Chateau Lynch Bages: 8 Best Wines, Tasting Notes, Prices (2024)

Chateau Lynch Bages is one of the most popular Fifth Growth Pauillac estates with over two centuries of history in winemaking. It produces some of the finest Grand Cru Classe wines in Bordeaux that are on par with the First Growths - so it’s often called the “poor man’s Mouton!”

How is Lynch Bages fine wine made? Which bottles should you not miss in 2024? 

Let’s explore all about this iconic Chateau, its history, vineyards, and it’s best wines. We’ll also reveal the most convenient way to buy these fine Pauillac vintages! 

A Quick Look at Chateau Lynch Bages

Chateau Lynch Bages is situated on the Bages plateau, which is west of the Pauillac commune in the Medoc appellation of Bordeaux. It is owned by the Cazes family.

The Chateau makes three elegant Bordeaux wine styles, each with a distinct character:

• Chateau Lynch Bages: This is the flagship wine of the Chateau. It is a fine Bordeaux wine often compared to the First and Second Growths. It is usually a blend of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grape varietals.
• Echo de Lynch Bages Chateau Haut-Bages Averous: The Chateau’s second wine is also a Bordeaux blend that comprises Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Some vintages include a small portion of the Cabernet Franc grape variety.
• Chateau Lynch Bages Blanc de Lynch Bages: The estate started producing this white wine in the 1990s. The wine is a blend of the Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle.

Fun fact: Lynch Bages was the first Chateau to promote their wine in China and became one of the most popular wine brands in Asia. Their flagship wine was also the first wine ever to be sent into space in 1985.

Before we dive into the details about the Lynch Bages vineyards and winemaking, let’s find out how the estate evolved over the centuries.

The History of Lynch Bages 

The Bages vineyards date back to the beginning of the 18th century. In 1749, an Irishman Thomas Lynch inherited the Bages estate through his wife, Elizabeth. That’s when the estate became known as Chateau Lynch Bages. It stayed in the Lynch family until the beginning of the 19th century.

In 1824, the estate was sold to the Swiss wine merchant Sebastien Jurine, and in 1862, it was acquired by the Cayrou brothers. 

In 1934, Jean-Charles Cazes leased the vineyard and managed to purchase it four years later. The estate is part of the Cazes family holdings until this day. 

The estate’s management was passed on to Jean-Michel Cazes in 1972. He joined the AXA Millésimes insurance company and established Chateaux & Associes. There Cazes managed to expand his vineyard holdings with properties all over France and Europe. 

Today, the Lynch Bages winery is a sleek facility with modern gravity flow cellars, stainless steel vats, glass roofs, and terraces with beautiful views!

Let’s look at the Lynch Bages vineyards and terroir. 

Vineyards of Chateau Lynch Bages 

The Lynch Bages vineyard plots span across 100 hectares in the Pauillac appellation. They are situated on gravel and chalk soil parcels near the Chateau and close to the left bank of the Gironde river. Some vines are planted at a higher elevation of 20 meters.

The average vine age is around 30 years, but older vines reach up to 90 years. The vine density is determined by careful soil analysis, and on average, it is 9,000 vines per hectare.

New vines are supplied through massal selection, which involves growing new vines from the budwood of the finest old vine plantings. This ensures genetic diversity in their vineyards and an enhanced expression of the terroir in the wine.

So, how is wine made at the Chateau?

Winemaking at Chateau Lynch Bages 

The winemaking process involves:

• Harvesting: The harvest time is carefully chosen by the winemakers. A 35-people team observes the grape’s ripeness daily with the help of satellite technology.
• Fermentation: The grapes ferment in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The grape juice is pumped over to increase the wine’s flavor and color intensity. The malolactic fermentation happens in a mix of oak barrels and stainless steel tanks.
• Aging: The wine is carefully transported to French oak barrels, where it ages for 15 months. During this time, the wine is racked regularly to soften its texture and enhance the oak aromas.

Lynch Bages produces around 25,000 cases of wine annually.

8 Best Chateau Lynch Bages Wines to Buy in 2024(Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

Here are our favorite Lynch Bages bottles:

1. Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, 1982

This beautiful red wine opens up with gentle aromas of dark fruit, black cherry, and cassis. The palate offers elegant acidity and tasting notes of licorice, lively fruit, and spice.

Price of Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, 1982: $701

2. Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, 1959

Here we have red wine with a ripe tannin texture and an earthy undercurrent. The plum aromas combine well with the dominant black currant fruit and dried herbs tasting notes. 

Price of Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, 1990: $701

3. Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, 1961

This is another exquisite fine wine with silky tannins and enigmatic finesse. On the palate, the tannic texture is accompanied by a concentrated black fruit and licorice flavor and gentle black currant aromas.

Price of Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, 1961: $564

4. Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, 1989

This is an outstanding and concentrated Cabernet blend with intense black cherry, plum, and dried herbs tasting notes. The opulent nose has well-defined dark fruit, black olives, and spice aromas that accompany the wine’s finesse, bright acidity, and supple tannin levels.

Price of Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, 1989: $416

5. Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux, France, 2001

Here we have an elegant white wine with mild tannin levels and pleasant acidity. This vintage offers a palate of citrus, pineapple fruit, and subtle roasted apple wood hints. 

Price of Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux, France, 2001: $95

6. Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux, France, 2000

This is another white wine that offers lively fruit aromas and pleasant acidity. The juicy tasting notes of peach and apricot fruit unravel under the initial roasted apple wood aroma.

Price of Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux, France, 2000: $145

7. Echo de Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France, 1990

The seductive second wine of Lynch Bages offers ripe tannin mouthfeel and lively acidity. The tasting notes of cassis, black fruit, and plum are layered with secondary notes of earth, oak, and vanilla. The nose offers an opulent bouquet of black cherry, smoke, and cedar.

Price of Echo de Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France, 1990: $124

8. Echo de Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France, 1961

This fairly old vintage has managed to preserve over time and has developed silky tannins and a distinct undertone of black olives. The initial black currant fruit flavor transitions into a softer earthy undercurrent and a long-lasting finish. 

Price of Echo de Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France, 1961: $282

Should you Invest in Chateau Lynch Bages?

Lynch Bages wines have great aging potential. While they can certainly be enjoyed in their youth since they are naturally soft with beautiful texture, they can age in your cellar for at least 20 years. Some of the most exceptional Lynch Bages vintages can even age for up to half a century and develop more intense flavors with bottle age.

Some of the best vintages are 2019, 2016, 2015, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1996, 1990, 1989, 1982, 1970, and 1961. The average price per case varies between $900 and $4,200, depending on the vintage.

The exceptional quality of Lynch Bages wine is comparable to the finest First and Second Growth Bordeaux blends, but it comes at a much more reasonable price making it a very attractive buy. 

Most Lynch Bages vintages have stable pricing with steady increases. In the past two years, Chateau Lynch-Bages 1990 has increased by 19% (from $368 to $439), while the 2017 vintage grew by 21% (from $104 to $126.) 

Lynch Bages is also a stellar contender at auctions:

• At a 2020 Sotheby’s auction, 12 bottles of Chateau Lynch-Bages 1982 sold for $4,377.
• In a 2020 Heritage Auctions event, another 12-bottle case of Chateau Lynch-Bages 1989 went under the hammer for $4,182.

In short, Chateau Lynch Bages is a safe wine to invest in and definitely a must-have if you’re a Bordeaux wine lover!

But how can you get a bottle of this exceptional wine without taking on the cumbersome sourcing, shipping, and storage woes yourself?

Invest in Chateau Lynch Bages and Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovest is a leading wine investment company that helps you buy and sell investment-grade wines and manage your wine portfolio. Besides, Vinovest will ensure your wines are authentic and are stored under optimal conditions. 

How Does it Work?

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Benefits

Vinovest comes with lots of benefits like:

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Lynch Bages: An Elegant Bordeaux Wine for Your Collection

Chateau Lynch Bages is undeniably one of the most seductive Bordeaux blends you can add to your collection. Besides being a great wine to serve at a gala dinner, it is an excellent investment wine too.

To get your bottle of Lynch Bages and other fine wine from all over the world, just enlist the help of Vinovest.

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