This year, this wine comes with a few more tactile sensations than usual. It is softer and its tannins have been more precisely extracted. Ageing could show this even more. 93 points

The Chateau Lynch Bages 2014 is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot matured in 75% new oak. Yields were a respectable 40 hectoliters per hectare, although that figure is less than Jean-Charles Cazes predicted earlier in the season. The nose is well defined with veins of graphite infusing the black fruit. quite strict for Lynch Bages, a little reserved at this early stage. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannin, racy acidity although the pH is around 3.7, linear and a little austere on the finish. This is tightly coiled at the moment, gritty in the mouth but I like the Pauillac typicite here – not a million miles away from Grand Puy Lacoste in style. This deserves respect and I suspect it will age with the style of Jean-Charles`s father, who tur ned 80 on the day of my visit. 92-94 points

Fans of this chateau, of whom there are many, should be delighted with the quality of its 2014 release, which is up there with the super second growths. It`s a very complete, harmonious wine, even at this young age, with superb oak integration, noble tannins and impressive fruit density. A 20 year wine. 96 points