Château Larrivet Haut-Brion 2020

Lovely nose of very ripe black fruits, with floral, smoky and cocoa notes. Supple, melting, aromatic palate with a fine grain, silky tannins and plenty of freshness. A charming wine, all velvet and elegance.

the nose is spicy, aromatic and offers depth as well as a certain concentration. We find notes of creamy blackcurrant, strawberry and, more subtly, violet, combined with touches of vanilla, small wild red berries and hints of sweet spices. The palate is juicy, fresh, elegant, tangy, balanced and offers indulgence, tension, a stretched feel, energy, roundness, and lovely juiciness and brightness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of vibrant blackcurrant, crushed cherry and, more subtly, tart small fruits, combined with touches of almost crushed plum as well as hints of nutmeg and fresh blond tobacco. The tannins are supple and sapid.

Quite ripe, with a mix of loganberry, mulberry and plum compote flavors that move through slowly, framed with alder, savory and red tea accents. Everything melds steadily through the finish, picking up red tea and bay leaf hints along the way. A strong effort for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2035. 7,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Such a perfumed nose of roses and violet-edged blackcurrants and plums. Fragrant and alluring. Also bright and floral on the palate, really quite marked with nuance and detail. Lovely expression, it’s not super-ripe or in your face, more delicate yet still quite dark with lots of sticky liquorice and cinnamon edges. A cool, crushed-stone element gives freshness and breadth. Really quite juicy, though also lean on the palate. Not hugely wide, more vertical in depth, with plenty of freshness, mintiness and spice; the acidity is there and the tannins are fine. It stays very focused and sleek with a cool blue-fruit edge and lots of salty minerality that lingers on the finish. Well crafted, needs more time.

Aromas of black cherries and currants with cloves and licorice, some dark chocolate and wet earth. Medium-bodied with an array of ripe, juicy tannins and a chalky texture. Vivid and succulent with dark fruits and a polished finish. Hints of nut shell and iodine at the end. Try after 2024.

The 2020 Larrivet Haut-Brion has an airy nose, quite high-toned black cherry fruit laced with mint, though it lacks a bit of presence compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, slightly herbaceous, easygoing with a relatively lighter finish. Enjoyable, but maybe just missing the sophistication that the season offered.

It is the purity in the fruit, coupled with the wine’s elegant nature, that lies at the core of this wine. Silky, refined, and fresh, the layers of polished red fruits, sweet, ripe, clean cherries, blackberries, and background notes of cocoa, coffee, and spice really come alive on the palate. This is probably the finest vintage of Larrivet Haut Brion I have ever tasted. Drink from 2024–2045.

High ripeness, blackberry, jammed plum, cassis and mint notes with some new oak. Well balanced in a modern and unctuous style, dense and flavour-intense with rounded tannins, fine toasted notes and a long, opulent finish.

The 2020 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is a gorgeous, incredibly satisfying Pessac, and it's certainly up with the finest vintages I've tasted from this estate. It has lots of red, blue, and black fruits as well as ample spice, leafy tobacco, truffle, and smoked earth, and it develops a beautiful sense of complexity and nuance with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shows the vibrant, elegant style of the vintage, has ripe tannins, perfect overall balance, and a great finish. If you love a great Graves, buy a case of this beauty and enjoy over the next two decades. This estate continues to fly too far under the radar for most consumers.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: fragrant, silky, light bouquet, cherries, blackcurrants, mocha. Delicate, fresh palate with sweet fruit, pronounced aromatics, fine tannins, delicate, creamy structure, light finish.

Fragrant, silky, light bouquet, cherries, blackcurrants, mocha. Delicate, fresh palate with sweet fruit, intense aromatics, fine tannins, delicate, creamy texture, light finish. 17/20 2025 - 2038

Thoroughly enjoyable Larrivet Haut-Brion, firm tannins, leather and liquorice, blackberry and cassis fruits, silky-smooth texture; this is good quality and confident. Interesting ageing here, with 100% new oak for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and entirely amphora for Merlot, 28 hl/ha yield.

The 2020 Larrivet Haut-Brion Rouge is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 13% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little shaking to wake up scents of fresh red and black currants followed by hints of clove oil, dried roses, and unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled and light on its feet, with a refreshing backbone and ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and fragrant.

The bouquet of Larrivet Haut Brion 2020 asserts its grandeur right from the start. It stands with composure and reveals many facets. The élevage plays a pivotal aromatic role without dominating, carrying the entire bouquet along. The attack clearly conveys this complexity made up of freshness, gourmandise and breadth. The tannins are powerful, fine, and provide a solid backbone across the palate. A precise, sapid and convincing wine. A great success!

From the outset, this wine charms with a subtle nose of crushed fruit, blackcurrant buds, and raspberry. The beautifully grained tannins sustain the enchantment and support a succulent texture. The whole is pleasing for its coherence. A wine of pure elegance and finesse, very well balanced, graceful, and suited to being enjoyed relatively young or cellared. A sensuality carried through in this vintage—doubtless the estate’s hallmark. Larrivet Haut-Brion confirms it with this very fine wine.