Bordeaux 2016: a Lynch with ambition

“A classic Lynch Bages with ambition,” was released this morning and with a punchy price to match but could the estate even be selling itself short this time?

Released at €96 a bottles ex-négociant, an increase of 14.2% on the 2015, the wine is hitting the London market at around £1,175 a case.

The Pauillac fifth growth has been an absolute stalwart in the region for many years now, producing not only consistently excellent wines – its worst Wine Advocate score of the last decade was the 2011 with a very respectable 90 points – but generally releasing at prices that seem to work.

The pricing of the 2016 certainly puts it in the upper echelons of its back catalogue, it is roughly the same price as the 2010 and at a slight discount to the 2009 and 2005 but, in terms of critical opinion, only the 2009 comes close.

Neal Martin, who not only termed it “classic” and “ambitious” but also “audacious”, said it was the “biggest surprise” of the vintage and had all the makings of “a sensational wine”. He rated it 97-99 points.

Other critics were equally strong in their praise, James Suckling awarded it 98-99 points, Jancis Robinson MW 17.5 and Tim Atkin MW 97.

It may be “ambitious” and the price is high but ranked alongside recent releases from Palmer or Pavie and Angélus yesterday, it might be argued that Lynch is selling itself a little short.

Also out this morning was Lynch’s second wine, ‘Echo de Lynch Bages’ at €28.80 a bottle (8.2% up on the 2015) and Pomerol estate Gazin at €60 p/b, a 31.6% increase on its 2015.