2019 Lynch-Moussas (Pauillac)

This vintage marks the 100th anniversary of Lynch Moussas under the Castéja family, who arrived at the property in 1919. They have worked hard to establish a more consistent performance over recent vintages, and certainly here you have plenty of impact, with silky tannins, deeply glossed blackberry and cassis fruits, touches of grilled cedar and strong coffee bean on the finish. Low temperature fermentation saw things kept at under 26°C at all times, helping to control the tannin extract from the fruit after the hot summer. An impressive performance from this estate. 92 points

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Lynch Moussas leaps from the glass with vibrant red and black currant scents, followed by baked blackberries, chocolate box and camphor hints and a touch of smoked meats. Medium-bodied, the palate is chock-full of muscular, ripe black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and savory. This wine may take a little longer to come around than some of its 2019 peers, but it will be worth the wait. 92-94 points

The 2019 Lynch-Moussas comes in a swanky bespoke embossed bottle to celebrate a century`s ownership by the Castèja family (and very tasteful it is too.) Does it have a wine worthy of this anniversary, you ask. Well, it has a very attractive mint-tinged bouquet, a mélange of red and black fruit laced with brown spices and cedar. It gains intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced entry: black pepper and a touch of Earl Grey infusing the black fruit. Well-balanced, fresh and showing similar class to its sibling Batailley. This is indeed a very fine Lynch-Moussas that frankly is a significant step up from some of the wines I was tasting a decade ago. Excellent. 92-94 points