Château Lynch Bages is named after the Irish immigrant Thomas Lynch who inherited a vineyard in the Bages village from his wife Elizabeth in 1749. The year is also the beginning mark of Château Lynch-Bages. Since 1938 the estate has been owned by Gazes family. Jean Charles Gazes, formerly an insurance brocker, became interested in winemaking caused by the close professional contact to the winemakers community and with course of time evolved to an excellent winemaker. He is seen as the reason for the success at Lynch-Bages. Gazes' successors inherited his anxious enterpreneurial spirit. A further chapter in this success story added the joint venture with financial giant insurance concern AXA. Such celebrated Châteaus as Pichon Baron or Suduiraut belong in the common portfolio of the two enterprises. Since 2006 Gazes' son Jean-Chales has been co-working at the estate. The area is planted with 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine matures in barrels which are renewed to 60% each vintage. The wines at Lynch-Bages are distinguished for their elegance and opulence; they are qualitatively better than their 5èmé Crù Classè ranking.