It is impossible to imagine a more 'classical Pauillac' than 1996 Lynch-Bages. Having following this wine for over two decades it is now firing on all cylinders. It is loaded with mature Pauillac aromas of cedar and cigar box with ample fruit to pad it out. The tannins are now fully resolved and the palate is perfectly balanced. This is absolutely delicious and does exactly what it says on the tin. The finish is long and haunting. Beautifully textured and absolutely stunning.

Dark ruby-red with a hint of garnet. Cabernet sauvignon-typical aromas of blackcurrant, violet, tobacco, dried herbs and minerals, complicated by a touch of smoky oak. In a distinctly firm, structured style, but with juicy acidity intensifying the dark berry and mineral flavors. Building flesh and sweetness on the back half counterbalances the wine's firm spine, spreading out nicely on the lingering finish. Though currently a little clenched and austere, this wine offers excellent precision and wonderful balance.

The 1996 Lynch Bages has a delightful fresh, minty bouquet that does not quite deliver the complexity of recent vintages, nicely perfumed with hints of wilted rose petal developing with time. The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity, fresh from the start with blackcurrant pastilles, a touch of tobacco with a tightly coiled, minerally, slightly sharp finish that perhaps just needs a little more depth. I appreciate that lingering pencil lead note on the aftertaste, completing a solid if unspectacular Lynch Bages. It's the kind of Pauillac I would grab from a restaurant list at the right price.