Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac

Famous winery producing excellent red and white wines, including a Grand Cru Classé, in the heart of the Médoc

featured in Vineyards & Estates Updated 8 December 2017

Their success as great wine producers took off in 1945. They produce famous red vintages, as well as an AOC Bordeaux white wine and another red wine under the AOC Pauillac. Their main grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Although there are records of the Bages territory as far back as the 16th century, the history of wine production in the area really began in the 18th century. From 1749 to 1824, the vineyard was owned by Thomas Lynch, the son of an Irishman from Galway who worked as a merchant in Bordeaux. He managed the land wisely and produced high quality wines under the name of ''Cru de Lynch''. As part of the prestigious 1855 Classification, for the Exposition Universelle de Paris, his wine would soon be classified as one of the fifth growths. In the 1930's, General Félix de Vial, a descendant of the Cayrou family which then had the estate, leased the vineyard to Jean-Charles Cazes, ancestor of the current owners.

Lynch-Bages' old vat-house represents a rare example of traditional winemaking equipment the Médoc area. Its slatted flooring which introduced the advantages of gravitational design now used in modern vat-houses, was invented by Skawinski in 1850. The vat-house is open for visits and will transport you to another era.

When to come

The estate is open to visitors 7 days a week upon appointment. Visits are followed by a tasting of Château Lynch-Bages and Echo de Lynch-Bages. They open 9:30-13:00 and 14:00-18:30.