Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion, 2019
Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Left Bank red blend composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc, from the highly regarded 2019 Bordeaux vintage. This vintage is widely celebrated for its depth, structure, and balance, ranking alongside 2018 and 2020 as exceptional years.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: lifted aromas of blackcurrant, redcurrant, plum, and blackberry, laced with herbal notes, tobacco leaf, and subtle spice.
Palate: generous layers of dark fruits, cassis, herbs, and a touch of savory earthiness, supported by ripe, velvety tannins and a structured frame.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, with polished tannins, fresh acidity, and a harmonious balance between richness and elegance. The finish is long, perfumed, and textured, leaving a graceful impression of fruit and spice.

Winemaking & Style
Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is known for its meticulous vineyard management and refined winemaking, which consistently produces expressive Pessac-Léognan wines that balance fruit concentration with terroir-driven minerality and finesse.

Food Pairing
Perfect with grilled lamb chops, duck breast, roasted game, or earthy mushroom risotto. Also excellent alongside firm cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda.

Verdict
A standout Pessac-Léognan from an exceptional vintage — complex, elegant, and age-worthy, yet already a pleasure to drink. A wine that bridges power and finesse beautifully.
— 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Gorgeous and deep. Blood and herbs ( rosemary and thyme), black pepper and iron. Intense and salty and delicious. Great. Stuff — 7 months ago

with David

Mark S.

9.0

Good @, Pieroth, 231117 — 2 years ago

Paul T HB

9.5

Lunch 🥪

K&L notes as follows, Grand Pontet is an interesting property, positioned in the neighborhood of other stars of the appellation such as Châteaux Canon, Beau-Séjour-Bécot and Clos Fourtet. It is, however, a small estate, a mere 14 hectares, and its prices are much better than some of its more prestigious neighbors. In 1980 it was purchased by Gerard and Dominique Bécot, owners of the neighboring Beau-Séjour-Bécot. They have applied the same high standards to both Châteaux in their possession, and their winemaking team crafts Grand Pontet alongside the Beau-Séjour-Bécot wines. Recently purchased in 2021 by Domaines Clarence Dillon (Haut-Brion, La Mission Haut-Brion, et al.), the property was combined with and incorporated into Château Quintus. Full-bodied and luscious, this Grand Pontet is laden with ripe blackberry fruits, savory tobacco, licorice notes, and ripe, softened tannins. It’s seamless and bold, not shy. It’s going to require something decadent to pair with, such as filet mignon or some other black-tie dish with plenty of flavor and rich umami presence. — 3 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.4

Thanks to @David L , I’m a believer. Loads of ripe melon, lemon zest, white grapefruit, lemongrass, and tropical fruits of all kinds; green guava, pineapple, kiwi. This is better with lots of air and closer to room temp. Jesse Katz is doing some really fun wines right now, and this stands out. I think this will age really nicely. Extremely interested to learn more about the oak treatment. When I heard Haut Brion Blanc barrels, my ears perked up. Check out @Greg Ballington ‘s post. — 7 years ago

with Diana

Matteo Borré

9.5

Really a Grand Vin de Bordeaux. You know that a flower was named after this wine? The Rose Demoiselles de Larrivet Haut Brion. How cool is that? — 7 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.7

This was brilliant - still lots life left. Remarkably youthful. Notes of tobacco and red fruit on the nose. Elegant and refined. Super long finish. What a treat. Among the best I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. Bravo @hautbrion. — 5 months ago

with Michael and David

Ron Siegel

9.3

Needs a lot more time — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1999 vintage. This review a bit of a mixed bag. “Inherited” this bottle and had been looking sideways at it for the better part of three years. Fill decent but both the front and back labels pretty trashed. The foil up top a tad crimped in places. Ugly duckling syndrome. See a ton of this at work and occasionally able to resuscitate what appears to be an abused bottle. Cut off the foil and there was some seepage at the top trapped between the cork and the foil. Not good. Extracted the cork in three passes (3!!!) with the Durand. Cork was half saturated and dunzo. Did not decant. Color was on point at least. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.1% ABV. Less than expected sed. Poured out a fifth of a glass and let sit for 2-3 mins. Nose was big white pepper, roasted cashews and white sage…three notes that I don’t come across often over the years with Napa cabbage and flavors were hidden beneath for a spell. Gave it 15 minutes. That initial nose dissipated and a bit of magic unfolded. Light-medium body, cocoa powder, graphite, feminine, sumptuous milk chocolate, a little sweaty, dried legumes, spearmint, supremely resolved tannins. Echoes of Haut-Brion/La Mission Haut-Brion. This old-school, Stags Leap District Napa cab came through in the clutch. Seemed to gather strength the longer it was open. Given that this particular bottle was not exactly mint, more than a bit curious as to how a decently stored example of this wine would perform. Van the Man was right. Wild night is calling. Come on out and dance. 05.16.25. @Shay A — 7 months ago

Nancy Schnur

9.1

Foodland $16 — 5 years ago

Philip Dobrin

9.2

Dominus 94 won out this night. A little muted on the palate but smells right — 6 years ago

Jerry Raphael

9.6

Did not know what to expect but trying to drink my cellar down and have to open this old stuff. Opened, decanted and but back in the bottle about 4 hours before dinner. Tasted when first opened and it seemed very light and not much there. When we poured it for dinner it had opened, very integrated, had a lot going on without that old wine funk. Very enjoyable but did seem to lose some fruit a couple of hours later. RP rated this wine a 98+ and considered it along with Haut Brion as the wines of the vintage. Paid $22.95 back in the day. — 7 years ago

with Matt and Barbara

Alvaro Bustillos

9.7

Cena casa augusto con peter z en magnjm — 5 months ago

Ashraf Attal

9.4

Wiith Yasmine again ❤️ — 6 months ago

Jan A

9.5

Full bodied with tropical fruit, honey. Bit reduction and fatty viscosity. Excellent! — 6 months ago

Laura Snider

9.3

Excellent! — 7 months ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.0

90+, very young! First time I had a Bordeaux with some saltiness in the taste. The nose stands out. An elegant fresh wine with stony minerality and very young fruit! Needs time… — 3 years ago

Rob Scalia

9.8

Top notch — 5 years ago

ADAM STROMFELD

9.7

Soft round rolling tannins cooked black cherries sandy - nice balance and acidity. Cooked meat — 7 years ago

with Howard, Natalie and 1 other

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a youngster from Pessac Léognan in Bordeaux.

A beautiful color of dark ruby with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Pronounced nose of blueberries, black currants, plums, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, leather, earth, forest floor, dark chocolates, light bell pepper, barnyard, bitter vegetables, river rocks and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, currants, blueberries, wood, light vanilla, earth, pencil lead, wet leaves, forest floor, smoke, green vegetables, herbs, spices and black pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with medium minus tannins and tangy raspberries.

This left bank Bordeaux is already drinking very nicely now, although still young. Showing nice balance and elegance with nice texture. The nose is really special, and I kept on smelling on it for a long time.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly. Still very earthy with lots of vegetable notes. The tangy ending makes it interesting.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

Good now and will be better in the next 15 years.

A good price/ value for a not so good vintage, as it is less than half the price of the 2010 vintage.

Wine Advocate 90 points.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$120. — 7 years ago