Address: 33250 Bordeaux

Telephone: +33 (0)5 56 00 00 70

E-mail: domains@borie-manoux.fr

Website: www.lynch-moussas.com

Classified a fifth growth in 1855 Château Lynch-Moussas was created by the division of Count Lynch’s property in the nineteenth century into Lynch Moussas and Lynch Bages. The property was purchased by the Casteja family in 1900 and is now run by Emile Casteja. Generally regarded as one of the minor Pauillac growths, there have been many improvements here and the 2009 is very good.

Vineyard/Terroir: 58 hectares situated on gravel planted with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.

Winemaking/Elévage: Traditional and aged in oak barrels.

Tasting notes:

• 2015 Mid depth; earthy edge; ripe, menthol and blackcurrant tones; little leaf; earth too; cool palate; nice entry; lacks a little punch in the middle; soft tannins. Easy styled Pauillac. [79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 44hl/ha]. Drink 2022-2028. Tasted 5/4/16 UGCB. 88-90
• 2014 Deepish colour; dark core at centre; attractive Bordeaux – some elegance; stalky fresh Cabernet Sauvignon; tighter acidity and fresherness. Elegant style but should fill out a bit. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 34hl/ha yield. Drink 2020-2028. Tasted UGC 2 April, 2015. 85-87
• 2013 Mid depth; vibrant edge; some cream and blackcurrants but not that aromatic; stalky blackcurrant tones on the palate; elegant and easy; not forced. Finishes a bit short but not trying to be what it isn’t. Honest. Tasted UGC 1/4/14. 85-86. [second note] Mid depth; light at core; gentle stalky blackcurrant aromatics; quite angular and chewy on the palate; grippy on the finish [though this sample bottle was a little cold]. Tasted 3/4/14. [96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 33hl/ha]. Tasted UGC 3/4/14. Drink 2017-2013. 83-85
• 2012 Mid depth; soft and forward aromatics; polished with earthy blackcurrants and tobacco/undergrowth tones; soft and light on the palate [dips in the middle] but round at the end. Early drinking, forward Pauillac. Drink 2015-2025. 86 UGC Oct ’14 [Earlier note] Mid depth; little hardness on the nose; dumb; closed sample; dry palate feels less impressive than earlier. UGC Thursday April 11, 2013. 85-87? [Earlier – and better- note] Mid depth; some purple ; ripe aromas; supple and attractive; some spice; open palate; ripeness; blackcurrants; supple texture; elegant and attractive. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot. UGC Tuesday April 9, 2013. 87-88
• 2011 Mid depth; leafy blackcurrants – forward and attractive; easy palate with blackcurrants flavours and leafy tones; grip on the finish. OK. Drink 2016-2023. 86 UGC Oct ’13 [Earlier note] Mid depth, deep centre; some dust and blackcurrant tones, certain malty quality beneath; some leaf too; palate chewy, some fruit but coarse tannins and a coarser finish. Oak on the finish. Bit raw and coarser than the best. Tasted 3/4/12 and 5/4/12 at UGCB. 85-86
• 2010 Mid depth; easy lifted spicy blackcurrant style; pencil shavings; nice intense palate of some depth and texture; medium weight, charming style; little chew to the tannins but already drinking well. Drink now-2025. 90 MW Institute Nov ’14 [Earlier note] Mid depth; solid core; herbs, leafy tones and blackcurrant aromas; quite forward and attractive; some minty, herbal notes too; evolved palate; leafy and blackcurrant notes but also structure beneath. Lacks a bit on the mid-palate but overall a goodish effort. Similar qualitative level as Haut-Bages Libéral but more drinkable and evolved. 87 UGCB Nov ’12 [Earlier note] Dense and saturated; cassis and blackcurrants; softer tones here; attractive; bit of leaf; quite floral notes and blackcurrants; tannin and material and grip. Not that bad at all. Good mid weight wine. Not overdone. Nice 88-90/100 Tasted 5 April 2011 [Second tasting UGC] Deep and dark; ripe blackcurrants; quite open; some leaf and tobacco; forward and engaging; rose petal palate; nicely judjed; blackcurrants and density but feels well balanced and more towards mid-weight; nicely done. Lacks some depth and concentration but works well for me. Should be good value. 88-90+/100 [76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot] Tasted 7 April 2011 UGC
• 2009 Mid depth; forward blackcurrant aromas with spices and some leaf; spicy blackcurrant tones on the palate in a medium weight and forward format; some stalks; tannins ripe if a little chew here. This works very well in a forward, appealing and balanced style. Drink now-2025. 89+ MW Institute Nov ’13 [Earlier note] Mid red; leafy blackcurrants; lighter toned and less crammed with fruit; good effort though in more medium weight less dense style; supple; spicy/leafy blackcurrant tones; lacks depth compared with the leaders here but has freshness. 89/100 UGCB Oct ’11 [Earlier note] 2009 Deep and inky; ripe creamy nose; cassis; lots of extract and blackcurrants; dense and concentrated though maybe looser on the finish than the best wines here. Very good effort though and should be good value. 88-90/100 Tasted 30^th March & 1^st April ’10 UGC Primeur tastings.
• 2008 Mid depth; looser at edge than some; leafy, open blackcurrant style; pretty forward; some spice; attractive; quite forward palate nice acid in a lighter style. 87+ MW Institute Nov ‘12
• 2007 Mid red; lacks a bit of depth in the glass; some leafy tobacco notes; feel warm and fully mature if lacking in obvious fruit; palate light and lacking density but pleasant enough in a ‘charming’ if light style. 85/100 MW Institute Nov ‘11
• 2006 Mid red, some depth; some ripeness, some chocolate, bit of leaf, some elegance; not complex, earth too; quite open and attractive; palate easy and well done. Not over extracted, some spicy blackcurrant notes; maybe lacks depth and intensity but mid weight and attractive. Goodish effort 86-87/100 MW Institute Nov ‘10