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Cinquième Grand Cru
Classé en 1855 Pauillac Second Vin: Château
Haut-Bages
Averous Autre vin:
Blanc
de Lynch-Bages Le Vignoble 90 hectares I &endash; HISTORY I &endash; 1. The origins I &endash; 2. The Lynch family I &endash; 3. The Cazes family II &endash; VINEYARD AND VINES II &endash; 1. Vineyard p.3 II &endash; 2. Wines III &endash; VINIFICATION
I - HISTORY Château Lynch-Bages was owned by the Lynch family for three quarters of a century. They descended from John Lynch, a young Irishman from Galway who was chased out of his country in 1691. In the 18th century, Count Jean-Baptiste Lynch, mayor of Bordeaux, inherited the estate and handed over management to his brother Michel Lynch, who was also mayor of Pauillac during the French Revolution. Jean-Charles Cazes, highly respected in the Médoc for his experience in viticulture and winemaking, bought the property in 1934. With his son André, he devoted all his energy to Lynch-Bages for more than 35 years. In 1974, his grand-son Jean-Michel Cazes set about restructuring and managing the estate and recently, in 2006, handed over the running of the property to his son Jean-Charles.
I &endash; 1. The Origins
Situated at the gates of Pauillac, overlooking the Gironde estuary from the crest of one of the most beautiful gravel ridges of the commune, the vineyards lie on gravelly slopes situated on the south and south west extremities of the town. The cellars and other buildings of the chateau are about 500 yards from Pauillac, and are clearly visible from the "route du vin". Lynch-Bages takes a part of its name from the very ancient hamlet of Bages. The old "Domaine de Bages" seems to have existed within the same boundaries since the 16th century (the oldest descriptive documents conserved today date back to the beginning of the 18th century). It belonged for exactly three quarters of a century (1749-1824) to the Lynch family.
I &endash; 2. The Lynch Family
John Lynch, distant descendant of Hugo de Lynch, comrade of William the conqueror, was of a catholic family established in Ireland in the 12th century. One of the Galway fourteen "Tribes", the Lynch has known through the centuries how to reach the most important positions in the city, in the history of which the family played an important part. Like many of Galway citizens, John Lynch settled at Bordeaux, a town a little like his own - a port and important business center. He became a well known merchant, and married in 1709 a local beauty who gave him two sons, Thomas and Jean-Arthur. In 1740, Thomas Lynch married Elisabeth, daughter of Pierre Drouillard, Trésorier Général de Guyenne and proprietor of the Bages estate.
At the death of Pierre Drouillard in 1749, the Bages property went naturally, to Elisabeth and Thomas Lynch. They in turn gave it to their son Jean-Baptiste, at his marriage in 1779.Jean-Baptiste Lynch was a personnality. Count of the Empire in 1810, later "Pair de France", he was mayor of Bordeaux in 1809. Often absent of Bordeaux and absorbed in public life, Count Lynch soon handed his property over to his brother Michael, who lived in Pauillac and became mayor of the town in 1797. Michael Lynch remained responsible for the Bages estate, up until 1824, where it was sold to Sebastien Jurine, a wine merchant from Geneva recently settled in Bordeaux. Thus, it was the property of fhe Bordeaux branch of the Lynch family, over a period of 75 years, from 1749 to 1824.
I &endash; 3. The Cazes family
Lynch-Bages remained with the Jurine and eventually the Cayrou family until it was taken over by Jean-Charles Cazes in 1934. Jean-Charles Cazes was known for his experience in wine making - also owner of Château Les Ormes De Pez in Saint-Estephe - he put all of his energy into managing his properties during 35 years. He is at the origin of the widespread reputation of Lynch-Bages' wines. In 1972, when he died at the age of 95, his son André Cazes took over the management of the property and was soon after joined by his grandson Jean-Michel Cazes. Since 2006, a new generation, led by Sylvie Cazes- Régimbeau and Jean-Charles Cazes, has been looking after the future of the property.
I - VINEYARD AND WINES
II &endash; 1. Vineyard
The Lynch-Bages estate (90 hectares) is located just outside the city of Pauillac, overlooking the Gironde estuary, on one of the most beautiful gravelly plateau in the appellation. The well-drained soil consists mainly of Garonne gravel. The sub-soil (marl, chalk, and thick clay-sand gravel, or hardpan) forms a solid, but fairly disjointed foundation, enabling the roots of old vines to grow to a depth of 6-8 metres. The average age of the vineyard is about 30 to 35 years. The plantation is traditional and characterized by a high density level of 9.000 vine-stocks / hectare.
The Lynch-Bages vineyard which is amazingly homogeneous, is the focus of much careful attention: short pruning, green harvesting, thinning-out, hand-picking with highly selective sorting.
II &endash; 2. Wines Château Lynch-Bages 90 hectares
Lynch-Bages is aged in French oak barrels, 70 % of which are renewed each year. True to the signature characteristics of their appellation, the wines of Lynch-Bages are well known for their complexity, and combine elegance with a powerful structure. Their suppleness allows them to be drunk after a few years, but they will also age well over the years.
III &endash; VINIFICATION Jean-Michel Cazes started renovating the whole property in 1974. In respecting the qualitative traditions of the appellation, new methods have been adopted and perfected in both the cellar and the vines. The property has been provided with first class modern equipment, but the old 19th century vat room, a memory and witness to the wine-making of times gone by, has been maintained intact.
1998 : Robe très sombre et profonde. Nez puissant de fruits rouges mûrs et de bois neuf. Attaque grasse et structure tannique importante avec des tanins présents mais fondus. Très grande persistance en bouche : un grand vin très prometteur.
1999 : Les vins de Lynch-Bages 1999 sont caractérisés par un fruit éclatant. Le premier vin est constitué de 73% de Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% de Cabernet Franc, 15% de Merlot et 2% de Petit Verdot. Les indices de tannins sont aussi élevés qu'en 1998 d'un point de vue analytique mais leur texture est beaucoup plus ronde. Les vins sont riches |
