Lynch Bages label changes

[KevinH]

Have there been any changes to the Lynch Bages label since about 1970? If so, what are they? I ask because I’m looking at an auction bottle with a damaged label and the date missing and am trying to see if I can narrow it down as to an age range.

Thanks in advance.

[AlexR]

Send photo please.

AR

[KevinH]

Afraid I don't have a photo and the image on the website is likely to be copyright protected. What I can see is that the word Medoc does not appear and I know this changed in 1970 so that is the earliest vintage it can be. Were there any other changes to the label after then?

[DavidG]

This is such a visual thing… hard enough even with photos.

Don Cornwall, an attorney and Burgundy lover, regularly posts auction house photos of wine bottles on the Wine Berserkers site for discussions of authenticity and condition. If he’s not worried about a fair use copyright violation, I wouldn’t be either. Alternatively, I would ask the auction house for high-res shots or at least a copy of the best they already have that I could share for authentication purposes. If they balk, I walk.

Wine Berserkers has a few regular participants who have been in the business of acquiring and selling older Bordeaux, so if you do get a photo you might try there as well.

Another thought: CellarTracker has a repository of almost 2500 photos of Lynch Bages labels from various vintages, some as old as 1916.

[KevinH]

Thanks David. The auction finishes in a few hours. I did look at CT images which is where I found the change around dropping the word Medoc from the label. I’m winning it at the moment at a price below what I’d have to pay for a 1977 or 1984 so we’ll see. If I do get it I’ll cut the capsule to see what it is and will report back.

[KevinH]

Well, I won the bottle, amongst a few other things, so I should know the vintage by the weekend.

[KevinH]

Does the chateau put the date on the side or top of the cork? I can’t remember.

[DavidG]

Does the chateau put the date on the side or top of the cork? I can’t remember.

Yes, they do. On the side. But I don’t know how far back that goes.

[jckba]

Here is the cork from yesterdays 1988 Lynch Bages which Jim opened up for me and it clearly has the date stamped on it.

1988 Lynch Bages cork

[KevinH]

The bottle has arrived

IMG_8741.jpeg

Tatty label so I had to cut the capsule

IMG_8745.jpeg

You can just make out it says 1988. Success!

[KevinH]

No idea how to load pictures

[JimHow]

Nice!
Yeah, pictures are tricky here.
Click "Attachments" and then "Add Files."

[DavidG]

Nice!
Yeah, pictures are tricky here.
Click "Attachments" and then "Add Files."

First, click “Full Editor and Preview,” then do the 2 steps above.
Then pick your photo from your device’s photo library or files folder.
(If the file is too large it will be rejected and you will have to resize it first.)
Then click “Place inline”

Glad you got an ‘88!
Hope it performs for you as well as they have for Jim and me.

[KevinH]

[KevinH]

There we go. Thanks David.

[DavidG]

I guess auction houses may not be willing to cut a capsule prior to the auction to help determine a vintage or authenticity? It would hardly be a cosmetic issue in a case like this where the label is already a mess.

A messy label can actually be a good sign that the wine has been stored in a humid environment. How’s the fill on that bottle, Kevin? Hard to tell from your photo but it looks like maybe tippy-top shoulder/base of neck? That would be an encouraging sign!

[KevinH]

Messy labels never worry me and are often a good sign as you say.

Level I’d say is base of neck so very happy with that.

Interestingly the auction house I got it from hold a monthly wine auction and I was scrolling through their recent January catalogue and there were two bottles of 88 Lynch in that one. I bet this came from the same seller who consigned some more bottles, in this case with a worse label. If any more tatty label Lynch comes up next month I will be after them!

[JimHow]

Great pictures Kevin!
I've had three bottles of the 1988 Lynch in the past year, most recently last week with JC, and they have been splendid. Rivaling my beloved '89 Lynch.

[KevinH]

I’ve not had the 88 before (nor the 89). From the 80s I’ve had 83, 85 and 86.

My best ever Lynch (indeed my best ever wine) was an English Bottled (Wine Society) 1962 drunk back in 1994. It was far better than the chateau bottled version because, I think, they used very dark green bottles.

[DavidG]

I’ve been slowly working my way through a case of ‘88 Lynch acquired at auction a few years ago. Every one so far has been full of classic Pauillac deliciousness. Fills at base of neck and all intact corks so far. Hope yours is as giving, Kevin. Let us know when you pop it!