Château Lynch-Bages

The history of Lynch-Bages, situated in the lands of “Batges” at the entrance to Pauillac, is emblematic of the Médoc region.  Although there are records of the Bages territory as far back as the 16th century, the history of wine production in the area really began in the 18th century. From 1749 to 1824, the vineyard was owned by Thomas Lynch, the son of an Irishman from Galway who worked as a merchant in Bordeaux. Thomas Lynch managed the land wisely and produced high quality wines under the name of ”Cru de Lynch”. As part of the prestigious 1855 Classification, for the Exposition Universelle de Paris, his wine would soon be classified as one of the fifth growths.

Later on, Jean ”Lou Janou” Cazes, a ”Montagnol” (a term used to describe farmers from the austere upper valleys of Ariège), came to the Médoc to earn a living. In the 1930’s, General Félix de Vial, a descendant of the Cayrou family, leased the vineyard to Jean-Charles Cazes, the son of ”Lou Janou” and a farmer at Château Ormes de Pez in Saint-Estèphe. Cazes went on to purchase both properties in the wake of World War II. Lynch-Bages has been run by the Cazes family ever since.

Lynch-Bages’ old vat-house represents a rare example of traditional winemaking equipment the Médoc area. Its slatted flooring which introduced the advantages of gravitational design now used in modern vat-houses, was invented by Skawinski in 1850.  Back then, grapes were transported in a cart pulled by horses and then lifted by crane and emptied into a wooden tank on wheels and tracks. One or two winemakers inside the tank then crushed the grapes, making the juice flow out through openings into vats on either side. A rope-pulley-bucket system and no less than six workers were then required to remove the leftover grape skins from the fermentation vat.

Appellation: Pauillac

Classification: Grand Cru Classé

Owner: Jean-Michel Cazes

Production Area: 90 hectares

Terroir: Garonne Gravel

Harvest: Hand-picked and sorted at the vineyard

Aging: French oak barrels for 15 months (70% new wood)

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Tasting Notes: Exhibits wonderful dark cherry and leather notes. Medium bodied with well-integrated tannins and a nice earthy spice on the finish.

Overview: Château Haut-Bages Averous was the name of the former Pauillac estate acquired by André Cazes and was the domaine’s second wine from 1976 onwards. It was renamed Echo de Lynch-Bages as of the 2008 vintage in order to affirm its relationship with the Grand Cru Classé. Its name Echo refers to the nymph from Greek mythology who was deprived of speech by Hera as a punishment for distracting her when Zeus wished to consort with beautiful mortals. As such, although Echo de Lynch-Bages is not the first to speak, it shares the first wine’s elegance and character.

AOC: Pauillac

Production Area: 90 hectares

Soil: Garonne Gravel

Harvest: Hand-picked and sorted at the vineyard

Aging: French oak barrels during 12 months, in barrels used for one previous vintage.

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Tasting Notes: Like its big brother, Echo de Lynch-Bages displays the characteristic taste, aromas and length of Pauillac wines. As an echo of the first wine, it receives the same care and attention from the vine to the cellars. It is the result of a selection of Lynch-Bages’ youngest vines and specific plots which represent between 25 to 40 % of the harvest depending on the vintage. Echo de Lynch-Bages is round, soft and seductive in its youth with outstanding potential for bottle age.

Overview: Born in 1990, Lynch-Bages White is made from a blend of the Bordeaux appellation’s 3 traditional white grape varieties, planted on 8 of the Pauillac estate’s parcels. Increased precision in the selection process since 2006 as well as preventing oxidation to the fruit before pressing contribute to the harmonious aging of the wine.

AOC: Bordeaux

Production Area: 5.5 hectares

Soil: Garonne Gravel

Harvest: Hand-picked and sorted at the vineyard

Aging: Regular stirring of the lees on oak barrels for 6 months (50% new oak)

Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle (percentages vary depending on the vintage)

Tasting Notes: A fresh blend of the three traditional grape varieties. Aromas of fresh and exotic fruits from Sauvignon Blanc, dried and candied fruits and white flowers from Sémillon and delicate woody and vanilla notes from Muscadelle come together to make this complex Lynch-Bages White. The palate balances freshness and strength with a round, ample yet elegant structure. Characteristic of fine Bordeaux whites, Lynch-Bages White is lively and explosive in its early youth and retains impressive length on the palate for the duration of its life.