THE VINEYARD
GRAPE VARIETIES
The red wine vineyard of Lynch-Bages extends across a homogeneous soil and subsoil of deep Garonne gravel. Early yielding, scantly fertile and well drained, these soils are particularly favourable for Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
In the plots located along the river and the Gaët channel, the Garonne gravel soil is associated with clayey subsoil, more specifically suitable for Merlot.
There is also a small part of the vineyard of predominantly sandy gravel, ideally suited for growing Cabernet Franc, which helps to yield lighter, aromatic and nicely rounded wines.
This analysis of the characteristics of the terroir, recorded during the planting of the varietals, has made it possible to identify an optimal planting. It is now composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The average age of the vines is about 30 years old, with the oldest vines over 60 years old.
The white wine vineyard, planted on 6 hectares, is located to the west, a bit further from the estuary in a cooler area, protected from ocean winds through the sandy Medoc Landes forest. Its clayey gravel soil resting upon a limestone base gives the wines freshness and finesse and promotes aromatic complexity. The white wine vineyard, with vines 20 years old on average, is composed of 53% Sauvignon, 32% Semillon and 15% Muscadelle.