Château Lynch Bages Pauillac (2022)

Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Varietal(s): 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

Its inky purple hue is followed by a sensational Pauillac that has a blockbuster (and classic Lynch-Bages) style in its darker currants, smoke tobacco, lead pencil, and crushed stone-driven aromatics. These carry to a full-bodied, powerful, massively concentrated 2022 that has a dense, layered mid-palate, velvety tannins, flawless balance, and a rare mix of power and elegance. This is a château that’s clearly firing on all cylinders.

99pts. Jeb Dunnuck