Château Lynch Bages 2016 - Grand Cru Classé

Very dense, with overpowering tannins that make it a bit heavy, but with remarkable potential for further aging in barrels.

World-renowned for its opulence and consistency, this Pauillac Fifth Growth has been owned by the Cazes family since the 1930s and has gained widespread acclaim since Jean-Michel Cazes took over its management in 1973. Following the successful handover from Jean-Michel to his son Jean-Charles, the estate has maintained all its vigor and vitality in recent vintages, retaining its depth while gaining precision in its tannins. The château produces an increasingly stylish dry white Bordeaux, though we are still awaiting a more precise wine for its second label, Écho. A new wine-making facility is under construction, and it promises to be monumental—after all, the estate must hold its own in a highly competitive market!

The name of this wine combines that of the Irish merchants who owned it in the 18th century with that of a hamlet located just south of Pauillac. Since the 1930s, its success has stemmed from the ongoing efforts of three generations of the Cazes family: Jean-Charles, André, and Jean-Michel. The contribution of Jean-Michel, who has since handed the reins to his son Jean-Charles, has been essential. His success is linked to the quality of the wines, produced from a vast 100-hectare vineyard, as well as to a sound development strategy that includes wine trading and tourism infrastructure (hotel-restaurant, shops).

With its deep purple-violet color, the 2016 Lynch-Bages opens with a powerful nose of blackcurrant, chocolate-covered cherries, blackberries, and a hint of mint, followed by aromas of garrigue, plowed earth, and a whiff of tapenade. Medium-bodied, rich, and wonderfully concentrated, the generous fruit is beautifully framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins with a touch of pepper, cinnamon, and clove on the finish. Truly, a legendary Lynch-Bages! 

 

We were among the first to recognize its greatness—here is an explosive and incredibly elegant Lynch-Bages. The fruit is juicy, rich, and sparkling. The finish lingers on perfectly integrated tannins.

It is now up to Jean-Charles Cazes to steer this prestigious Pauillac estate. His father, Jean-Michel—an exceptional figure in the Médoc, a tireless ambassador for Bordeaux wines, and the architect of this Fifth Growth’s reputation—is, however, never far away. The magnificent family estate, superbly situated on the Bages plateau, has produced an impressive series of wines without a single weak link since the early 1970s, establishing its rich, seductive, and immediately approachable style, while also aging with grace. Now equipped with a spectacular, brand-new, state-of-the-art winery, the estate is more on track than ever, and its popularity among many wine enthusiasts is simply a well-deserved reward.

Very rich and exotic, with aromas of blackberry, black tea, graphite, and pencil lead. Full-bodied, dense, and well-structured, with plenty of ripe tannins and a long, flavorful finish of currants and forest floor, combined with fresh mushrooms and bark. It will take four to five years to reach its full potential. Try it after 2024.