Château Lynch Bages , a 5ème Cru Classé , is one of the best known Médoc properties and has always had a particularly strong following on this side of the English Channel. Since 1973 it has been owned by the enigmatic Jean-Michel Cazes and is now headed by his son Jean-Charles.

Lynch Bake Vineyards are superbly located on a plateau west of Pauillac town, in the small village of Bages. The 90 hectares of wine fields (Red: Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 15%, Cabernet Franc 10%) lies on deep gravel beds above limestone. For the red, the fermentation is temperature controlled with extensive ‘reassembly’ to ensure concentration and depth of color. A special piping system transfers the wine from the cubes to the own barrier (60% new) where it matures for 15 months.

Lynch Bakes can be surprisingly soft and accessible when they are young. But when fully ripe, it develops a juicy richness and a celestial bouquet with mintful blackcurrants and cigarette boxes. As Oz Clarke says, “Lynch Bages is impressive in five years, beautiful in ten years and irresistible in twenty years.”