Château Larrivet Haut-Brion 2020

A fruity and elegant red wine from Graves

The estate

Superbly located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is a brilliant estate in the south of Bordeaux. The estate experienced a true renaissance following its acquisition in 1987 by the Gervoson family, who work with passion and enthusiasm to produce wines of character and great elegance.

The vineyard

From 17 hectares of vines in 1987, the Château Larrivet Haut-Brion vineyard has grown to 75 hectares in a few years following the acquisition of new plots and new plantations. The vineyard is located on the middle terrace of Graves de Bordeaux. The soils here are gravelly, clayey and sandy. The outcroppings of gravel enjoy superb exposure and great drainage.

The vintage

The earliest vintage in the past ten years, 2020 began with a mild and rainy winter, favouring bud break three weeks early and an accelerated growth of the vegetation in the spring. The frost of March 27 damaged the buds and impacted the yields of the whites. While heavy rainfall marked the period between late May and early June, the particularly hot month of July was followed by a very dry month of August. The deep rooting of the vines, which are 40 years old on average, coupled with regular ploughing, have made it possible to fight against severe water stress. The lenient weather conditions at the end of August and the beginning of September allowed for the harvest of perfectly ripe grapes in good sanitary condition, 3 weeks in advance, which is a record in the history of the property.

The blend

The Château Larrivet Haut-Brion 2020 is made from a blend of cabernet sauvignon (58%), merlot (29%) and cabernet franc (13%).

The tasting

Nose

The nose combines subtle fragrances of black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry) with aromas of juicy red fruits.

Palate

Gourmet and balanced, the palate seduces with its silky feel and its delicate expression of each grape that makes up the blend.

While Merlot imparts intense fruity aromas, the elegance and freshness of Cabernet Franc mingle with the supple and delicate tannic structure characteristic of Cabernet Sauvignon.