The nose of this Paulliac shows mint, asphalt, black currants and orange peel, following through to a full body with a compressed palate and a fine tannin backbone that gives this classic tension. Flavors of dried fruit, walnuts, plums, currants and tar. Classic Lynch character. A blend of 71% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Best in four to five years. Drink after 2029. James Suckling Senior Editor

The 2023 Lynch-Bages is a super-classic Lynch Bages through and through. Deep, rich and plush, with soft contours and tons of energy, the 2023 is terrific. All it needs is time to come together. Floral, spice and pomegranate overtones all take shape in the glass. Impeccable. - Antonio Galloni

Some small hints of toast on the nose with blackcurrant and cherry. Thick but unctuous, this has a lovely weight on the palate but mouthwatering too so you get power and energy, depth and playfulness. Overall, it’s chewy, but not too much, tannins give grip and hold and this ends long and salty with such a pencil lead aspect that really lingers. I love the mouthfilling nature but also one of restraint, really doesn't feel like it’s trying too hard. Cool and classic but also with sweet, ripe fruit and Cabernet bringing the brawn. Lovely.

Concentrated, intense and muscular, not a word that I have used very often in 2023 Bordeaux. You get a deeply-rooted tannic grip, with soot, squid ink, cassis, blackberry, bilberry, liqourice root, slate scrap, pummice stone and mint. Lynch Bages seems to be wrought from a different place than it was a decade ago, impressive, powerful Pauillac, with an eye on long ageing. 75% new oak, Jean-Charles Cazes owner, Nicolas Labenne technical director.

96+ Deep purple-hued, the 2023 Château Lynch-Bages reminds me slightly of the 2019 with its elegance as well as its classic Pauillac aromatics of ripe, smoky red and black currants, freshly sharpened pencil, graphite, and stony minerality. Based on 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot and aged 18 months in French oak barrels (75% new), it's medium to full-bodied and has a concentrated, layered, rich mouthfeel, beautiful, building tannins, and outstanding length. It's a classy, impressive 2023 that warrants 5-7 years of bottle age and will see its 30th birthday in fine form. Drink 2030-2055.

Flowers, tobacco, spices, blackberries, currants, espresso, and herbs, with additional notes of mint, make up the aromatic profile. The palate is full, deep, long, and chewy, delivering the essence of Pauillac with every sniff, swirl, and sip. The long finish packs a spicy, peppery, currant, and savory-herb punch, with a strong beginning, middle, and end. The wine blends 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2030-2065. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2023&wine=Chateau%20Lynch-Bages

(TWI 93-95 points) Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Lynch-Bages prances out with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants and black raspberries plus fragrant hints of violets, iron ore, bay leaves, and fragrant soil with a touch of graphite. The medium-bodied palate delivers impressive tension, with a sturdy backbone of grainy tannins and an earthy finish. The blend is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, with pH 3.75 and TPI 95. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Lynch-Bages slowly unfurls to reveal notes of warm cassis, black cherries, and mulberries, giving way to hints of pencil shavings, dried mint, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is wonderfully elegant, with a fine-grained texture and bold freshness, finishing with lots of minerals and vivacity. The blend is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, with a pH of 3.75 and TPI 95.

The 2023 Lynch-Bages remains broad-shouldered in style, yet the élevage confers a more accessible profile than in some past vintages. It opens with aromas of spices, cedar, dark berries, creamy new oak and pipe tobacco. Medium- to full-bodied, rich and muscular, it is built around a dense, generously extracted core of fruit, framed by chunky tannins and balanced by well-integrated acidity, extending into a long, expansive finish. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in 75% new oak, it reflects the character of the vintage, with a mid-palate that is straighter and more tensile than usual at this address.