Echo De Lynch Bages 2018 (750ML)

94 JD / 93 JA / 92 VM / 93-94 JS / 90-92+ WA / 16.5 JR

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. - Jeb Dunnuck

Even in a vintage as generous as 2018, the main Pauillacs are a long way away from being ready, so if you are wanting to look at this appellation now, think about the 2nd wines. You get plenty of graphite and cigar box, set against blackberry fruits, crushed mint leaf and pomegranate. Tannins are making their presence felt, but then doesn't that just remind us that we're in Pauillac? No new oak. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

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.- Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Very layered and dense second wine of Lynch this year. Medium to full body, juicy fruit and polished and chewy tannins. Will need time. - James Suckling

There is clear Pauillac typicity here – you're certainly getting a lot of bang for your buck with Echo in 2018. The tannins are pronounced with weight and shoulders that power the autumnal fruits and black pepper spicing through the palate. No new oak was used and yet the concentration from the fruit itself seems more than enough.

Composed of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and without any new oak, the very deep purple-black colored 2018 Echo de Lynch Bages rolls seductively out of the glass with fragrant notes of candied violets, rose hip tea and fragrant soil over a core of crushed blackberries, warm blackcurrants and kirsch plus wafts of chocolate mint and crushed rocks. Full, rich, wonderfully concentrated and well structured, it has a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

Inky core with bright purple rim. Sweeter on the nose than the Haut-Batailley just tasted. Cassis and a touch of blueberry. Rounded and smooth but less pretty than the Haut-Batailley Verso, perhaps more long-lived. - Jancis Robinson