Château Larrivet Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan rouge 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

In the heart of Léognan, this beautiful 75-hectare estate was bought in 1987 by Philippe Gervoson, also head of the Andros company. It produces modern-style wines, with flattering, vinous reds, while the whites have become much more full-bodied and precise. The arrival of Bruno Lemoine as managing director in 2007, winemaker of the famous 1990 Montrose (among others), has enabled the cru to assert even more personality. The reds are undeniably charming but not without elegance, and have great ageing potential. The whites, in much the same vein, are aromatically exuberant, powerful and endowed with incredible personality. A sure bet for the appellation.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Owned by the Gervoson family (Andros Group), this estate consistently produces pleasant, accessible wines, distinguished by their aromatic exuberance. Boasting a beautiful terroir on the heights of Léognan, not far from Haut-Bailly and La Louvière, the cru also benefits from modern winemaking facilities with a brand-new concrete vat room. Bruno Lemoine, director since 2007, and François Gaudichon, cellar master since 2015, bring an extra degree of precision to the stylistic definition of the wines.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Black fruit and tannins come together well in this structured wine. The fruit is succulent, with acidity and freshness in the aftertaste that combine well. Still young, this wine should be ready from 2026.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

Larrivet Haut-Brion 2018 has become a magnificent wine. There's a lot of tannin I've seen in my barrel tastings, yet all the elements are so well balanced today. Iron, cedar, dried herbs, licorice, dried flowers and mint add savory nuances to this deceptively medium-bodied Pessac-Léognan. Larrivet Haut-Brion is one of the vintage's most distinctive reds. 2024 - 2038

James Suckling

About the wine:

On the nose, spicy cherry, blackcurrant, dried oyster, black olive and bark. Medium- to full-bodied, with firm, unctuous tannins. Smooth and aromatic, with a savory, mineral finish. Best from 2023.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Large 61-hectare estate owned by Christine and Philippe Gervoson. Aged in 30% new barrels, 30% one-wine barrels, 20% foudre and 10% amphora. Beautiful fruity intensity in this bouquet. Notes of strawberry and raspberry. Pleasant varietal freshness and elegant, slightly vanilla woodiness. Slight sweetness on the attack, making the wine delicious and pleasant. Freshness and fruit are also well represented on the mid-palate. Tight tannins and a racy acid structure underline the aromatic intensity of the finish. 2022-2035

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity, aromatic and offers intensity, a little concentration/power, complexity as well as harmony and power (in finesse and control). Notes of violets, wild berries and, more lightly, crushed wild raspberry are combined with hints of crushed blackcurrant, white flowers, sweet spices, nutmeg and a very discreet hint of chocolate/toast/caramel. The palate is fruity, juicy and well-balanced, with a fine, acidic structure, tension (with finesse), elegance and a lovely finesse of grain, a lovely finesse of suavity, a little airiness despite a little density. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/full-bodied blackcurrant, small crushed black berries and, more lightly, fleshy raspberry, combined with hints of blueberry, lilac, licorice stick and chocolate, as well as a very fine seductive edge, discreet hints of cardamom, graphite and sweet tobacco. The tannins are well-balanced, elegant and fine. Good length. A very fine hint of tonka bean on the persistence.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

A fresh, round, lush, polished, energetic, tobacco-filled wine, with elegant, silky textures and layers of perfectly polished red fruits lightly tinged with tobacco leaves. This is clearly the best vintage of Larrivet Haut Brion I've ever tasted! It should easily offer 2 decades of pleasure.