Château Larrivet Haut-Brion 2016

The 2016 Larrivet Haut Brion has a generous bouquet with red cherries, crushed strawberry, cigar box and light smoky scents that seem very seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin. The new oak here seems a little ponderous and slightly occludes both the fruit and terroir expression, therefore drying out the finish and leaving a mouth-puckering effect. Hopefully this will gain more balance during its barrel maturation, and gain more cohesion and detail on the finish. At the moment, I would favor the excellent 2015 Larrivet Haut Brion. Tasted three times with consistent notes.

Barrel Sample. With tannins that are ripe and velvety, this is already a generous wine. At the same time, it has a line of acidity that keeps it crisp and brings out the black currant fruitiness. Put the two elements together and the wine will be on top form after 2027.