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 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Strong nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.

Showing blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, licorice, light cedar, vanilla and spices.

This 9 year old Petite Sirah from California is still drinking nicely and good right out of the bottle.

Extracted and very fruity, with some RS on the palate. In your face kind of wine.

Showing nice complexity at this point. Rich with lots of chocolate notes.

A nice sipping wine and good for parties.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$75. — 5 months ago

Paul J

9.1

PnP. Modestly dark purple color. Would never guess Spain from the nose and palate. This is straight up Rhone! Dark cherries, meaty/earthy, some tobacco, and subtle herbs. Nice depth and finish. Solid restaurant list value. — 7 months ago

with Brooke

Ken Venezio

9.1

This 2018 is 100% Merlot. Opens to a subtle floral note with black cherry and cranberries. Medium body with a nice mouthfeel. The finish is a little smoky and bit of a back of the throat spice. — 3 months ago

Cynthia Langstaff

9.1

Good covered fruity nose. On tongue plum and astringent tannins, not particularly complex, with slight bitter tannin at the finish. Probably needs a bit more time, but good enough at the moment. 2021 in November 2025 — 3 months ago

with Todd and David

Paige Donnell

9.3

Favorite light red! — 5 months ago

Vanessa

9.5

Cornas AOC is a small and distinctive appellation in the Northern Rhône of France. 🇫🇷 Unlike its neighboring appellations, Cornas wines must be made with 100% Syrah. 🍇 This makes it a singular expression and benchmark in the world of Syrah. 🍷🍷

This particular wine is pronounced with harmonious aromas and flavors spanning the spectrum from primary to secondary to tertiary …

Offering generous notes of blackcurrant preserves, ripe black cherry, boysenberry, violet, cured meat, peat, forest floor, dark chocolate truffle, mocha, black peppercorn, star anise, fennel, cardamom, spice box, tobacco, cigar, clove, & saddle leather. — 6 months ago

with Deked1

Jay Kline

9.1

From magnum. Popped and poured into red Solo cups; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2008 pours a deep ruby purple color with a near opaque core; medium plus viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart, red and black fruits: mixed brambles, black cherry, black pepper, leather, dry earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium plus. Still pretty fresh and considering this is one of the more long-lived examples of Zinfandel I can think of, there is almost no end in sight. Drink now through 2043. — 3 months ago

Joe Flo

9.3

Always consistent Mega Purple — 3 months ago

Per

8.9

Velvety red with nicely balanced strawberry, blackberry, and peach flavors. A great wine to drink on its own.  — 5 months ago