Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion – 2020
Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux – France 🇫🇷

Overview
This white Bordeaux is built on the classic backbone of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and (often) a dash of Muscadelle. What makes this cuvée stand out is the use of egg-shaped concrete vats for fermentation and aging — these facilitate a gentle, natural stirring of the lees and preserve freshness without imparting oak character.

Aromas & Flavors
Tropical notes, citrus zest, white blossoms, and a soft mineral streak. The influence of the egg vats gives it a rounded texture without harsh edges.

Mouthfeel
Silky yet crisp — the texture is elegant, clean, and balanced. The finish lingers with refreshing clarity.

Food Pairing
Fantastic with seafood (oysters, scallops), grilled fish, or creamy goat cheese.

Verdict
One of my favorite Pessac-Léognan whites — this expression marries Bordeaux structure with modern winemaking finesse. Great value and beautifully made. Cheers!
📌 Did You Know?
Egg-shaped concrete vats create a “micro-vortex” during fermentation, gently stirring the wine and keeping lees suspended. That subtle movement adds texture and complexity without the overt influence of oak — a technique growing in popularity among modern Bordeaux blancs. — a month ago

Michael Faddis

9.3

So smooth. Great Polar Vortex drinking by the fire. — 7 years ago

with Louise and Kimberly

Julie Hamman

9.1

Polar Vortex Wine! — 7 years ago

Carlos Burger

9.5

This feels like what all of the best “funky” orange wines without extreme skin contact are gesturing towards, their platonic ideal. But it isn’t a static edifice of an ideal, rather a great vibrating energy vortex, changing from minute to minute. Marmalade, spot prawn heads, salt, new sneakers, gooseberries, Bacardi limon, pickled red onion, sherry, green tomatoes, curry leaf, Hoja Santa, cilantro stems, seville orange. Enjoying on my first Father’s Day while Hugo and Kalen take a nap. Sichuan Impression delivery on its way. — 2 years ago

Kylie Farinelli

9.4

Dan Murphy’s $23.99 — 4 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Perfect and well balanced. And enough alcohol to take the sting out of the polar vortex and warm the bones. — 7 years ago

with Allan and David

David Kline

9.5

Big fruit with lime leading and citrus nation dragged into the vortex. Kefir, lemongrass toasted brioche. Palate: Lemon juice and pith, ditto the lime, big splashes of starfruit, quince and grapefruit suppressed in chalky adhesion. Clean and focused, brilliantly backlit by cool herbs and ends with lime zest and juicy lime and just a few drops of saltwater.

#laurentperrier #lp #ultrabrut #brutnature #champagne #bubbles #bringthepagne — 3 years ago

Francisco Perez

8.9

Australian complex red blend of mostly Cabernet with Tempranillo and garnacha. Very nice. Full bodied, fruity. Needs to breathe. Great with a rib eye. Dark berry tones prominent. Good wine! — 3 years ago

Kimberly Jamrozek

9.0

Fighting the Polar Vortex with a nice warm Blend. Light flavor and easy drinking. — 7 years ago

Doctor No

9.2

Beautifully backwards, but deeply buried in the immense black hole of this is gobs of herb-roasted meat, white pepper, violet, cedar, and a dark skinned fruit whose name I may never know but who grows only in the involuted vortex of the Northern Rhône. — 8 years ago