1975 Château Lynch-Bages

Ex-cellar bottle tasted blind at the Lynch Bages vertical. The nose is rather decayed, some vegetal notes coming through aromas of wild mushroom, a little compost, underbrush and pencil lead. Moderate definition. The palate is medium-bodied, quite soft on the entry, decayed red-berried fruit, cooked meats, and a little spice. This bottle is rather off-colour although a second bottle is showing much better. Tobacco and pencil lead on the nose, masculine, firm, very linear on the foursquare finish. I do not think this will get any better. The proverbial 'Englishman’s Claret'. (NM)

After the number of disappointing tastings I have had of this wine, I was surprised that it showed reasonably well at the blind tasting in December. The color exhibits significant amber/orange at the edge, followed by a dusty, herbaceous, cedary nose with some ripe fruit. Full-bodied but slightly hollow, the wine exhibits more sweetness and expansiveness than I expected. This above average wine is beginning to reach full maturity. Given the number of washed-out, excessively tannic examples of 1975 Lynch-Bages I have tasted, I am now more optimistic about this wine. Drink it between 2000-2010.

After the number of disappointing tastings I have had of this wine, I was surprised that it showed reasonably well at the blind tasting in December. The color exhibits significant amber/orange at the edge, followed by a dusty, herbaceous, cedary nose with some ripe fruit. Full-bodied but slightly hollow, the wine exhibits more sweetness and expansiveness than I expected. This above average wine is beginning to reach full maturity. Given the number of washed-out, excessively tannic examples of 1975 Lynch-Bages I have tasted, I am now more optimistic about this wine. Drink it between 2000-2010. Feb 1996, www.robertparker.com