2009 Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux - 750ML

96 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

Château Lynch-Bages, the celebrated Fifth Growth of Pauillac, produced a particularly rich and commanding wine in the warm, highly successful 2009 vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon remains firmly at the center, delivering classic Pauillac structure beneath the vintage’s generous black fruit; with more than 15 years of bottle age, the wine is now moving into a compelling phase where maturity and concentration meet.

Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.

Tasting Notes: Cassis, blackberry and dark plum lead into cedar, graphite, tobacco and warm spice, with increasingly savory and earthy nuances emerging as the wine opens. The palate remains concentrated and generous, with mature black fruit framed by polished tannins and a long, mineral and cedar-inflected finish.

Structure: Full-bodied and powerful, yet notably ripe and composed, with the substantial Cabernet backbone of Lynch-Bages softened by the generous character of the 2009 vintage. The tannins have begun to resolve, but ample concentration and freshness remain for continued development.

Drink Window: Now–2038. The 2009 is firmly in its drinking window, offering abundant fruit alongside emerging tertiary complexity, while well-stored bottles should continue to evolve gracefully for another decade or more.

Decanting: Stand the bottle upright beforehand to allow any sediment to settle. Decant gently for sediment and give it approximately 30–45 minutes of air, checking its development rather than subjecting a mature bottle to prolonged aeration.

The 2009 Lynch-Bages is particularly attractive for collectors who enjoy mature Pauillac while there is still substantial fruit and structure in reserve. It has the stature for an important dinner or special occasion, with roast lamb, prime beef, duck and simply prepared game providing natural partners without competing with the wine.