Château Lynch-Bages 2012 Pauillac (75cl)

A Pauillac red from an estate classified as a Fifth Growth in 1855. The vineyard sits on Garonne gravel over about 90 hectares. The 2012 blend is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in oak barrels with 75% new wood, representing about 66% of the harvest. Fruit was hand-picked and sorted at the vineyard; harvest ran from 27 September to 18 October. The estate describes an aromatic nose with fresh fruit mingled with oak, ripe plum flavours, firm tannin structure, good drive through the finish and acidity pointing to fine ageing potential.