Lynch-Bages, Chateau
Summary
Lynch-Bages is a 100-hectare Pauillac estate operated by the Cazes family since 1939, producing Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines from gravelly soils on the elevated Bages plateau. The estate combines traditional Médoc methods with modern innovations, including a gravity-flow cellar system introduced in 2020 and careful plot-by-plot vinification followed by 18 months aging in French oak barrels.
Heritage & Leadership
Lynch-Bages traces its documented history to 1739, when the property was owned by Thomas Lynch, son of an Irish immigrant who settled in Bordeaux. The estate's name combines the Lynch family name with the Bages plateau where the vineyard sits. A pivotal change occurred in 1939 when Jean-Charles Cazes, who had been managing the property, purchased the estate. His son Jean-Michel Cazes took the helm in 1974, implementing significant modernizations over three decades. Since 2006, the estate has been under the direction of Jean-Charles Cazes, representing the family's fourth generation of leadership.
Vineyards & Wines
Lynch-Bages encompasses 100 hectares of vineyards in Pauillac, positioned on Gunz gravel soils characteristic of the appellation. The vineyard composition maintains 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Vines average 30 years of age and grow at elevations between 15-20 meters above sea level on the Bages plateau. This elevation and the gravelly soils provide natural drainage essential for Cabernet Sauvignon cultivation.
Philosophy & Practice
The winemaking at Lynch-Bages combines traditional Médoc methods with modern precision. Grapes undergo temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats, with each vineyard plot vinified separately. The 2019-2020 renovation introduced gravity-flow techniques throughout the cellar, eliminating mechanical pumping. The grand vin ages for 18 months in French oak barrels, with 60-75% new oak each vintage. The estate maintains separate vinification facilities for its second wine, Echo de Lynch-Bages, ensuring dedicated attention to both labels.