In the glass
Aroma: ripe cassis, tobacco, wet earth, cedar, graphite, violet
Palate: black fruit, smoky earth, smoked tobacco, lead pencil, crushed stone, licorice
Lynch-Bages consistently overperforms its Fifth Growth classification. A richer, more extrovert Pauillac than the first-growths, with cassis generosity, smoky tobacco, and a robust structure that ages beautifully over 20-30 years.
What it pairs with
-
Entrecote with Bordelaise sauce
The classic Bordeaux pairing; Lynch-Bages' cassis fruit and tobacco echo the earthy marrow in the Bordelaise sauce. -
Roasted pork belly with herbs
Richer than many Pauillacs at this classification, Lynch-Bages' dark fruit and firm structure handle the fat of pork belly well. -
Wild boar terrine with cornichons
Game charcuterie amplifies the wine's tobacoo and earthy register while the acidic cornichons cleanse the palate. -
Aged Cantal cheese
Firm French mountain cheese pulls out Lynch-Bages' graphite and cedar complexity.
History
Named after Thomas Lynch, an Irish immigrant who married into the Drouillard family and acquired the Bages plateau in the early 18th century. Classified as Fifth Growth in 1855. The Cazes family has owned it since 1939 under Jean-Michel Cazes and now Jean-Charles Cazes. Despite Fifth Growth status, Lynch-Bages is considered a 'super fifth' regularly trading at Second-Growth prices.
- 1855 — Classified Cinquieme Cru Classe in the Medoc classification
- 1939 — Acquired by the Cazes family; Jean-Michel Cazes later elevated its profile globally
- 2020 — Wine Spectator Top 100 #3 for the 2020 vintage; establishes Lynch-Bages as a benchmark fifth growth
Facts
- Producer
- Chateau Lynch-Bages
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon (68%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (5%), Petit Verdot (2%)
- Classification
- Pauillac AOC, Cinquieme Cru Classe (1855 classification)
- Oak
- 12 to 15 months in 70-75% new French oak barriques
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- $80-160 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8-30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1728
Scores
- Wine Advocate 97 (2010 vintage, reviewed 2013)
- Wine Spectator 95 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2023)