Château Larrivet Haut-Brion 2022

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion sits in Pessac-Léognan, the Graves appellation south of the city of Bordeaux, owned by a family long established in the regional wine trade. The blend leads with Cabernet Sauvignon alongside Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Pessac-Léognan is defined by its deep gravel terraces laid down by the Garonne; the pale stones drain quickly, store daytime heat and reflect it into the vines, ripening Cabernet fully and giving the wines their cedar and smoky character, while patches of clay and sand underneath feed the Merlot. The wine is aged 12 months in barrel, held in separate lots before blending, with slow oxygen exchange softening the tannins and adding cedar and spice. It shows a concentrated colour and a nose of black and red fruit with violet and a lift of orange zest. The palate is smooth and balanced, with ripe tannins, fresh acidity and a savoury, gravelly length. Serve at 17 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits red meat and firm cheeses.