85-89 / 100
Noncontractual photographs
Vintage | 1981 |
Rating | 85-89 |
Classification | Médoc - 5ème Cru Classé |
Region | Bordeaux |
Appellation | Pauillac |
Colour | Red |
Volume | 0.75 l |
Price | Less than 100 € |
Château | Lynch Bages |
Country | France |
Saint Emilion
Pauillac
Pauillac
Pessac Leognan
CHÂTEAU LEOVILLE POYFERRE 1981
Saint Julien
Pauillac
Sauternes
Pessac Leognan
Saint Emilion
Saint Emilion
After a period in the late seventies where Lynch-Bages seemed to be taking suppleness in winemaking too far, I detected with the 1981 a partial return to the very rich, robust, ripe, huge extract style of the great Lynch-Bages wines like the 1970, 1962, and 1961. Certainly the monumental 1982 and excellent 1983 will eclipse the 1981 in stature, but this wine is quite good, and the best Lynch-Bages since 1975. Very dark ruby, with a strong, aggressive bouquet of black currants, cedar, and new oak, this ripe wine has surprising density on the palate, with plenty of tannin. The 1981 shows lots of gutsy character.
In my notes on Grand-Puy-Lacoste I referred to Lynch Bages' heart-on-sleeve character. Well, in 1981 its heart was in the right place. A stream of adminiring notes, its flavour and vivacity making up for its less robust components and slight lack of length. Showing well in 1997 at a tasting in Brussels and a year later a magnum lunching at Pichon-Baron. Still fairly dep though maturing; surprising richness and extract on nose and palate masking its tannins.