Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion Blanc 2019 – Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Pessac-Léognan white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon (Sauvignon dominant) 70% Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Sémillon, delivering tension, texture, and layered complexity. Sauvignon Blanc drives citrus energy, minerality, and aromatic lift, while Sémillon contributes mid-palate weight, subtle creaminess, and aging potential. This is a serious white Bordeaux built for balance rather than flash, expressive yet restrained, polished and quietly powerful.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh lemon zest, grapefruit pith, white peach, and green apple. Subtle white flowers, crushed stone, and gentle herbal tones. Light almond, beeswax, and faint vanilla from integrated oak. Citrus oil and saline minerality linger through the finish with beautiful clarity and precision.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a vibrant, energetic entry. Crisp, linear acidity balanced by Sémillon’s rounded texture. Silky mid-palate with excellent tension and freshness. Clean, focused, long finish with mineral persistence and refined structure.

Food Pairings
Chilean sea bass, halibut, or turbot with light citrus or beurre blanc. Scallops, shrimp, or lobster. Roast chicken with herbs and lemon. Soft cheeses, triple-cream brie, or fresh chèvre. Elegant vegetable dishes, asparagus, fennel, or spring peas. A natural partner for delicate yet flavorful cuisine.

🍷 Personal Pick
This sits right in my sweet spot for Bordeaux whites, delicacy, precision, freshness, and texture in perfect harmony. Beautiful on its own, but truly shines at the table. One of those bottles that reminds you why great Sauvignon-driven Bordeaux can quietly outperform flashier styles.

Did You Know?
Pessac-Léognan whites are often fermented and aged partially in oak with lees contact, giving Sauvignon Blanc added depth and texture without masking freshness. Sémillon plays a crucial role by enhancing mouthfeel, aging potential, and savory complexity, a hallmark of top Graves and Pessac whites. — 31 minutes ago

Garen Staglin

9.7

Beautiful nose, mid pallet and long finish. Many years to go. My birthday wine for today. — a month ago

David Koenen

9.7

Rich, mature and extremely balance but at the same time: an impressive mouth full of wine and so very subtle. Brilliant. Sun-dried tomato. Warm cherry flan. Lavender. Black fruit compote. Wet terracotta tiles on a warm summer day. The class oozes from the glass. Wow. — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was showing well with cherry, cassis, spice, menthol, leather, graphite & sweet tobacco. From a freshly opened owc — 3 days ago

John Van Trijp

10

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 — 11 days ago

John Van Trijp

9.9

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 — 11 days ago

Amanda Speier

9.4

Yes, buy again. — 23 days ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

There are always exceptions to the rule! Usually known as a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend, but this vintage is Merlot based.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, blackberries, plums, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black pepper and tobacco leaf.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, blackberries, black currants, cherries, light oak, spices, chocolates, herbs, coffee, licorice, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Bordeaux. Elegant and nicely balanced. Complex and engaging. Rich and powerful, but not extracted.

This 8 year old First Growth Bordeaux is starting to drink nicely, but feels very young and closed. Needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, but already very complex and delicious by itself. Will continue to age nicely in the 25 years.

Showing good structure and quality, fruit-forward, elegant, and soft. Evolved beautifully in the glass, and gained depth and complexity as it opened up.

I had its brother/cousin, château Mission Haut-Brion, recently and it is not as earthy as the Mission was.

Tasting these kind of wines at this early stage, is always hard, but someone's got to do it.

A great sipping wine, that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (70% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$550. — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Classic La Mission nose showing mostly black fruits, with notes of smoke, cedar, licorice, leather, mocha, underbrush & cigar ash. Just entering its prime with many years ahead — 18 days ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.3

Great second wine here. Yes probably too young but with 2 hours in the decanter this was singing. In another couple of years 94. Super wine — a month ago