Lynch Bages 2012

Dark ruby, a touch closed but as it opens reveals plenty of bilberry and blackcurrant fruit, grilled cedar and slate. Tannins still firm, you can begin to drink but will benefit from a few more years ageing. In the 2012 horizontal tasting held recently it absolutely stood out, and is one of the best to choose in the vintage - but within the Lynch Bages vertical, it falls behind the 2014. 70% new oak, Eric Boissenot consultant.

Blackish purple. Lots of minerals on the nose. Tight and taut and almost painfully tart but there is energy here certainly!

The fruit on the nose is rich and there is a good weight and depth of flavour on the palate. The tannins are firm and quite obvious but behind the structure there is depth and richness of fruit. The finish is a touch dry and lacking a bit of generosity. 2020-35.

This wine contains the lowest percentage of Cabernet at Lynch since 1994, reflecting thetricky growing conditions in the Médoc. This is still a pretty serious wine, mind you. The oakis a little intrusive, but it's still a classic Pauillac with notes of green pepper, blackcurrant andgraphite and densely packed tannins.Drink: 2022-35

Some of Lynch Bages's tell-tale cedary, black currant, earth and spice characteristics are present in the 2012's moderately intense bouquet. This wine exhibits good purity, a healthy dark ruby/purple color and medium body. There is a slight deficiency in the mid-palate, but it recovers sufficiently and offers up a decent finish that tails off ever so slightly. This good to excellent wine could use more fat and charm in the mid-section. Cellar it for a couple of years and drink it over the following 12-14 years.

A fruity wine for the vintage with dense tannins. Full body, with impressive structure. Long finish. Generous and attractive. I like the balance and precision for the vintage

Still muscular at 10 years old, this has grip and a sense of tingling minerality, plenty of eucalyptus and fresh mint leaf. This maintains its Pauillac character even in a softer goumet vintage like 2012, and is pleasing for it. Slate and graphite, far more intensity than some, with subtle a sweetness to the blackcurrant puree fruits. 65% new oak.