Symbol of a lifestyle that honours the right gesture and the precision of time, the Château Lynch-Moussas 2017, 5th Grand Cru Classé of Pauillac, vividly expresses the nobility of the Médoc's gravelly slopes. Here, Bordeaux uprightness meets measured sensuality, like a quartet where dark fruit, delicate oak and oceanic freshness play in unison. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and complemented by Merlot, this 2017 offers a succulent texture, polished tannins and a savoury length, supported by careful ageing that signs the bottle with notes of cedar and spice. For the Pauillac lover seeking structure, energy and depth without grandstanding, this cuvée unfolds a very precise range, conceived as well for robust dinner pairings as for serene cellar ageing.

Blend and vinification

This Pauillac is made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon (about 75%) completed by Merlot (about 25%). The grapes, harvested then carefully de-stemmed, undergo plot-by-plot vinification in temperature-controlled tanks for three to four weeks to extract a precise, upright matter without harshness. The imprint of the gravelly terroir with limestone influence here expresses itself candidly while retaining a silky touch and a proudly Médoc freshness. The barrel ageing lasts 14 to 24 months with around 55 to 60% new oak, a proportion chosen to bring texture, definition and an aromatic patina without overpowering the fruit. At 13.5% vol., the wine balances measured density, tension and elegant line, revealing the Pauillac DNA in a modern, precise and luminous interpretation.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Deep garnet with purple highlights, clear and brilliant, announcing harmonious concentration and lively vitality.
• Nose : Expressive bouquet mixing blackcurrant, blackberry and black cherry, supported by notes of cedar, gentle spices and a noble herbal touch. Accents of graphite, blond tobacco and bay leaf also emerge, signatures of Pauillac's graves.
• Palate : Fresh, juicy attack, mid-palate broad and succulent, with fine, caressing tannins. The oak ageing blends delicately, providing a subtle woody frame. Long, precise finish on blackcurrant, sweet pepper and a discreet salinity that prolongs the sense of uprightness.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 16 and 17 °C in generously sized glasses to aerate the bouquet and refine the tannin grain. Opening one hour before serving, or a brief decant for youthful bottles, fully reveals the spicy nuances and the depth of the fruit. This 2017 is already very accessible while showing an interesting ageing potential, with a drinking window opening from 2025 and extending beyond depending on cellar conditions. Store bottles on their sides, protected from light, in a cool and stable atmosphere to preserve aromatic integrity and textural finesse.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : game rillettes, country terrine, Comté gougères to highlight the fruit's frankness.
• Starters : pâté en croûte, perfect egg with porcini, knife-cut beef tartare lightly seasoned.
• Mains : grilled rib steak, roast rack of lamb with herbs, lacquered duckling, braised chuck with heirloom carrots.
• Cheeses : aged Comté, mountain tomme, mature mimolette, farmhouse Saint-Nectaire.
• Desserts : a bold match with a lightly sweet dark chocolate fondant or a spiced poached pear to answer the oak's spiced sweetness.

Tasting occasions

Château Lynch-Moussas 2017 is the privileged companion:

• For a shared dinner where the savoury substance and long finish orchestrate matches with roasted meats and concentrated jus.
• At a Pauillac vertical tasting among enthusiasts, to appreciate its modern precision and a clear reading of the gravel terroir.
• As a connoisseur's gift, promising immediate pleasure and calm cellar development.

Characteristics

• Nom : Château Lynch-Moussas 2017
• Appellation : Pauillac AOC
• Classement : 5th Grand Cru Classé 1855
• Type : Red wine, Bordeaux, Pauillac
• Millésime : 2017
• Cépages : Cabernet Sauvignon approx. 75%, Merlot approx. 25%
• Degré d’alcool : 13.5% vol.
• Vinification : grapes harvested and de-stemmed, temperature-controlled tanks, 3 to 4 weeks
• Élevage : 14 to 24 months in barrels, with approx. 55 to 60% new oak
• Température de service : 16 °C