April 4, 2024 - Popped and poured at the Tavern House in Newport Beach. Very smooth and balanced. Drinks very well for a young Bordeaux. Will buy more.
March 1, 2024 - (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 14.5%) Rubinrot und mit floraler Nase, ein Gedicht, man könnte stundenlang schnuppern, dunkle Frucht, kühl, majestätisch und mit feiner Pfefferwürze. Im Auftakt gradlinig, bereits zugänglich, vertikal, dicht und dennoch hochelegant, feinste Gerbstoffe, saftige Säure, trotz seiner Dichte wirkt der Wein nicht schwerfällig. Sehr lang und mit einem Mix aus roten und dunklen Beeren sowie Süssholz im Rückaroma. Verführerisch. bis 2042 (Januar 2024)
January 7, 2024 - The 2019 iteration of Larrivet-Haut-Brion is a deep ruby blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 months in French oak barriques (40% new). This particular bottle was Vinturi-decanted and allowed one hour in carafe prior to serially tasting over the ensuing three hours. Intensely aromatic and flavorful, it delivers a ripe package of black currant and dark bramble fruit, framed with notes of licorice, mulling spices, bittersweet chocolate, pipe tobacco and loamy earth. Medium-to-full-bodied and with excellent freshness, it is integrating its alcohol (14.5%), wood and medium-weight tannins fairly well at this early stage. Layered in the middle and lengthy on the back end, this is a well-crafted Bordeaux with plenty of life ahead. If you can resist, give it a couple of more years in the cellar. If not, give it at least an hour of air after decanting. Enclosed with a Diam 30 cork. Drink 2026-2044.
August 23, 2023 - Black currant, mint, florals, tobacco and ground pepper on the nose. The texture has a Chilean Cab feel: Concentrated and very sweet on the palate (cassis), with abundant tannins (hinting at charcoal) to support. The alcohol is too prominent for my liking, but I believe most drinkers would not mind. Herbal and fruity finish. Drink now - 2030.
Retasted February 2024: The sensation of fruit sweetness has increased, but otherwise my notes are consistent. Unfortunately, it lacks freshness: I very much prefer the 2021 Fries Terrassen Pinot Noir that I taste next to it.
December 3, 2022 - UGC 2019 Singapore (Singapore): Medium (-) body, good freshness, a touch of oak, good length
November 23, 2022 - Château Larrivet Haut-Brion uit Graves-Pessac-Léognan is eigendom van de familie Gervoson en vandaag is het directeur Bruno Lemoine die er de cru naar de hoogste plaats binnen de appelatie brengt. Deze wijn wordt gemaakt van een combinatie van overwegend
October 8, 2022 - Medium-bodied, elegant, soft, silky, vibrant, and floral, the cherries and plums are sweet, balanced, and fresh, with a black raspberry and tobacco leaf note in the finish. Drink from 2022-2042.
March 15, 2022 - Amsterdam UGCB Tasting (Beurs van Berlage): Good ripe fruit, bright tannins, spices and a creamy texture, slightly green on the grippy finish.
January 13, 2022 - 94 vvPunkte (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 14.5%. Verkostet im Dezember 2021 in Windisch) Die Nase ist eine kleine Droge, super duftig, mit vielen floralen Noten, etwas kühler Rauch, weisser Pfeffer, dunkle Beerenfrucht. Im Auftakt zugänglich, rund, wird dann rasch straffer, zeigt seine Struktur, die Gerbstoffe sind feinkörnig, die Säure belebt, der Wein hat Körper, eine reife Frucht und viel Eleganz, hallt im Abgang sehr lange nach. Wow, was für ein bezaubernder Larrivet Haut-Brion. Ausgezeichnet gelungen. 2023-2040 vvWine.ch
November 15, 2021 - Arvi Bordeaux 2019 Arrivage (Dolder Grand, Zurich): Tasting of 25 wines (2 whites, 3 sweet, no first growths) at a Bordeaux 2019 in the bottle event. My observations were: i/ the tannic structure was soft and well-integrated across the board, ii/ the fruit was generally fresh and light with no heavy-handed extractions, iii/ Top wines were Client (97), Léoville Barton (96) and Smith Haut Lafitte (96). More thoughts and list of wines included in the tasting story.
Tasting note:
Intense with lots of depth. Very earthy but also with floral elements. A firm structure, nice and fruity but with limited complexity.