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TN: '96 Lynch-Moussas

Last night was gorgeous, and we grilled some ribeyes. Served with some "bearnaise butter" (tarragon), green beans, baked potatoes, and salad. I popped a 1996 Ch. Lynch-Moussas (Pauillac). A bit tight at first, not showing much fruit, though some distinct earth and mineral notes. But

15 minutes of aeration brought out some blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, which deepened as the night went on. The rich ripe fruit just intensified, as time went on some attractive secondary nuances of cigarbox, cedar, and damp earth intertwined with the fruit. Really delicious Bordeaux, with moderate acidity, a strong but ripe tannic backbone, and clean graphite-edged finish. Continued to improve over hours - last sip provided rich fruit and a loooooong finish, Excellent showing for a wine from an estate with an underachiever reputation (hope the '00 is as good in few years). I've got couple remaining bottles , will actually hold for a bit longer. Nice wine. A- Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency
Reply to
DaleW
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Dale, I am glad to hear from your post and also from other reports that I have read, that Lynch-Moussas seems to be on the rebound. I can remember a few 70's vintages of this wine, and back then the wine was rather rustic and often did not have much fruit. I believe the director of Batailley took over and has greatly improved things at this estate. There was no place to go but up for this wine, because it did not deserve being a 5'th growth in the fairly recent past. There might be a few good buys here until more people learn about the increase in quality.

Reply to snipped-for-privacy@cwdjr.net .

Reply to
Cwdjrx _

Cwdjrx,

To memory I've only tried 2 previous vintages of the Lynch-Moussas- a ghastly '75 (how can there be that much tannin with such little fruit- is this wine or a glass of water with a 4 teabags sitting in it for a weak) and a lackluster '89. I've heard there was extensive replanting in 70s & 80s, and an emphasis on quality in 90s; so combination of older vines and better winemaking seem to be paying off.

Reply to
DaleW

" teabags sitting in it for a weak"

Oops, I meant week.

Reply to
DaleW

Looks like you have to much whine :-)

Reply to
Richard Neidich

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some info and tasting notes about lynch-moussas

Reply to
A.J.M.vd Vorst

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