2004 Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux

The world’s most iconic red grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, is the powerhouse behind some of the greatest wines ever made. Known for its bold structure, deep color, and complex aromatics, this grape has earned its reputation through sheer quality, ageability, and global adaptability. From Bordeaux to California, Tuscany to Coonawarra, Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in diverse terroirs—delivering wines of remarkable character wherever it’s grown.

Pauillac is the aristocrat of the Médoc, home to 75% of the region’s First Growths and with Grand Cru Classés accounting for 84% of Pauillac wine production. Despite its modest, workmanlike townscape, Pauillac is surrounded by one of the greatest concentrations of elite vineyards in Bordeaux, including three of the five First Growths. Wines here are renowned for their structure and longevity.

Our relationship with the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages spans generations. In many ways, they are synonymous with Pauillac – one of the reasons we asked them to make our excellent value Berry’s Own Selection bottling. As for the Grand Vin, it so often defies its fifth growth status that it’s one of the few glaring errors of the 1855 classification. When you consider the location of the vineyards, perfectly situated on a gravel plateau, over limestone, in the small village of Bages, you begin to understand why. We agree wholeheartedly with the inimitable Oz Clarke: “Lynch-Bages is impressive at five years, beautiful at ten years, and irresistible at twenty”. Here we’ve put together a fantastic collection of vintages dating back to 1996 so you can test this for yourself.