Echo de Lynch-Bages 2017 offers a fresh, elegant expression of Pauillac in a challenging but ultimately successful vintage. A blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (74%), this second wine from Château Lynch-Bages is marked by bright red fruits, subtle herb and earth notes, and fine, approachable tannins. Medium-bodied and lightly oaked, it balances juicy plum and currant flavors with refreshing acidity and a savoury finish—ready to drink now or age over the next decade.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 93
Published: Dec 19, 2019

A juicy red with plums and currants and hints of fresh herbs. Medium body. Lightly velvety with pretty fruit character at the end. A blend of 74% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. Second wine of Château Lynch-Bages. Drink now or hold.

Decanter | D 91
Published: Apr 9, 2018
Drink: 2024-2036

Tight and bright, not as luscious as Lacoste Borie or even Ormes, but very good. It's well placed but a touch austere. No new oak. 50hl/ha yields, so no issues with frost.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 12.92%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon 24% Merlot

The Wine Advocate | RP 89
Published: Mar 16, 2020
Drink: 2020-2030

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Echo de Lynch Bages has a rather earthy nose of truffles and damp soil over a core of baked plums, boysenberries and warm cassis. Medium-bodied, the palate features a chewy backbone and just enough black fruits, with an earthy finish.

Lynchbages.com

The story behind the name…

On Mount Olympus… According to Greek mythology, Zeus – a sometimes fickle husband – entrusted the nymph Echo with distracting his wife Hera by engaging her in endless chatter when he wished to tarry with some beautiful mortal. Hera, on discovering this little game, pronounced sentence on the nymph with the following words: “You will never be the first to speak, but you will always have the last word”. Echo’s life had changed forever, but that is another story…

Back in Bordeaux… Château Haut-Bages Averous is a property in Pauillac, acquired some time ago by André Cazes. For over 30 years, it was Lynch-Bages’ second wine. In 2008, a new identity was given to the second wine, under the name “Echo de Lynch-Bages”.

Echo de Lynch-Bages displays savoury aromas of fresh red fruits. Round, mellow and seductive in its youth, its ability to age is outstanding.

2017
The Magnificent Seven…
While the 2017 vintage began with a very dry winter, temperatures were very mixed, with a very cool January and a rather mild February. Thus, bud break began around March 20th for the earliest Merlots. By mid-April phenological stages were on average ten days ahead of 2016, similar to the vintage of 2014.

The last two weeks of April saw two episodes of heavy morning frost in the Bordeaux vineyard. However, thanks to the proximity of the Estuary, our red grapes were not affected and produced satisfactory yields.

The first flowers appeared ten days earlier than the average dates recorded over the past twenty years, and flowering and fruit set occurred in very favourable conditions. Early summer saw high temperatures while water stress became apparent, notably on the gravelly soils. However, this phenomenon was attenuated with the return of rain at the end of June.

The summer of 2017 particularly dry, relatively sunny but quite cool despite sporadic peaks in temperature, confirmed that the vintage would continue its early development through to harvest. Indeed, harvest took place between 18 September and 5 October, one week earlier than in 2016. Echo de Lynch-Bages 2017 has a brilliant colour and displays lovely purplish-blue garnet hues. Attractive savoury aromas on the nose, transpose into a rich and elegant palate of fresh red fruits (redcurrant and raspberry). Fine tannins combine with refreshing acidity to provide a very nice long finish.

Ageing
12 MONTHS
One-year-old barrels

Blend
74%cabernet sauvignon
24%merlot
2%cabernet franc