Château Lynch-Bages is the classed growth wine lovers reach for when they want the taste of great Pauillac without the top-tier price. Ranked a Fifth Growth in 1855, it has long been treated as a super fifth, a wine that drinks well above its station and rarely disappoints.
The Cazes family and the rise of a super fifth
The estate has belonged to the Cazes family since 1939, and its modern reputation was built by Jean-Michel Cazes, who took charge in 1973 and spent decades reworking the vineyards and cellars. The vines sit on the Bages plateau just south of Pauillac village, on the deep gravel that gives the finest Bordeaux its backbone. Consistency is the hallmark here: even in tricky years Lynch-Bages tends to deliver, which is why it is one of the safest buys in the Médoc.
A rich, Cabernet-led style, plus Echo and the white
The grand vin is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend, usually around 70 per cent, fleshed out with Merlot and a little Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Expect generous cassis and dark plum, cedar and tobacco, and a plush texture that makes it approachable young yet able to age for twenty years or more. The second wine, Echo de Lynch-Bages, comes mainly from younger vines and carries more Merlot, so it drinks earlier and gives a gentler way into the house style. There is also the rare Blanc de Lynch-Bages, first made in 1990 from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle, and one of the first whites from a Médoc classed growth. For more in this vein, browse our wider red wine range.
Château Lynch-Bages FAQ
Why is Lynch-Bages called a super fifth?
It was ranked a Fifth Growth in 1855, but the quality and price now sit closer to the second growths, and on the secondary market it often trades at that higher level. That gap between rank and reality is where the nickname comes from.
Should I drink Lynch-Bages young or cellar it?
The generous fruit makes it enjoyable after five or six years, but a strong vintage will keep improving for two decades. Echo de Lynch-Bages is the one to open sooner.
What food suits Lynch-Bages?
Reach for roast lamb, rib of beef or duck. The Cabernet tannin and dark fruit cut through rich, savoury dishes and stand up to a well-seared steak.