Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Lynch-Bages 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A powerful, structurally driven Pauillac showing serious depth and long-term ambition, built on a 71% Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend with 22% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot support. The wine carries muscular architecture, dark fruit density, and firm tannic authority, currently showing some youthful rough edges but clearly positioned for future greatness with proper cellaring.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, cassis liqueur, blackberry skin, graphite, cedar plank, crushed gravel, tobacco leaf, dark cocoa and subtle savory spice.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with firm, youthful tannins, strong mid-palate grip, vibrant supporting acidity, dense core concentration, and a long, structured finish that signals serious aging capacity.

Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, grilled lamb chops, beef short ribs, rosemary-crusted venison, aged hard cheeses, slow-braised meats.

Verdict
A high-potential Pauillac still in its formative phase. The structure, depth, and terroir signature are undeniable, but integration will require time. A climber rather than a polished performer today, patience will be rewarded handsomely.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like a future star in development, powerful, slightly raw, but absolutely loaded with upside. Not a wine for instant gratification, but one that will evolve into something truly special with time. I’d happily cellar this and revisit around 2029 when the polish finally matches the horsepower. — 5 months ago

Brendan Devine

8.9

Xinomavro is pretty much an instant buy for me when I see it on the menu. It’s light and balanced and pairs well with pretty much anything. — 4 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

Vintage 2003 | I find this Loupiac wine incredible good. While aging it keeps a fresh character, not showing age. It has a mesmerizing apricot smell and awesome balance. Really a gem in the cellar that gives instant joy when opening a bottle. Like this september Sunday when I made a Reine Claude Plums Crumble. A marriage made in heaven. — 6 years ago

Manuel Blanco

9.1

White fresh wine. Really easy to drink. Fresh and some green notes like grass. — 7 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.9

Not for instant gratification. Patience required. #burgundy #pinotnoir — 8 years ago

David Watts

9.0

Very nice. Soft cherry, maybe a cherry bakewell tart on the nose. Good instant impact on first taste with a bit of a cherry sherbert feel, which evolved into a slightly spiced cassis finish. — 8 years ago

Morgan Reese

9.6

Magnum at the ranch from Uncle Robert. Instant deliciousness. — 10 months ago

with Andrew

Lauren Willis

9.0

🥂✔✔ sparkling is hit or miss for me, giving me instant headaches. I enjoyed this one, dry and crisp — 4 years ago

Ben Christen

9.5

So good. Great skin contact! Deiss!!! Thank you, Steve! — 5 years ago

Gabriel Ramsey

9.4

Hmmm. This one is so interesting. Maybe it’s the California in me. All full of expectation of fruit and instant gratification. So had to focus on La Barbarine. Savoury, smoked meats and dark fruit. Medium bodied, pepper and wood sap in the palate. Amazing compact dark florals and bitters in a compact finish. Very well made. I am not adult enough for this wine. — 5 years ago

Crystal Felix

9.3

The beautiful first soft sip hits the pallet with fruits of red apple, blackberry, and red berry flavors that turn this medium-bodied wine into an instant favorite!
**a limited wine** — 6 years ago

Ted

9.3

I like it. — 8 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.0

Honey, molasses, pecan pie, apricot glaze. Instant happiness. — 8 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2022 | well balanced, expressive smell — 2 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

This is ridiculously good, although fairly simple.
Lemon and lemon zest on the nose, white peach, some very subtle petroly notes too. The palate is very acid driven but in a good way. The acid drive is massive as one could expect with dry German rieslings, but the palate is very balanced, with lemony touches, and even lemon curd. There is a tiny bit of bitterness toward the end, reminiscent of the zesty scents that blossomed on the nose. It's not complex, it's certainly not a great wine, but it's very well done and gives instant, true to type pleasure. Organic wine. — 3 years ago

Jacquelynn Gaines

9.5

Weird but great. Became an instant favorite at the Olde Wine Cellar. — 5 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.2

🏅92/100 (4,2⭐)

Beaujolais Cru est arrive! Moulin-à-vent tasting.

This is natural wine made with carbonic maceration. It makes it lighter in style with wide spectrum of berries, flowers and spices. Full of everything in bright summer colours. Optimal balance of all the elements. Good grip of tannins, lightweight. Cheerful and graceful wine. Instant pleasure, no need to age. — 6 years ago

Kayla Abe

9.3

Downed in an instant. Berry glitter party in you mouth. A hint of RS entirely balanced by the fizz. Honestly can’t remember flavors exactly, BUT I know it will make you feel like a star. — 7 years ago

Katie Hanna

10

We had this at a wine tasting on our cruise and couldn't help bringing a bottle home. Really hoping we can find it locally. Instant favorite. — 8 years ago

Andrea Vos-Rochefort

9.3

An instant favorite. Big, round, dark fruit With hints of pepper and tons of grip. — 8 years ago