Jean-Michel Cazes, the charismatic owner of Château Lynch-Bages received Vinomaniac.tv in Pauillac, just a few weeks before harvest 2009. During a fascinating interview, this passionate defender of Pauillac wines shared his remarkable knowledge of the history of the region and the château.
The 100 ha of vines owned by the château surround the winery and the few old building that form the heart of the village of Bages and that Jean-Michel Cazes has undertaken to revive. The vineyards are dominantly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, a grape that finds its most intense expression on the slopes of Pauillac. The "graves", these white pebbles that form in the soils of the area contribute to the maturity of the grapes and to the finesse of the wines. The proximity of the Gironde also influences the quality of the wines.
The winery is relatively modern, simply efficient and miles away from the spaceship style wineries that are also found in the area. The main interest in the cellars is represented by the 2000 or so carefully aligned oak barrels. The origin of the different oaks, the various coopers are all selected with tremendous care to compose the signature oak style that marks the wines in their prime years.
Another matter of interest at Lynch-Bages is the antique winery that has been restored after the new installations were completed in 1975. The old winery is like a unique trip into the past. The old instruments, made of wood and steel are still in display. Jean-Michel Cazes vividly remembers how wines were made in that time. He was actually the one who modernized the whole production instrument.
The "Grand Vin" of Lynch-Bages was classified as a 5th Grand Cru or Growth in the 1855 famous ranking of Bordeaux wines. Today, Château Lynch-Bages is still a 5th growth but the wines sells at a price similar to these of the Second Growths. Always a philosopher, Jean-Michel Cazes simply considers that the professional and the consumers have recognized the consistent improvements in the wines since 1855.
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The proximity of the Gironde also influences the quality of the wines.
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white pebbles that form in the soils of the area contribute to the maturity of the grapes and to the finesse of the wines