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.
95 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)
The 2020 Larrivet Haut-Brion is a powerful, dark wine marked by strong Cabernets that lend tons of aromatic presence and sheer density. This virile, explosive Pessac-Léognan packs quite the punch. Blackberry, gravel, licorice and grilled herbs are some of the notes that build in this deep, expansive wine. Superb.
94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2023)
This estate, at the top of its game, has produced a structured wine with great berry fruits and a good future. A series of impressive tannins are fully integrated into the wine's freshness. Drink from 2026.
94 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Apr 2023)
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.
94 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Mar 2023)
The 2020 Larrivet Haut-Brion bursts with aromas of red berries, vine smoke, orange rind and petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively and complete palate built around powdery tannins and vibrant fruit flavors. The team employed some whole bunch for their old vine Cabernet Franc this year, and the results are excellent. This is an impressively vibrant, harmonious wine from this address.
93 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)
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.
93 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2023)
Thoroughly enjoyable Larrivet Haut-Brion, firm tannins, leather and liqourice, blackberry and cassis fruits, silky smooth texture, this is good qualilty and confident. Interesting ageing here, with 100% new oak for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and entirely amphora for Merlot, 28hl/h yield.
93 points, Jane Anson (Feb 2023)
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. Cool, crushed stone element gives freshness and expanse. Really quite juicy, though also lean on the palate. Not hugely wide, more vertical in depth, with tons of freshness, mintiness and spice however, the acidity is there and the tannins are fine. Just remains quite focused and sleek with a cool blue fruit edge and lots of salty minerality that lingers on the finish. Well worked, needs more time.
93 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2023)
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