Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve: A lovely vin de garde—vinous, full-bodied, and honest—confirming Lynch-Bages’ return to the classic Pauillac bouquet (Havana tobacco and cedar). A bit short on real finesse, though. 16.5

Michael Schuster: Ripe core of blackberry/blackcurrant fruit to smell; lovely balance, with a nice concentration of fruit framed by a fresh acidity and fine, firm tannin; long, pure, linear, minerally Cabernet Sauvignon flavor, an excellent fruit core packed with aromatic charge, all in the very precise vein of the best of this vintage. Medium- to long-term, fine Lynch-Bages. 2018–30+. 16.5/17