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. — 6 months ago

Sean Townley

9.4

One of the last years Caymus made good wine — 8 months ago

with Mairead

Austin Hohnke

9.5

First time having the pleasure. Ok, I get it. Unctuous and thicc. Searching every corner of my palate for one more ethereal drop of elixir. Grilled peach and apricot drizzled with vanilla extract. Is that sugar I’m chewing on?
The money though? — 10 months ago

Julian Gross

9.2

Unbelievable cab, perfect pairing with an excellent steak at one of the best chop houses in the country — 7 years ago

Bryandon R. Johnston

8.9

Great hints of spice, mocha and chocolate. Enjoyed it so much I finished it and needed a second bottle! Haha — 9 years ago

Robin

9.6

I like this one. Not too sweet — 10 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.4

Lucious floral and fruit aromas followed by bold flavors of raspberry jam with subtle oak overtones. Well structured and balanced with great mouthfeel and a great lingering finish. One of my favorite big Pinot Noir's. — 11 years ago

Matt Duncan

9.3

Coffee, bay leaf, vanilla bean nose. Luscious tannin. Crisp cranberry. Lacking only in acid. Otherwise perfectly delightful. — 11 years ago

Richard Etter

9.5

My reading speech for itself. I enjoy it very much — 12 years ago

Athena Caroline

9.4

I was a strict pinot grigio drinker and never used to enjoy red wines until I tried this one. — 14 years ago

Paul K

9.4

Bottle #2 from case and it has gained some structure and opened a bit in the last 1.5 years. Nose is great, reminds me a lot of last nights Pontet Canet on nose. Hint of tobacco, pencil leaf, red fruits currant, kirsch, and red berries. Great mouthfeel, great balance, and good structure. Looking forward to another in 2 years if I can wait! — 6 months ago

David Kline

9.5

Rim to rim no waver. Slightest bricking. Nose of earth, chocolate, cedar, violet. Palate showing grainy tannins and bing cherry shrouded in black currant with red currant emergent. Black mushrooms have a showy cameo with a chocolate-tobacco high kick. The wine is slightly green and just slightly aggressive though thoroughly enjoyable in every sense. Give this one a couple more years, even if most 10s are showing. Enormous energy with black cherry riding out the sunset.

#ChsteauCosdEstournel #cosdestournel #SaintEstéphe #leftbank #bordeauxrouge #bordeaux #deuxiemecru — 8 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.5

2 hour decant. Shredded cork. Filtered the wine.

Wow. This was just gorgeous and smooth. Tannins very well integrated and the fruit was excellent.

One of my favorite vintages with some age — 9 months ago

Amit Kumar

9.5

like a neighbor with a seductive surprise...
like strawberry on a summer evening...
its like wow, where did you come from...
is that juniper is smell...oh who cares?
great wine... — 6 years ago

Christie Marsh

9.5

2012. Sampled it for the RIMS 2018 conference. Expensive but completely worth it. Very smooth & fruity & reminiscent of a red blend (but a nice one!). — 8 years ago

with Jeffrey

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.3

Leather and sous bois and one brambles. Lovely and balanced. Still solid. Buy. — 10 years ago

Morgan

9.0

One of my favorites. Big bold red. — 11 years ago

JS Howard

9.2

One of the best US Sauvignon Blancs that I've had. — 11 years ago

Glenn D

9.1

Spicy, soily like the aroma of fresh dirt & chocolate sprinkles. I just enjoy this wine. — 12 years ago

Phil Magown

9.8

Only one word: phenomenal! — 14 years ago

Steve S.

9.1

Enjoyed this bottle on NYE. did not disappoint. Interesting subtle tangerine tastes lingered on the tongue that I’d forgotten about. This one n/v was bottled in early 2022. Been in my possession about 2 years. — 6 months ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.5

Our (not so) little (anymore) princess her birthday so time for our yearly 2011. After having rated two previous bottles not as high as you would expect this one actually delivered. Very elegant, in balance and clearly at peak. Quite some years ahead — 7 months ago

David Koenen

9.5

Birth year tastings, evening 4.
Polished leather, nuts, ecoline, grilled red pepper, tomato leaf, gingerbread, pepper, salty savoriness, tannins still present, still youthful, lots of future. Muscular! Beautiful. — 9 months ago

Benny

9.2

One of my favorites. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

10

To me Shafer is among the worlds best wineries. Aged 32 months in 100% new French oak. Vivid deep purple color, and outstanding aromas of red/black fruits, cherries and blackberries, with hints of cedar, floral oak & spice. Tasting this wine was absolutely magnificent, concentrated dark berry fruit flavors, spices, leather and oak, exploding on my palate. Soft velvety subtle tannins provide a nice deep lingering finish. Truly an outstanding Cab, one of the best. If you can find yourself a bottle, do not hesitate. Should last at least 10 more yrs. — 7 years ago

Kyla Guyette

9.0

Celebrating 4 years with my hunny! — 10 years ago

with Luke

Dan Hess

9.7

For centuries now, the luscious, bright, all-encompassing delight of Champagne has been used to toast happy occasions. Often times a decent bubbly does the trick, but other times, something grander deserves to be poured.

Dom Pérignon (named after the monk who put Champagne on the map), a 2000 vintage. It's the kind of Champs one drinks upon making the decision that wine is not just a hobby, not just a passion, but a career. — 10 years ago

with Sarah

Julie Freeman

10

One word.... Fabulous! — 11 years ago

Lia Zavisho

9.0

Delicious! Very fruity and a mouthful! Yum — 11 years ago

Mike Trupiano

9.5

One of the single best California Cabs I have ever had — 13 years ago