Lynch Bages: characteristics of wines from a vineyard more than a century old

Located in Pauillac, in the heart of the Gironde, Château Lynch-Bages is a 100-hectare family wine estate, renowned for its delicious wines combining finesse and a blend of aromas. Its flavours vary according to the year of production and other factors. Sometimes remarkably ripe, with a complex, lingering finish that will surprise you from the first sip, sometimes young, with full-bodied textures and spicy or fruity flavours that improve with time in the bottle. Ranked fifth in the official Bordeaux wine classification of 1855, the Lynch Bages estate boasts a varied portfolio of quality wines. In this guide, we look at the history of this prestigious estate, its terroir and the characteristics of its red and white wines

A short history of Lynch-Bages

Wine production at the Château dates back to 1749, when Thomas Lynch, the son of an illustrious Irish family, inherited the wine estate from his wife Elisabeth Drouillard. Records from the 19th century already mention the land of Bages. The château changed owners over the centuries. It was in 1934 that the Cazes family took possession of the estate. For the record, Bordeaux wine production was tough in past centuries. The estate's old gravity-fed winery, invented by Skawiski in 1850, is a unique reminder of the equipment used at the time. In those days, in the Médoc, a crane lifted the grapes into a horse-drawn cart. The staves were then emptied into a wooden conquet, where workers waded to get the juice to flow from the holes in the conquet into the vats. The workers then removed the grape skins from the fermentation vats using a system of ropes and pulleys. The winegrowers' remarkable work was therefore risky. The visionary thirty-something grandson, Jean-Michel Cazes, who took over the running of the family business, preferred to invest in new, cutting-edge technologies. His aim is to optimise the quality and precision of the wines. The new winery and vat room are inspired by this model. It was under Jean-Michel's impetus that the wines were given the intense, generous and complex character they have today. Collectors, wine lovers, the curious and tourists alike can visit this former vat room, which is the pride of the Château, by appointment. As an added bonus, the estate can welcome and cater for visitors, and it's also possible to sample the pleasures of wine tasting!

Cru Lynch, a vineyard spanning three centuries

With 272 years of winegrowing history under its belt, Château Lynch Bages is undoubtedly one of the oldest winegrowers in France. The terroir, also known as "Cru de Lynch", is a fine wine-growing heritage of around 100 hectares, producing red and white wines in a temperate oceanic climate. The terroir is composed of deep Garonne gravel, sand, clay and limestone. The winegrower has adopted a policy of integrated vinegrowing. The estate is situated on well-defined slopes in the Gironde, with good natural drainage and plenty of sunshine. In addition, the deep roots and good fertilisation of the old vines are important. Old vines dry out the soil after a few years. But the estate has carried out a soil analysis of the Lynch-Bages vineyard. This helped to define a good grape variety structure. The Cabernet-Savignon Noir (73%), Merlot (15%) and Petit Verdot (2%) grape varieties can produce fruit for up to 60 years, compared with an average of 30 years. It's a great success story, helping to ensure the long-term future of winegrowing despite the crisis in French winegrowing and the fall in world production. Techniques used to produce the estate's white and red wines Since the 1970s, the estate has been producing a wide range of wines with no weaknesses, and has had a major influence on the French wine market. While the general rule of wine is that the oldest wines are the best, vintage is not necessarily an indicator of quality for some brands. In fact, some wines lose some of their quality with age, which is not the case with Lynch-Bages wines. They gain in precision and character with age, while imposing a delicious combination of texture, richness and freshness. It should also be noted that loss of quality is often due to poor observation of storage and temperature conditions. But back to the Lynch-Bages white wine, which was born in 1990. It is a blend of 3 white grape varieties, Sauvignon (60%), Semillon (27%) and Muscadelle (13%). The vineyards cover an area of around 7 hectares. The grapes are harvested by hand. After removing any large impurities from the must before fermentation, 75% of the juice is put into barrels where the temperature is regulated at 18 degrees. The rest is matured in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine is put back into vats after 6 months of vinification. The wine is then ready to be bottled. The red grape varieties grown on the estate include cépages (4%), cabernet-sauvignon (70%), merlot and petit verdot (2% each). It covers an area of around 100 hectares. The grapes ripen beautifully on the well-drained soils, producing velvety tannins and aromatic complexity. Château Lynch-Bages uses the classic vinification method. Thermovinification of the red grapes also takes place in steel vats. However, some of the grapes are vinified in stainless steel vats. The estate also vinifies some of its wines in oak barrels. To lighten the acid notes in the red wines, they undergo malolactic fermentation and clarification. The latter consists of adding egg whites to obtain a wine free of impurities

Wines of exceptional quality and intense character

The Château's range of wines follows in the footsteps of the great AOC Pauillac wines. They are available in red and white wines, the mouthfeel of which varies according to numerous parameters such as age, ageing, grape variety, etc. Lych-Bages wines have a full, firm structure, charming aromas and a complex, exceptionally long finish with an alcohol content of around 13%. These wines age deliciously over time, with rich, concentrated aromas. The colour of the red wines varies between raspberry, purple, ruby and orange-red, depending on the grape variety and the intensity of the colour.
-For example, Château Lynch-Bages 1943, classified as a 5th growth, stands out for its unique, rare, unclassifiable character, combining suppleness and precision with an extraordinary taste experience. A wine that invites meditation.
-Château Lynch-Bages 2007 has a crimson colour, a pleasant nose and a hint of acidity, all without being overpowering on the tongue. You can buy this wine to accompany grilled meats with fine spices.
-As for the young red wine from Château Lynch 2017, it seduces with its finesse and elegance. It offers a memorable tasting experience when fully matured. Pair it with beef or chicken. Not very heavy, this fruity wine also goes well with cheese and cold meats at dinner.
On the site, you'll find vintages dating from 1966 to 1998. All these wines are impressive either for their maturity or for their ability to be enjoyed in their youth and to become more complex over the decades. The estate has chosen to produce only the very best, sacrificing quantity for rarity. Older wines make excellent gifts for wine lovers and connoisseurs. They make an ideal gift to mark a new partnership or engagement.