Echo de Lynch Bages 2020 Pauillac

96pts James Suckling, 94pts Jeb Dunnuck

While officially ranked as a Fifth Growth in the 1855 hierarchy, this Pauillac estate has spent decades outperforming its designation, earning a reputation among collectors as a "Super Second" in all but name. For many years, Lynch-Bages was celebrated as one of the greatest values in Bordeaux, offering a depth and power that rivaled the First Growths at a fraction of the cost. However, as global demand has surged, the price of the Grand Vin has ascended to reflect its elite status, moving it out of the "steal" category for many casual enthusiasts.

Fortunately, the Cazes family applies the same exacting standards and technical precision to their second label, Echo de Lynch-Bages. The 2020 vintage of Echo is a particularly remarkable achievement, as it was the first to be vinified in the estate’s state-of-the-art, gravity-fed cellar. This technical advancement, combined with an exceptional growing season, has produced a wine that possesses the classic Pauillac hallmarks of graphite, cedar, and dense black fruit. It carries the pedigree of its older sibling while offering an accessibility and price point that harkens back to the days when Lynch-Bages was the best-kept secret in the Médoc.