Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

The 2019 Echo Lynch Bages is an absolutely joyous second wine. Ripe, plummy and wonderfully forward, the 2019 Echo is all pleasure. The signature of the house style comes through loud and clear. Hints of spice, tobacco and cedar round out the creamy, inviting finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (92-94)

Offering classic Pauillac notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, violets, and lead pencil, the 2020 Echo De Lynch Bages is a big, rich, nicely concentrated wine that shows the fresh yet powerful style of the vintage beautifully. It's a terrific second wine, yet one that's going to benefit from a few years of bottle age. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

James Suckling (93-94)

Lots of Lynch character to this wine, with a full body and blackcurrant, dark-chocolate, tar and lean-pencil character. Full and flavorful. Solid center-palate. Second wine. Nicely put together. 56% merlot and 44% cabernet sauvignon.

James Suckling (93-94)

Lots of Lynch character to this wine, with a full body and blackcurrant, dark-chocolate, tar and lean-pencil character. Full and flavorful. Solid center-palate. Second wine. Nicely put together. 56% merlot and 44% cabernet sauvignon.

James Suckling (93-94)

Lots of Lynch character to this wine, with a full body and blackcurrant, dark-chocolate, tar and lean-pencil character. Full and flavorful. Solid center-palate. Second wine. Nicely put together. 56% merlot and 44% cabernet sauvignon.

James Suckling (94)

Dark currants with blackberries and a touch of pencil shavings. Good perception of freshness despite the ripe black fruit. Tight, full-bodied and fine-grained on the palate. Long, structured and juicy. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. Give it two or three more years.

James Suckling (92-93)

A balance of blackberry, chocolate and stone with a medium body, creamy texture and a soft finish. The length and depth are very pretty, while the juicy, velvety tannins are so attractive.

James Suckling (92-93)

A balance of blackberry, chocolate and stone with a medium body, creamy texture and a soft finish. The length and depth are very pretty, while the juicy, velvety tannins are so attractive.

Jeb Dunnuck (90)

Tasted on three separate occasions, the 2015 Château Fonbadet is a rock-solid effort in the vintage, as well as a terrific value. A medium to full-bodied, mouth-filling, ripe Pauillac that has good acidity, classic notes of plums, mulberries, spice and dried tobacco, moderate tannin, and outstanding length, drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.

Wine Advocate (89-91+)

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Exuding traditional French elegance, the Fonbadet 2019 meets the discerning palate with a symphony of structured tannins and bold flavours. Classic yet contemporary, this fine Bordeaux blend is a testament to Chateau Fonbadet's commitment to viticultural excellence. Produced in the iconic Pauillac appellation, the Fonbadet 2019 lends itself to the region's distinguished heritage, capturing the essence of its unique terroir.

An amalgamation of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the wine is aged in oak barrels, resulting in a harmonious ensemble of blackcurrant and cherry flavours, framed exquisitely by hints of cedarwood and sweet spices. The producer, the Pauillac-based Château Fonbadet, marries both traditional and modern wine-making techniques, offering a masterpiece wine with a nuanced expression of the region's character.

With its elegant structure, complex profile, unparalleled craftsmanship, and the rich flavours of Pauillac imprinted in every bottle, Fonbadet 2019 embodies the vivacity and charisma of a grand Bordeaux wine.

Exuding traditional French elegance, the Fonbadet 2019 meets the discerning palate with a symphony of structured tannins and bold flavours. Classic yet contemporary, this fine Bordeaux blend is a testament to Chateau Fonbadet's commitment to viticultural excellence. Produced in the iconic Pauillac appellation, the Fonbadet 2019 lends itself to the region's distinguished heritage, capturing the essence of its unique terroir.

An amalgamation of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the wine is aged in oak barrels, resulting in a harmonious ensemble of blackcurrant and cherry flavours, framed exquisitely by hints of cedarwood and sweet spices. The producer, the Pauillac-based Château Fonbadet, marries both traditional and modern wine-making techniques, offering a masterpiece wine with a nuanced expression of the region's character.

With its elegant structure, complex profile, unparalleled craftsmanship, and the rich flavours of Pauillac imprinted in every bottle, Fonbadet 2019 embodies the vivacity and charisma of a grand Bordeaux wine.

Exuding traditional French elegance, the Fonbadet 2019 meets the discerning palate with a symphony of structured tannins and bold flavours. Classic yet contemporary, this fine Bordeaux blend is a testament to Chateau Fonbadet's commitment to viticultural excellence. Produced in the iconic Pauillac appellation, the Fonbadet 2019 lends itself to the region's distinguished heritage, capturing the essence of its unique terroir.

An amalgamation of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the wine is aged in oak barrels, resulting in a harmonious ensemble of blackcurrant and cherry flavours, framed exquisitely by hints of cedarwood and sweet spices. The producer, the Pauillac-based Château Fonbadet, marries both traditional and modern wine-making techniques, offering a masterpiece wine with a nuanced expression of the region's character.

With its elegant structure, complex profile, unparalleled craftsmanship, and the rich flavours of Pauillac imprinted in every bottle, Fonbadet 2019 embodies the vivacity and charisma of a grand Bordeaux wine.

The Wine Cellar Insider (92)

A smoky mix of cedar, licorice and cassis start off the nose of this wine which is medium to full-bodied shows gentle, refined tannins and a freshness in the fruity, open finish. 91-92 Pts

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2015 Grand Puy Ducasse has a forward, rich bouquet that lacks the precision of the top wines from the appellation. This is quite earthy in style, hints of clove developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, and overtly masculine and broody. The very structured, graphite-tinged finish is, frankly, no fun at the moment. Give it 10 years, though, and I think this could evolve into a classic Pauillac for those who love traditional claret. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Decanter (93)

A big vintage of Grand-Puy Ducasse, continuing the ambition shown over recent vintages. The coffee bean aromatics are perfectly judged to give an appealing hint of oak, alongside cedar notes and dark cassis fruits. There is an austerity to the opening beats of the wine, and the tannins make their presence felt right the way through. Overall this is excellent. It is unusual to have such good yields, close to 50hl/ha, with equally good quality. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)

The 2018 Grand Puy Ducasse is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Readers will find a heady, richly textured Pauillac loaded with character. Technical Director Anne Le Naour and consulting oenologist Hubert de Bouärd coaxed tremendous richness from the 2018 while avoiding some of the excesses of the recent past. The result is a wine that delivers on all levels. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mint, licorice, sweet spice and a touch of new oak build into a striking crescendo on the lush, persistent finish.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2019 Grand Puy Ducasse is class personified. Just as in barrel, from bottle Grand-Puy Ducasse possesses terrific freshness and energy in place of the heavy, extracted style that was the norm just a few years ago. Readers will find a Pauillac endowed with tons of transparency and tons of sheer class. The 2019 is wonderfully sophisticated in every way. I loved it.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2019 Grand Puy Ducasse is class personified. Just as in barrel, from bottle Grand-Puy Ducasse possesses terrific freshness and energy in place of the heavy, extracted style that was the norm just a few years ago. Readers will find a Pauillac endowed with tons of transparency and tons of sheer class. The 2019 is wonderfully sophisticated in every way. I loved it.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2019 Grand Puy Ducasse is class personified. Just as in barrel, from bottle Grand-Puy Ducasse possesses terrific freshness and energy in place of the heavy, extracted style that was the norm just a few years ago. Readers will find a Pauillac endowed with tons of transparency and tons of sheer class. The 2019 is wonderfully sophisticated in every way. I loved it.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2019 Grand Puy Ducasse is class personified. Just as in barrel, from bottle Grand-Puy Ducasse possesses terrific freshness and energy in place of the heavy, extracted style that was the norm just a few years ago. Readers will find a Pauillac endowed with tons of transparency and tons of sheer class. The 2019 is wonderfully sophisticated in every way. I loved it.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-96)

The deep, inky-hued 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has a seriously impressive, balanced, full-bodied, structured style that's going to reward patience. Pure crème de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, lead pencil, and spring flower notes all define the bouquet, and it has plenty of background oak, a dense, chewy mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need to be forgotten for 7-8 years but will evolve for 30 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-96)

The deep, inky-hued 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has a seriously impressive, balanced, full-bodied, structured style that's going to reward patience. Pure crème de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, lead pencil, and spring flower notes all define the bouquet, and it has plenty of background oak, a dense, chewy mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need to be forgotten for 7-8 years but will evolve for 30 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (93-96)

The deep, inky-hued 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has a seriously impressive, balanced, full-bodied, structured style that's going to reward patience. Pure crème de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, lead pencil, and spring flower notes all define the bouquet, and it has plenty of background oak, a dense, chewy mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need to be forgotten for 7-8 years but will evolve for 30 years or more.