2001 Lynch Bages

Hi,

Brief notes because people over to lunch at my place.

2002 "Kitterlé" grand cru Riesling, Domaines Schlumberger: dry and mineral, yes, but lacked the sort of weight and length I'd have hoped for. Mildly disappointing.

2001 Ch. Haut-Grillon (Sauternes): ready-to-drink, color perhaps deeper than it should be. Nice, rather simple nose. Overly sweet on the palate (lacking acid backbone and a touch of bitterness to offset sugar).

1999 Ch. Le Thil Comte Clary red (Pessac-Léognan): I've always liked this estate, both their red and white wines. This example was maybe a little dilute, and there was a touch of greenness, but it was a class act and a good wine to set the stage for the one to follow.

2001 Ch. Lynch Bages: I have a couple of cases of 2001 great growths and since an Irish couple were coming over to lunch I thought this would also be an occasion to serve them the Lynch wine.
This is a more feminine style of Lynch Bages with the trademark bouquet complemented by some violet aromas. Good balance and a pleasure, but I will wait 5 years before opening any other bottles. Fine acid presence. This is a claret lover's style of wine. Not overblown.
This experience leads me to believe that I should hold off on my other 2001s.

Best regards,
Alex R.

2002 "Kitterlé" grand cru Riesling, Domaines Schlumberger: dry and mineral, yes, but lacked the sort of weight and length I'd have hoped for. Mildly disappointing..

I thought that Schlumberger was often disappointing. Don't they make a ton of wine, most of it dilute, with just the occasional top-notch efforts?

[David M. Bueker]

I'm not much of a Schlumberger fan either. I find most of their wines dull and dilute.

As for the Lynch Bages - I concur that the 2001s are in sleep mode. I've seen a few notes (guess where) suggesting the 2001s are open for business and as good as they will ever get, but I've learned to ignore those voices.

How can you generalize that all 2001s are in a sleep mode?

As per my recorded notes that I can rummage through at this point, the 2001s that I’ve drank over the last 2 years included a Pichon Baron, a Pape Clement rouge, Haut Bergey, Smith Haut Lafitte, Pavie, Giscours, Poyferre, Ferrand Lartigue, Haut Bailly, Cote de Baleau, Malartic Lagraviere, Cheval Blanc, Leoville Barton and a Margaux. I know that there are others that I missed.

While I would never consider myself an authority on optimal drinking windows of any wine, as far as I can tell, there were some that were at a good drinking phase. Among the most recent ones that I had, the Pichon Baron, the Pape Clement, the Poyferre, the Pavie, the Giscours and the Haut Bergey were drinking nicely and, admittedly, some with as much as 1 hour in decanter. BTW, that is not to say that that’s as good as they are going to get.

as for the rhe rest, well, I just hope that they’re really still developing.

Ramon

Ramon,

It is difficult to generalize, I totally agree.
But, I tend to err on the side of caution.

The wine I had yesterday was enjoyable. It was definitely not cradle snatching.
However, according to my personal standard of the way Bordeaux tannins should soften and integrate, the wine is clearly not at its peak.

I fully realize that people's tastes and standards are not the same.
I would not presume to say that the 2001 great growths you cited in your post were opened too soon.
All I mean to say is that I *think* they would be for me.
The extrapolation is risky from one bottle, though, of course, I agree with you.

By the way, on the subject of 2001 Lynch Bages, when I say it is "feminine", I in no way mean weak, watery, or light.

Best regards,
Alex R.

Alex,

Thanks for your response and, also for your usual enlightening tasting notes. As I noted, some of the bottles that I had were, in my opinion, needing more bottle development and which I keep my fingers crossed on, especially on the ones that I have a few that are stashed away.

BTW, "feminine" is a descriptor that I have read upon from other TNs on quite a few Bordeaux 2001's. If you can recall, is this someting that you've experienced with your other 2001s?

Cheers.

RC

Raimon,

In fact, I tasted the 2001s young, but have left mine competely alone until this past weekend.

So, I wouldn't know how typical the femininity is.

By the way, I once asked Paul Pontalier the following question: "It is said that Château Margaux is the most feminine of wines. Is that true and, if so, how so"?

Mr. Pontalier launched into a brilliant long explanation in exquisite English - I only wish I had recorded it!

Best regards,
Alex R.

[David M. Bueker]

From my cold cellar the 2001s are most definitely sleeping - all of them.

From my admittedly inadequate (i.e., too warm) storage, the 2001 Smith Haut Laffite was pretty wonderful this year. Especially if you like the savory, herbal, fuzzy tannin side of Bordeaux. It might have been better in five years, but I don't feel cheated in any way.