“Fabulous… a wine of total harmony and class… generous… bold…” and 90-92 pts from five different critics?

Ok… sign me up!

Larrivaux Haut-Medoc 2016

Sale $21.99

My beautiful red-headed daughter returns from college in London this Saturday! Which makes this wine fitting because since 1580 this estate has been exclusively run and owned by women from the same family!!! Talk about powerful women.

I realized something just now… while I often talk about the hidden gems found just outside of the vaunted and known appellations around the world, I rarely touch on it with Bordeaux. Not sure why… but here is an example…

The vineyards of Ch. Larrivaux are located about less than a half mile from the St. Estephe appellation and about 1.5 miles from the legendary Cos d’Estournel. Am I saying this is as good as Cos? No. But I am saying it is in line with, and stylistically similar to their second label, Pagodes de Cos, which also rated 91 pts in Wine Spectator. And sells for $50-60 online! What a difference a mile makes!

53% Merlot / 33% Cabernet Sauvignon  9% Petit Verdot / 5% Cabernet Franc

92 pts James Suckling – “At once ripe yet cool with minty freshness, this Haut-Médoc has plenty of moderately dry tannins and currant fruit character to carry it.”

91 pts Wine Spectator – “Fresh and focused, with a delightful mix of dark plum, red currant and blackberry compote flavors, enlivened by licorice snap, bramble and tobacco notes. A flash of violet on the finish adds lift.”

91 pts Wine Enthusiast – “Bold black fruits dominate this generous wine. Its dry, firm tannins are content to play a secondary role in a wine that is packed with dark fruits and general richness.”

90 pts Vinous – “The 2016 Larrivaux is fabulous. Pliant and expressive, with lovely aromatic top notes, the 2016 has a lot to offer. Red cherry fruit, flowers and mint all inform this understated yet very pretty Haut-Médoc. The 2016 is a wine of total harmony and class.”

90 pts Decanter - “Rich black cherries and cedar on the nose, followed by some touches of blackberry leaf that suggest the fruit is ripe but in no way over-ripe. Spicy, charred tobacco on the palate, which closes in on the finish in that perfect Médoc way where you know the tannins can handle a little ageing.” D


Or reply. The wine is available now in Chapel Hill. Friday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.