2023 Château Larrivet Haut Brion

The cabernet comes through in this, with medium body, fine tannins and cassis, currant bush and rose petal notes. Smooth finish. (04/2024)

I continue to love this estate, and their 2023 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion looks to be terrific. Sporting a deep ruby/purple hue as well as gorgeous aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, scorched earth, graphite, and smoky tobacco, it’s medium-bodied, beautifully pure, and flawlessly balanced, with integrated acidity and tannins. It's going to need just a few years of bottle age and evolve for 15 years or more. Tasted twice. The 2023 is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, aging in 92% new barrels and 8% in amphora. (05/2024)

The 2023 Larrivet Haut-Brion is deep garnet-purple in color. It is a little subdued to start off, soon breaking out to reveal bright notes of redcurrant jelly and black raspberries, followed by suggestions of bay leaves and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate is chock-full of crunchy black and red fruit flavors, with a grainy texture and nice tension, finishing on a fragrant earth note. The blend is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Merlot. The Merlot component was vinified with stems and is aging in amphorae, while the remainder is aging in French oak barriques, all new. (05/2024)