2022 Larrivet Haut Brion

Smoked, cherries, strawberry, smoked meats, spearmint, and cigar smoke create the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, elegant, soft, silky and refined. The finish is loaded with sweet, red pit fruits, with chocolate-mint coming in at the end of the refined finish. The wine is made from 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot. 14% ABV, 3.71 pH. Yields were 40 hectoliters. 38% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Picking took place September 6 - September 28. It is interesting to note that Larrivet was the first known wine of the 2022 futures campaign to be offered, and it was priced at a discount to 2021!

I loved the 2022 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this check in near the 2020, although it's in a riper, more sexy style. Cassis, plums, chocolate, and earthy notes all emerge from this full-bodied Graves that has an expansive, layered mouthfeel, ripe, velvety tannins, and solid mid-palate density. It's going to benefit from just a few years of bottle age. The blend is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Merlot, resting in 50% new oak, with a small amount in amphora.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Larrivet Haut-Brion Rouge gallops out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant pastilles, juicy blueberries, and blackberry preserves, leading to an undercurrent of clove oil, dark chocolate, and roses. The medium to full-bodied palate has a solid frame of fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness to support the generous black fruits, finishing long and fragrant. Nicely done!