One of Pauillac's emblematic names, Château Lynch-Moussas 2016 brilliantly embodies Médoc nobility and the elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon ripened on gravel. Classified as a 5th Growth Grand Cru since 1855, this red wine is aimed at lovers of substantial expression, those seeking the depth of a well-born Pauillac paired with sovereign freshness. The celebrated 2016 vintage unfolds a straight, precise framework, savory energy and a length that leaves a reverent silence after the last sip. To demanding guests, it promises a suspended moment where density meets the finesse of the tannins. To collectors, it offers a promising ageing potential, foreshadowing increasing complexity over the years. While its architecture is resolutely Médoc, its grace is unobtrusive, favouring balance over showiness, harmony over brute force. A wine for the table, conversation and memory, crafted by the rigour of a château on a clear qualitative ascent.

Assemblage et vinification

Mostly made from Cabernet Sauvignon complemented by Merlot, Château Lynch-Moussas 2016 is born on gravel and clay rises that ensure ideal drainage and slow berry ripening. The grapes, picked with discernment, are carefully sorted before vinification in temperature-controlled vats to extract the quintessence of the fruit while preserving freshness. Controlled fermentations, followed by a maceration of roughly 15 to 20 days, promote a finely chiselled texture and a very clear aromatic profile. The ageing, about 18 months in oak barrels with a significant proportion of new wood, refines the tannins, adds subtle notes of sweet spices and cedar, and enhances the structure’s relief. This patient work orchestrates the harmony between fruit, oak and acidity to deliver a Pauillac that is powerful, precise and serene, with an alcohol level around 13.5 %, perfectly integrated into the whole.

Notes de dégustation

• Colour: Dark and dense, animated by purple highlights that reflect the vintage’s still youthful vigour. The clarity is brilliant; the body is hinted at by the coloured rim that clings to the glass, a sign of good concentration and serious ageing potential.
• Nose: Deep and nuanced, it opens on blackcurrant and blackberry, then reveals touches of fresh red berries, a discreet violet blossom and inflections of cedar, blond tobacco and precious wood. With aeration, accents of sweet spices, graphite and noble undergrowth appear, weaving an inviting yet structured bouquet.
• Palate: The attack is broad, immediately savoury, supported by a tight, silky tannic framework. The mid-palate combines density and precision, with juicy fruit, vibrant freshness and an enveloping texture. The finish, long and gradual, trails on notes of spices, liquorice and cedar while keeping a salivating purity that calls for food.

Température de service et conseils

Serve this Pauillac between 16 and 17 °C in large tulip glasses to reveal its aromatic depth and velvety texture. An airing of about 1 hour, either with the bottle opened or decanted, will refine the bouquet and soften the contours. Store bottles on their side, away from light, at a constant temperature and with controlled humidity. The structural quality of the 2016 vintage gives it a significant ageing potential, with a broad drinking window that will gain complexity over the years without losing fruit brightness and freshness momentum.

Accords mets et vin

• Aperitifs: Comté gougères, fine rillettes of confit beef, mini porcini puff pastries, a savoury opener that highlights the wine’s uprightness.
• Starters: beef carpaccio with aged Parmesan shavings, delicately spiced game terrine, perfect egg with brown mushrooms and rich jus.
• Mains: grilled rib of beef with reduced jus, herb-crusted rack of lamb, hare à la royale or braised blade, where dense flesh and the wine converse on the same noble register.
• Cheeses: long-aged Comté, traditional Salers, extra-old Mimolette, aged Brie de Meaux, to play on textures and aromatic depth.
• Desserts: spiced poached pear, characterful dark chocolate, roasted almonds, to close the meal with a delicately spiced resonance.

Moments de dégustation

Château Lynch-Moussas 2016 is the ideal companion:

• To celebrate an exceptional dinner where wood-fired cooking and reduced jus magnify its uprightness.
• At a Pauillac vertical tasting, to appreciate the contemporary grace of the 2016 vintage and the estate's progression.
• As a connoisseur’s gift, intended for a lover of classic Bordeaux with a precise, generous style.

Caractéristiques

• Name: Château Lynch-Moussas 2016
• Appellation: Pauillac AOC
• Type: Red wine, 5th Growth Grand Cru Classé 1855
• Vintage: 2016
• Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
• Alcohol: approx. 13.5 %
• Ageing: about 18 months in oak barrels, notable proportion of new oak
• Volume: 75 cl
• Cellaring: strong ageing capacity, enjoyable now after aeration
• Serving temperature: 16 to 17 °C