Château Larrivaux 2017

The deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Larrivaux has a nose of kirsch, redcurrant jelly and blackcurrants with touches of bouquet garni and earth. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and refreshing with good balance and a lifted finish.

Steeped currant and plum fruit is lined with mesquite and anise notes. Ends with a tug of briar. Shows good juicy energy. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2024. 3,333 cases made.

This has really attractive punch on the attack, with high aromatics of white pepper spice. There is lots to recommend here, but it closes through the mid-palate and is a little dry on the finish. It's Merlot dominant, although there is an almost equal amount of Cabernet Franc alongside the Petit Verdot, which contributes to the lovely cinnamon spice. Owned by Bérangère Tesseron, the wife of Basile at Château Lafon-Rochet, who is the latest in a long line of women owners at the property. The vineyard is located in Cissac-Médoc, close to Pauillac.

Full bottle 1,249 g. 54% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc picked 19–29 September. A property on shallow soils over limestone that has apparently passed down the female line since 1580. From Domaines Carlsberg in Cissac. Pursuing HVE3 certification. Transparent, shaded garnet. Fully evolved, discreet nose. Sweet start and some real fruit plus grip here. This is a wine you could cellar for a little while as well as drink. Convincingly juicy mid palate suggests the tannin and fruit are in harmony. (JR)

The 2017 Larrivaux offers attractive red and black fruit on the nose: mulberry, raspberry, cedar and just a light pine cone aroma. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, fresh and focused with a detailed, marine-tinged finish that is very harmonious and long. Excellent - this comes highly recommended.

Purple with a ruby rim. Attractive, appealing bouquet with blueberry fruit, blackberries and a hint of violet. On the palate, pleasing and round, with a delicately creamy veil and a very smooth texture.

Kunz barrel sample 18: (55% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 50% of a normal harvest) Finely jammy, fragrant bouquet, blackcurrant, redcurrant, green herbs. Medium-bodied palate with fine grip and sweet fruit, a slightly bony structure, good aromatics, and a stern finish.

(55% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 50% of a normal harvest) Delicately jammy, fragrant bouquet, cassis, redcurrants, green herbs. Medium-bodied palate, finely structured, with sweet fruit, a slightly bony structure, good aromatics, bitter finish. 16/20 2024 - 2035

Broad wine, a bit unbalanced, gripping tannins, fruity, with a long finish.

Larrivaux’s bouquet shows good intensity, with notes of red berries and a hint of black pepper. The attack is juicy and fruit-driven. On the palate, the wine is juicy and fruity. Lovely aromatic expression, ideally supported by the structure through to the finish. A pleasant, balanced, and refreshing wine.

The nose is aromatic and concentrated, revealing notes of blackcurrant, ripe wild black berries and, more subtly, fleshy strawberry and ripe redcurrant, with fine touches of tonka bean and spices, as well as a very discreet hint of lily (in the background), licorice and cedar. The palate is mineral, fresh, juicy, balanced, finely tight, and offers a lovely acid backbone, a fine grain, and a touch of tension. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/crisp blackcurrant and crisp/juicy strawberry, and more slightly red berries, joined by small touches of crisp raspberry, a very discreet touch of fleshy blueberry (in the background), chocolate, toasted/caramelized oak, as well as saline notes (on the finish) and subtle hints of spice. The tannins are well handled. Good length. A touch of indulgence on the finish.