Chateau Larrivaux 2023

Noble, blackcurrant, violet; straight, slender, with precision and freshness, elegant, shows bite and balance. Well done.

Lovely floral and ripe red fruit introduce a wine with smooth tannins, not too tight or austere towards the finish and thus more good news for the 2023 vintage. Basile Tesseron, formerly with Château Lafon Rochet in St-Estèphe, has joined his wife and estate owner Bérangère Tesseron for their first vintage together at this estate. Major renovation work is planned this year in the cellars.

The 2023 Larrivaux has what I call a "proper" nose, with dense blackberry and earthy scents, a touch of cedar and undergrowth. The palate is medium-bodied, with finely sculpted tannins, very harmonious, silky smooth, with a persistent and pure finish. I would gladly welcome this on my dinner table.

Forward, chewy, vibrant, and firm, with stoic cherries, cedar, tobacco and herbs to complement the fruit, give it a year or two before opening a bottle. Drink from 2027-2036. 88-90 Pts.

Delicate bouquet of red and blue berries, fresh blackcurrant nectar, a hint of lilac and blueberry jelly. On the juicy palate, soft in texture, with a tightly knit tannic frame and a sinewy body, becoming finely brittle. The focused, finely aromatic finish shows sloe juice, juniper and a delicately crumbly astringency. Rounded off.

Dark-fruited on the nose and in the colour, with intense cassis and bilberry fruit on the first beats. This needs time to settle, but there is plenty to enjoy here, and the heavily tannic frame is matched step by step by fresh acidity. The first vintage where owner Bérangère Tesseron was joined by her husband Basile Tesseron at this estate with five generations of female owners. Ageing in barrel 95%, amphora 5%.

Score: 89–91. A soothing, harmonious nose of ripe fruit, gentle spices and floral notes that lend it a natural character. The palate is soft and caressing, with fleshy substance and a pleasing acidic backbone. A lovely, complete wine.

The nose is supple, aromatic, indulgent and well-directed. It shows notes of boysenberry, pulpy/fleshy wild strawberry and, more lightly, violet, with fine touches of graphite, iodine, a sense of place, and a very discreet hint of star anise/infusion. The palate is fruity and offers suppleness, freshness, tang, energy, good definition, indulgence, an almost chiselled edge, and precision. It reveals notes of bright cherry, violet and, more lightly, juicy/tangy blackcurrant, joined by hints of cornflower and small bright red berries, as well as iodized, camphor, smoky and toasty nuances. The tannins are supple and sapid, with good length and gourmandise. Lovely finish, tangy, sapid, supple and iodized.