1989 Lynch Bages
By Chateau Lynch Bages
The 1989 Lynch Bages from Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux
In the annals of Bordeaux's wine legacy, some years are etched more profoundly than others and the 1989 Lynch Bages from Château Lynch Bages unequivocally belongs to that venerable cadre. Not simply resting on the laurels of the château's storied past, this particular vintage is a testament to the exceptional conditions of 1989 in Pauillac—an alchemy of nature's kindness and human artisanship.
Garnet Splendour: A Vintage That Speaks Volumes
The 1989 vintage emerged from a growing season that blessed Pauillac with ideal climatic conditions. While reviewing other clarets from this exceptional harvest, I have often found myself enthralled by their concentration and vitality—even now, as they gracefully mature. The 1989 Lynch Bages eloquently captures this essence with a bouquet that interlaces ripe cassis with hints of cigar box and underbrush—whispers of its Pauillac terroir.
Investing in Elegance
For oenophiles and investors alike, the appeal of the 1989 Lynch Bages lies in its remarkable structure coupled with an alluring complexity. It streams onto the palate with a rich tapestry of dark fruits accentuated by an elegant tannic backbone and an enduring finish that resonates long after the last sip, reflecting both its current hedonistic maturity and its ongoing potential for further patient cellaring. With the firm reputation of Chateau Lynch Bages wedded to such graceful aging potential, this vintage is a standout candidate for balanced wine investment portfolios.
Vintage comparisons can necessarily be fraught with subjective difference, but as I revisit this wine over subsequent tastings, I remain compelled by its exquisite balance—a harmony of ripeness, power and poise. The 1989 Lynch Bages substantiates its place as one of the preeminent offerings of its era. It is not merely a representation of Château Lynch Bages' unwavering consistency; it is a shining exemplar of what makes both Pauillac and indeed Bordeaux so revered amongst connoisseurs and collectors alike.
For those looking to augment their collection with a quintessential piece of vinous history, or seeking to intertwine pleasure with prudence in lytrading domains investing
Current market price
£3,780.00
12x75cl
Highest score
99
POP score
198.95
Scores and tasting notes
The 1989 has taken forever to shed its formidable tannins, but what a great vintage of Lynch Bages! I would rank it at the top of the pyramid although the 1990, 2000, and down the road, some of the more recent vintages such as 2005, 2009 and 2010 should come close to matching the 1989's extraordinary concentration and undeniable aging potential. Its dense purple color reveals a slight lightening at the edge and the stunning bouquet offers classic notes of creme de cassis, subtle smoke, oak and graphite. Powerful and rich with some tannins still to shed at age 22, it is still a young adolescent in terms of its evolution and will benefit from another 4-5 years of cellaring. It should prove to be a 50 year wine.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #196 Aug 2011
I have tasted the Château Lynch Bages 1989 several times since my last penned note in 2010. It is such a consistent wine, a Pauillac that never lets you down. Here it continues to sport a relatively backward blackberry and cedar scented nose, the graphite (pencil box) element a little more accentuated. The aromatic purr like a Bentley, unraveling with each swirl of the glass. The palate is very well defined with a rigid structure, well-judged acidity and hints of chestnut and cooked meat offering secondary notes on the dense finish that suggest a long drinking plateau. What a stupendous wine from Jean-Michel Cazes! Tasted June 2014.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 July 2016
I have always been a big fan of this rich wine, with its currant and tropical fruit character on the nose and palate, and just a hint of toasted oak. It’s full-bodied, with wild fruit and tobacco character, and a roasted coffee bean aftertaste. This is a fabulous wine. Served from imperial bottle.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, January 19th 2011
Tasted at Robersons’ 1989 Bordeaux horizontal. The Lynch-Bages ’89 has a similar hue to the Pichon Baron. The nose is very well defined with classic Pauillac aromas of blackberry, cedar, pencil box, autumn leaves and a touch of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with good fruit concentration, fine acidity, a savoury note developing with game and a touch of chestnut, leading to a harmonious, lightly peppered finish. Excellent. Drink now-2025. Tasted June 2010.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Nov 2010