Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac, 5th classified growth, Bordeaux, 2009
"The power and elegance of a great Pauillac"
Bold and innovative, known for often being the last to harvest, the distinctive and typical character of the wine places it among the great Pauillac. It combines structure, finesse, and elegance. Generous from its youth, it evolves in its maturity towards more flavors and complexity.
Jean-Charles Cazes defines the style of Lynch-Bages in the 1930s.
Tasting
Shiny, deep color. Notes of blackcurrant and dark fruits. The attack is bold and creamy, and the fleshy tannins assert themselves with their density and finesse.
Wine service
-
To decant
-
Temperature: 16-17°C
-
Peak : 2013 - 2042
International experts' reviews
-
Robert Parker 96/100
- Gilbert & Gaillard 97/100
-
Jeff Leeve 95/100
-
Jancis Robinson 18.5/20
-
Jean Marc Quarin 94/100
Technical characteristics
-
Estate: Chateau Lynch-Bages
-
Classification: 5th growth
-
Type: Red wine
-
Country: France
-
Region: Bordeaux
-
Sub-region: Médoc
-
Appellation: AOC Pauillac 5th classified growth
-
Vintage: 2009
-
Grapes: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
-
Terroirs: Garonne gravels
-
Harvesting : manual with selective sorting in the vineyard
-
Aging : in oak barrels for 15 months (70% new wood)
-
Viticulture: traditional and careful
- Alcohol : 13.5%
-
Format: 75 cl bottle
About the 2009 vintage
« Under the sun exactly… »
From the beginning of the year, the climatic conditions proved particularly favorable for the vegetative cycle of the vine and the maturation of the grapes.
July and August were marked by generous sunshine and high temperatures. This perfect weather continued in September under beautiful sunshine with a mix of cool nights and warm days.
For the first time, thanks to satellite photographs, we are making intra-parcel cuttings based on the maturity of the grapes.
The harvest started on September 28 and ended on October 12. Rich and opulent, the 2009 vintage presents a high concentration of polyphenols and a high alcohol content.
Very appealing due to the exuberance of its fruit and the maturity of its tannins, it is easy to enjoy young, but it also gathers all the attributes of a vintage for very long aging.
Lynch Bages - Comments from the Château
One of the biggest oversights of the 1855 classification, Château Lynch-Bages takes its revenge every year when numerous tasters see its cuvées well beyond its classification of ... Fifth Grand Cru Classé! Perched on the gravels of the Bages plateau, overlooking the small village of Pauillac, the vines of Lynch-Bages produce very ripe cabernets, recognizable by their deep black ink color. On the palate, the richness, fat, and aromas of jammy black fruits are reminiscent of the best Californian wines. Ultimately, Lynch-Bages remains among the wines of Pauillac a guarantee of power, quality, but above all, pleasure.
History of the Château
Thomas Lynch, a citizen of Galway in Ireland, acquired the property at the end of the 18th century and managed it until 1825, when the Cazes family took over the château.
The wines of the château are already widely appreciated by enthusiasts, but the transfer of power between Lynch and Cazes leads to a temporary drop in quality that earned it an 'unjust' rating in the 1855 classification, where it still finished fifth.
The Cazes family, made up of talented winemakers, who also own Château les Ormes de Pez in Saint Estèphe, faced a difficult challenge in the mid-1970s. The complicated vintages and attempts at new winemaking techniques that were poorly mastered made the 1970s a rather dull decade for the château. Jean Michel Cazes has been managing the estate since 1973, when he settled in Pauillac with his wife. In 1988, Jean-Michel acquired other properties, including Villa Bel-Air in Graves. He then created the JM Cazes selection company, which aims to promote his wines. In addition to being president of the Pauillac winegrowers' union, Jean-Michel is also a director of the Médoc Wine Council. This prominent figure in Bordeaux viticulture is now passing the torch to his children.
Today
The three children of Jean-Michel Cazes now work for the Jean-Michel Cazes company and continue the family winegrowing story, recounted in the book Lynch-Bages & Cie, a family, a wine, and 52 recipes.
The Château Lynch-Bages, for its part, continues to offer us wines of consistent quality. A powerful and full-bodied cabernet, new oak to digest the robust tannins, and little (or no) filtration make up the winning recipe of this estate now known worldwide.
Source : Château Lynch Bages