1996 Chateau Lynch Bages

品飲筆記：這支1996年靚次伯呈現典型Pauillac風格——紅寶石偏深而邊緣開始明亮。杯中散發黑醋栗、雪茄盒、煙草甜香、雪松與鉛筆芯的礦質氣息。口感介於中偏厚，單寧柔順、細緻如絲，酸度支撐良好，帶有一抹野味與香料盒般的悠長餘韻。
酒莊與產區：靚次伯為五級名莊，隸屬Cazes家族，酒莊面積約90公頃，由Jean-Michel Cazes管理。葡萄園坐落於典型的Garonne碎石土壤，賦予酒款清晰的結構與礦物感。
年份與採收：1996年為左岸一個重要年份：溫和冬季與炎熱六月促進良好開花，北端Médoc包括Pauillac幸免於夏末重雨，果實健康而濃縮。本園於9月26日至10月8日人工採摘並精挑細選。
釀造與桶陳：採用重力流與恆溫不鏽鋼発酵槽進行傳統發酵，之後以法國橡木桶陳15個月（約70%新木）。橡木提供雪松與香料結構，但不蓋過細緻的果香與礦質感。
飲用建議：開瓶前建議醒酒約一小時以去沉澱並讓香氣展開。適合搭配厚切牛排、烤羊或成熟硬質起司，是既優雅又充滿層次的桌邊之選。

Tasting Note: The 1996 Château Lynch-Bages shows a classic Pauillac profile — a deep plum/ruby core with a beginning of edge lightening, and an array of tertiary aromas: black currant, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, cigar box, and pencil-lead minerality. On the palate it is medium–full-bodied with velvety, well-integrated tannins, lively acidity and savory, gamey undertones. Fine new-oak seasoning (notable cedar and spice) blends with a lingering spice-box finish.
Producer & Estate: A Fifth Growth owned and managed by the Cazes family, Lynch-Bages farms some 90 hectares in Pauillac under Jean-Michel Cazes' stewardship. The site sits on classic Garonne gravel which gives the wine its definition and mineral backbone.
Vintage & Vineyard: 1996 was a warm, left-bank season: after a mild winter and a hot June the northern Médoc, including Pauillac, escaped heavier late-summer rains and produced concentrated, healthy fruit. Harvest at Lynch-Bages ran 26 September–8 October; fruit was hand-picked and rigorously sorted.
Winemaking & Ageing: Traditional, gravity-based vinification in thermoregulated stainless steel vats, followed by 15 months in French oak (approximately 70% new). The wine was bottled under cork; careful cellaring has allowed primary fruit to evolve into complex tertiary notes.
Serve & Drinkability: Best decanted for about an hour to lift aromas and settle any sediment. Ready for drinking now but will hold on this plateau for additional years; pairs beautifully with robust red meats and matured cheeses.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 13%
• Decant Time: 60 minutes
• Taste: black currant, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, cigar box, lead pencil shavings, black cherry, spice box, menthol, gamey/undergrowth, velvety tannins
• Food Matching: Beef (sirloin, ribeye, roast), Venison and game, Lamb, Hard aged cheeses (e.g. aged cheddar, Lincolnshire Poacher), Roast vegetables with herb jus
• Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon : 79%, Merlot : 13%, Cabernet Franc : 6%, Petit Verdot : 2%,

Winery

靚次伯（Château Lynch-Bages）是Pauillac著名的五級酒莊，長期由Cazes家族經營管理，葡萄園面積約90公頃。園地多為Garonne碎石土壤，排水良好且利於成熟度與風土表現。釀酒方面保留傳統工法：人工採收、重力流入恆溫不鏽鋼槽發酵，並以法國橡木桶陳（高比率新桶）塑造結構與香氣。風格兼顧力量與優雅，適合陳年收藏與配餐享用。

Château Lynch-Bages is a Fifth Growth estate in Pauillac long associated with the Cazes family. The domaine oversees roughly 90 hectares of vineyards planted on classic Garonne gravel. Under traditional, careful winemaking and modern cellar management, the estate combines gravity-fed vinification with stainless steel temperature control and extended oak ageing to craft structured, age-worthy claret.