From: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
Varietal: 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Overlooking the Gironde estuary at the entrance to Pauillac, the vines of Lynch-Bages are located on the Bages plateau, on one of the finest gravelly rises in the appellation. The estate once belonged to the famous Lynch family, of Irish origin, and was acquired by Jean-Charles Cazes in 1934. His grandson, Jean-Michel Cazes restructured the estate in 1974, adding state-of-the-art winemaking equipment, while keeping the former wooden vats as a reminder of the 19th century.
The grapes are all hand picked and then carefully sorted before crushing. A very strict selection is made prior to blending and the wine is traditionally aged in oak barrels before bottling.
Pauillac is probably the most famous village in Bordeaux. Located between St. Julien and St. Estephe, it has more of the top ranked chateau than the other four appellations of the Haut Medoc. This area has three of the five premier cru classe wineries: Lafite Rothschild, Latour, and Mouton Rothschild. There are two of the top second-growths (Pichon Lalande and Pichon Baron) as well as several outstanding fourth and fifth-growth chateaux including Lynch Bages. Because of the gravely soils and great drainage, Pauillac has the ideal conditions to grow great Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines from this village are some of the longest-lived in Bordeaux.
Tasting Notes: Representing 25 to 40% of the harvest depending on the vintages, “Echo” is chiefly made from the property’s youngest vines. Its final blend often differs from that of Lynch-Bages by a slightly higher proportion of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It is characterised by its soft tannins, a light and smooth oakiness, a silky texture in the mouth and a nice complexity
90 Points -James Suckling
