Chris DeRenzi

8.9

2016- strong thick nose. Hint of red fruit, followed by a dry, dusty earthiness. Velvet smooth tannins. Doesn’t linger too long — 15 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Whenever I have a really older bottle of wine, I think, what was I doing in this case 1989?

About this time of year, I was walking into Candlestick Park for the Bay Bridge World Series while this wine was fermenting. I was walking through the parking lot when the 89 earthquake hit. It was like Godzilla was a Gopher tunneling under my feet. The stadium erupted with a resounding cheer. Earthquake during the World Series...yeah! It wasn’t until an hour later that hard reality set in.

This Chateau Lynch-Moussas is a recent direct purchase from the Negotiant. 89 was a pretty good Bordeaux year. So, why not see how a 5th Growth producer wine evolved over 30 years. It’s a treat to enjoy wine with this much age.

While Lynch-Mousses has improved vastly in more recent vintages, back in the day, they made some nice wines but, not great. This wine shows beauty & elegance but, it lacks fundamental elements of high quality. However, its fruit and structure have held up nicely over the years.

The nose reveals a fair amount of; barnyard, mushrooms, ripe; blackberries dark currants, dark cherries, black raspberries & strawberries on the edges of the glass. Black plum skin, dark chocolate, raspberry cola, mocha, caramel, clove, nutmeg, burnt cinnamon, tarriness, graphite, leather, old tobacco, dark spice, dry herbs, dark, rich, black earth, stones, dry brush, steeped tea with withering red & dark florals.

The body is still full and round. The fruits are still ripe & slightly candied. The wine is still holding an interesting drinking window, it’s on the decline. While that sounds not good, I find them in this phase infinitely more interesting. Ripe; blackberries dark currants, dark cherries, black raspberries & some strawberries. Black plum with skin, dark chocolate, raspberry cola, mocha, caramel, clove, nutmeg, burnt cinnamon, vanillin, tarriness, graphite, leather, old tobacco, dark spice, dry herbs, dark, rich, forest floor, mushrooms, stones, touch of limestone minerals & crush rocks, dry brush, steeped tea with withering red & dark florals with violets. The acidity is round & excellent. The long finish is; rich, ripe, well balanced & intergraded with long drier but, very floral persistence.

Excellent with our steaks. Still has another 5-7 years of good drinking ahead with excellent storage. I also miss the 12-13% ABV of the 80’s Bordeaux’s.

Photos of; the entrance view of Chateau Lynch-Moussas, Count Jean-Baptiste Lynch of Ireland and Chateau founded in the 1800’s, the owner/operator since 1961 - Emile Casteja and their barrel room.
— 2 years ago

Jeremy Autry

9.3

Solid Zin for the $. Smooth and oaky. — 18 days ago

John W

8.9

Deep ruby coloration. On the nose, cherry, plum, warm spices, earth and vanilla. On the palate, cherry, vanilla with earth and spice. Medium-full body and medium finish. — 8 months ago

Kate K

10

I miss ....... in one sip the taste of time. The taste of connection....... I miss. One breath, one coat, one thought ......time controls. Hostage plum stains the lip. I miss..... the note of time, warm drips the earthquake of cavernous chocolate..... I miss. Tongue hugged in berry, weighted in hesitation. Thoughts arrested in mixed spice....I miss. Beautiful pour- time rich....I miss. Cheers! — 3 years ago

with Dean

Ryan Keith

9.5

This wine was spectacular. Very dense and textural with lots of black fruits. Could age for a few more years. Wish I had more. Pardon the label, it survived the Napa Earthquake of 2014
— 4 years ago

Alton Komori

9.1

2018 - Not bad. — 4 months ago

Veronica Wisniewski

9.0

Not overly dry, fruity — 7 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The nose reveals, bright red and dark ripe, floral fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blackberries, black plum, sweet tarry notes, black licorice, vanilla, steeped black tea, funky earthiness, dark berry cola, dry crushed rock powder and dark red florals and violets.

The body is medium with tannins that are teethy, tarry and a little meaty. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark cherries, blackberries and black plum. Sweet tarry notes, black licorice, vanilla, steeped black tea, funky earthiness, dark berry cola, dry crushed rock powder, grainy volcanic minerals, rich black earth, dark red florals with violets. The acidity bright & lively. The finish is leaner than in most Napa Cabernets, well balanced, fresh and nicely polished.

Photos of, their Estate property, our tasting, barrels not rocked by the 14 earthquake and another on of their Napa vineyards. — 3 years ago

Rick Archambault

9.0

Earthquake scale — 3 years ago