Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

The History of Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

The history of Château Larrivet Haut-Brion dates back to the 19th century. Originally named “Château de Canolle,” then successively “La Rivette” and “Haut-Brion Larrivet,” it took its current name in 1949 after a lengthy legal dispute with the prestigious Château Haut-Brion. In 1987, the estate was acquired by the Gervoson family, well known in the food industry, particularly for the Bonne Maman brand. With passion and rigor, the family undertook a complete renovation of the estate to restore it to its former glory.

The arrival of enologist and general manager Bruno Lemoine in 2007 marked a turning point. Having worked at Château Montrose, he carried out an in-depth study of the soils and began restructuring the vineyard. With the support of consulting enologist Michel Rolland and, later, Stéphane Derenoncourt, the estate adopted modern winemaking techniques and committed to environmentally responsible practices.

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion's Terroirs and Vineyards

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion's 72 hectares lie on gravel and sandy soils characteristic of Bordeaux's middle Graves terrace. These well-drained, well-exposed soils provide ideal conditions for producing wines of great elegance and finesse. The vineyard is divided into blocks, each with specific qualities that contribute to the estate's wines' distinctive expression.

The estate grows mainly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc for its red wines, while Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon predominate among the white varieties. With the red vines averaging 30 years of age and the white vines 25 years, the vineyards benefit from dense planting (7,700 vines per hectare), helping ensure optimal grape quality. 

To preserve biodiversity and adapt to climate challenges, Château Larrivet Haut-Brion has recently adopted vine agroforestry practices. This innovative approach involves planting trees between vine rows to create a protective microclimate and natural ecological corridors. For example, the fast-growing, drought-resistant paulownia is used to improve the resilience of vineyard plots in high temperatures.

Winemaking at Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

Winemaking at Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is meticulously managed to respect the identity of each parcel while bringing out the terroir's aromatic potential. The red wines are vinified parcel by parcel in temperature-controlled concrete tanks, allowing optimal control of fermentation temperatures. Maceration lasts four to five weeks, with regular punch-downs to extract the finest tannins and aromas. The red wines are aged for 14 to 18 months, with one-third of the wine aged in new French oak barrels, adding structure and complexity.

For the white wines, vinification takes place 50% in new French oak barrels, 20% in concrete eggs, and 30% in small 25-hectoliter wooden vats. These methods preserve the freshness and aromatic brightness of the white varieties while adding an elegant texture. The white wines are aged for 10 to 11 months with regular lees stirring to enhance their complexity.

The Cuvées of Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion offers a range of cuvées combining finesse, character, and diversity, qualities fully expressed in every bottle.

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion Rouge

The red fine wine from Château Larrivet Haut-Brion stands out for its deep, intense garnet color and a richly aromatic nose combining notes of ripe dark fruit, roasted coffee, and vanilla from careful aging in French oak barrels. On the palate, it opens with a silky texture and velvety density that develops harmoniously into supple, elegant tannins. Its powerful structure is perfectly balanced by finesse, while its long finish makes it a wine built to age and develop beautifully over the years. This red is an essential choice for those seeking the intensity and depth of Pessac-Léognan's great wines.

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc stands out for its luminous pale yellow color with golden highlights. From the first impression on the nose, it reveals a complex bouquet in which aromas of mandarin, lemon, and pineapple mingle with woody and vanilla notes, the result of carefully balanced vinification in new French oak barrels, concrete eggs, and small wooden vats. The palate is full, rich, and well balanced, expressing both liveliness and roundness. This appealing white wine ends on an elegant, oaky finish and is ideal for those seeking a wine that is both refined and generous, perfect with sophisticated dishes or enjoyed on its own.

These two cuvées, Rouge and Blanc, perfectly embody the identity of Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, combining the traditions of the Pessac-Léognan terroir with subtle modernity.

The vintages of Graves and Pessac-Léognan, two Bordeaux appellations, stand out for their consistent quality. The 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1990 vintages are particularly prized for their finesse and balance. The 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2010 vintages are also remarkable for their structure and aging potential. More recently, the 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 vintages confirm this continued excellence, producing wines that offer both elegance and longevity.

Explore all the Grands Crus Classés of Graves, an appellation renowned for the diversity and quality of its wines. At the top of the list is the 1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé, Château Haut-Brion in Pessac-Léognan, a historic benchmark. For red and white wines, estates such as Château Bouscaut, Château Carbonnieux, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier, Château Latour-Martillac, and Domaine de Chevalier offer compelling cuvées. For reds, you can discover wines from Château Fieuzal, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Latour Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Château Pape-Clément, and Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. White wine lovers can turn to the wines of Château Couhins, Château Couhins Lurton, and Château Laville Haut-Brion. These estates offer you a wide range of wines to discover in the heart of the Graves region.

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is much more than a wine estate; it is a human endeavor and a quest for perfection in which every detail matters. From vine to bottle, the Larrivet Haut-Brion team strives to produce wines of exceptional quality that reflect generations of expertise and a deep respect for the terroir. Whether you seek an age-worthy grand cru or a cuvée to enjoy younger, the wines of Château Larrivet Haut-Brion represent the best of the Pessac-Léognan appellation.