2018 Haut Bages Averous

The 2018 Echo De Lynch-Bages checks in as a mix of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was brought up all in once-used French oak. It has a grand vin tech-sheet with 13.9% alcohol, 3.57 pH, and a massive IPT of 87. Deep purple-hued, with a great nose of blackcurrants, scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered monster of a mid-palate, and silky tannins. It's stunning juice all the way, and given its wealth of material and texture, it's drinkable today, yet smart money will hide bottles for 5-7 years, and it's going to evolve for 20 years or more. It's an incredible second wine.

The 2018 Echo de Lynch Bages is an attractive, fruity wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. Sweet red berries, blood orange, mint, spice and pomegranate are nicely pushed forward in this attractive, lithe Pauillac. A few hours of air does wonders here.

The 2018 Echo de Lynch Bages is matured for 12 months in one-year-old oak, as usual. I find this much more restrained and better defined on the nose compared directly with the Verso de Haut-Batailley, offering pure blackberry and cassis fruit laced with minerals and pressed violets. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, layers of slightly toasty black fruit laced with tobacco and black pepper, and a fine, cohesive finish. A little denser in style for Echo, but well-crafted, and it should give 12 to 15 years of drinking pleasure.