A few words from Jean-Charles Cazes, co-owner at Château Lynch Bages, on the 2019 vintage.
The 2019 growing season was incredibly dry and hot. How did you cope with the drought and heat spikes and other climatic pressures during the growing season?
Green pruning was ongoing in order to limit the risks of hydric stress and in particular scalding.
How would you define the 2019 growing season in a few words?
The 2019 growing season was quite mixed: cool and relatively humid until 15 June, followed by warm and dry weather conditions. These conditions were highly beneficial for the grapes, and more particularly for the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Can you tell us about the specific blend you used for the 2019 vintage?
The blend for the 2019 vintage of the Grand Vin is classical, in line with previous vintages. It is mostly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, with roughly 20% of Merlot and a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
How did you work up to final blend?
Numerous tastings occurred, starting just after the harvest, (every vat is tasted) until the end of the malolactic fermentation. We also keep a complete history of each of our plots up to date.
What has been the reaction so far to the final blend? And can you describe it for us?
The 2019 vintage has a deep garnet colour with purple hues, and reflects the maturity of the grape varieties in its blend. The wine has a very aromatic nose of fresh black fruit. On tasting, it offers a supple and powerful attack. It has a rich structure and harmonious tannins that reveal freshness and strength with a beautiful length.
What do you feel has had the biggest effect on the final taste profile of the 2019 vintage?
The particularly sunny weather conditions after veraison and during maturation.
What is the most distinct element that makes the wines different to other neighbouring Châteaux?
The terroir… and the people making the wine!
How does 2019 compare to other vintages?
From a phenology point of view, it is similar to 2014; from a general point of view and also similar to the final stages of 2010.
Would you share an exceptional fact about the 2019 season?
It is important to point out that Bordeaux faced excessive rainfall from the end of October to the beginning of December 2018 (approximately 500mm of water in less than 3 months). In other words, the equivalent of half a year’s worth of rainfall. This was highly beneficial for the soils and helped the vegetation to grow despite the drought that followed during the summer.
For several years now, Bordeaux has been undergoing a major ecological / environmental transition with sustained investment in sustainability across the region. What is the Château doing to find that balance between productivity and sustainability?
We have a global reflection on the wine activity, the implementation of an environmental policy, being part of the Environmental Management System (EMS) since 2015 (in 2017, we received the HEV2 certification and since 2018, we have reached the HEV3 certification).
The future winery, still under construction, will also meet new environmental standards.
Read the full report: Bordeaux 2019 A Vintage Preview