Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Lynch Bages
Label Name:
 
Pauillac 5eme Cru
Vintage:
 
1985
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Pauillac, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
12.5%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot (approx. 70/25/3/2)
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
3
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Wine Spectator — Wine of the Year 1988; Wine Spectator score ~95; Wine Advocate/Robert Parker ~90–95 (various tastings); Vinous/Neal Martin ~94–95. (Representative sources: Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Vinous, BBR)

Tasting Note
Blackcurrant/cassis, blackberry, licorice, cedar, mint and tobacco with tertiary notes of truffle, leather and pencil shavings; medium-full, silky texture and long, savory finish.

Food Pairing
Roast lamb, beef ribeye, côte de boeuf, mushroom risotto, aged cheeses; Asian: Peking duck, Cantonese roast pork (char siu), Korean barbecue beef, braised short ribs with soy/shallot, shiitake and soy-based stir-fries.

Production Method
Hand-harvested Bordeaux blend; destemmed, fermented in temperature-controlled vats, malolactic fermentation followed by ~15–18 months in French oak (50–75% new).

Vineyard Info
Château Lynch-Bages (Cazes family) — ~90 ha gravel soils in Bages near Pauillac; historically a Fifth Growth with First/Second Growth quality reputation. Estate produces the grand vin and second labels.