my own and one from another person's cellar. Although both were outstanding, one was much more evolved and displayed a slight dirtiness, but it was still impressive. The other displayed beautiful creme de cassis, and cedar in a surprisingly full-bodied and evolved style that could be drunk now. I originally predicted 2008-2025 for the window of full maturity, and that looks accurate, as this wine, which exhibits a little amber and loads of glycerin, is probably the biggest, richest Lynch Bages produced after the 1995 and before the 2005. Succulent, with lots of juicy black fruit and silky tannin, this is a beauty that can be drunk now or cellared for another 15-20 years.

An utterly profound Lynch-Bages, this wine continues to remind me of a hypothetical blend of the 1990 and 1989. Interestingly, when I asked Jean-Michel Cazes to rank his top four vintages of Lynch-Bages, he ranked the 1989 first, followed by three vintages that he said were essentially equivalent in quality - 1990, 1996, and 2000. The 2000 Lynch-Bages exhibits a dense purple color, loads of glycerin and extract, big, muscular, sweet creme de cassis notes, with hints of new saddle leather, earth, and tobacco leaf. The 2000 is forceful yet plush, with a thick, juicy, succulent mid-palate, ripe tannin, and a long, layered finish. I know it will be tempting to pull corks on this wine in its youth, but it really will not hit its stride for 7-10 years and will last for at least 25. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.

A profound Lynch Bages, the 2000 is a huge, massive, concentrated effort that coats the palate with an unctuous display of black currant fruit bolstered by considerable levels of glycerin and extract. There are no hard edges, but there is considerable tannin in this beefy, full-bodied, muscular, incredibly well-balanced, pure wine. It should drink well young, yet last for twenty-five years. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. A tour de force for Lynch-Bages.(93-96) points

A prodigious Lynch-Bages, the 2000 exhibits a saturated purple color as well as exploding aromatics of new saddle leather, creme de cassis, creosote, truffles, and oak. A sweet entry reveals a full-bodied, concentrated, succulent style with tremendous class as well as charm. This mouthfilling, lush, super-concentrated, gorgeously pure Lynch-Bages stains the palate. It will undoubtedly firm up during its barrel aging, or after bottling, but it offers a hedonistic mouthful of massive Pauillac at present. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025. For statisticians, it is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot aged in 70% new French oak.(94-96) points Drink 2004-2025

This is more taciturn on the nose than Pontet-Canet ‘00, but is well defined with some lovely savoury, chestnut and black truffle aromas developing in the glass. Touches of damp moss/lichen. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, gentle grip, foursquare but good weight, blackberry, graphite, leather and cedar, chewy towards the dry, structured finish. Very fine, perhaps a little broody and introverted at the moment. But great potential. Drink 2016-2040.

Gorgeous aromas of plums, blackberries and licorice, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with full, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Big and solid. Fantastic. If you love Lynch, you won't be disappointed. Best after 2010. 35,000 cases made.

Incredible aromas of violets and currants. Full-bodied and very tannic, but loads of ripe fruit and a superlong finish. What can I say? This is amazing. If you love Lynch, buy this.