2015 Ch. Larrivet Haut Brion Pessac-Léognan

Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is located a mere 15km south-east of Bordeaux and has been consistently impressive since its excellent 1996. General manager, Philippe Gervoson, has enlisted the help of the legendary oenologist Michel Rolland who has implemented radical changes such as hand-picking the grapes as late as possible to ensure maximum ripeness.

Monsieur Rolland's great skill is to help make wines that are true representations of their commune, and these are fine examples.

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself particularly well in blends with Merlot. This is actually the archetypal Bordeaux blend, though in different proportions in the sub-regions and sometimes topped up with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.

In the Médoc and Graves the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can range from 95% (Mouton-Rothschild) to as low as 40%. It is particularly suited to the dry, warm, free- draining, gravel-rich soils and is responsible for the redolent cassis characteristics as well as the depth of colour, tannic structure and pronounced acidity of Médoc wines. However 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be slightly hollow-tasting in the middle palate and Merlot with its generous, fleshy fruit flavours acts as a perfect foil by filling in this cavity.

In St-Emilion and Pomerol, the blends are Merlot dominated as Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen there - when it is included, it adds structure and body to the wine. Sassicaia is the most famous Bordeaux blend in Italy and has spawned many imitations, whereby the blend is now firmly established in the New World and particularly in California and  Australia.