Echo Lych Bages 21

Pauillac's favorite second act. Echo de Lynch-Bages is the junior wine of Château Lynch-Bages — the beloved Fifth Growth the Cazes family has run since 1939 — drawn from the estate's younger vines and raised with the same care, about a quarter to forty percent of each harvest. In the cool, classic 2021 vintage the blend flipped unusually Merlot-forward (56% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon), then spent 12 months in one-year-old barrels straight from the grand vin — and the result is Pauillac charm on fast-forward: black currant, black cherry, chocolate, and cedar with earth and bay leaf underneath, medium-bodied with polished tannins and a creamy, vivid texture. James Suckling gave it 93, Wine Spectator 91. Drinking beautifully now through the early 2030s — decant an hour and serve with steak frites, lamb, or a good burger you want to feel fancy about.

Wine Details:

Grapes: 56% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: Approx. 13.5% — confirm from label

Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Farming / Practices: Hand-harvested from the younger vines of Château Lynch-Bages; aged 12 months in one-year-old barrels from the grand vin

Producer: Château Lynch-Bages — Cazes family, Fifth Growth (1855)

Bottle Size: 750ml