Manufacturer:Chateau Larrivet-Haut-Brion
Chateau Larrivet-Haut-Brion 2000
Item No.: 12
- Region:
- Bordeaux
- Type:
- red
- Category:
- Pessac Leognan
- Manufacturer:
- Chateau Larrivet-Haut-Brion
- Vintage:
- 2000
- Alcohol Volume:
- 13%
- Color:
- red
- Unit Size:
- 750 ml,
- Price:
- € 65.00
Chateau Larrivet-Haut-Brion in JulieAnie French Wine Shop
One of the many Haut-Brion properties that populate the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan, the more northerly vineyards in the Graves region just to the south of Bordeaux, this particular estate is quite distinct from the first growth Haut-Brion, and the associated vineyards of La Mission Haut-Brion, Laville Haut-Brion and the now defunct La Tour Haut-Brion (incorporated into La Mission from the 2006 vintage), all of which are grouped under the direction of Jean-Philippe Delmas. Larrivet-Haut-Brion is therefore not only administratively but also geographically distinct, being located on a gravel ridge alongside Chateau Haut-Bailly and Chateau La Louvière, whereas the perhaps more illustrious Haut-Brions are further north, encircled by the Bordeaux suburbs. The level of quality and the prices one can expect to pay are also quite different. They are, I hope it is now clear, not to be confused.
The origins of Larrivet-Haut-Brion lie in the estate of the Marquis de Canolle, a nobleman originally of English blood, his ancestors having stayed on in Bordeaux after the end of the Hundred Years’ War. The family owned what would one day be known as Larrivet-Haut-Brion as well as also Belair in St Emilion, and managed to maintain their hold on the former estate (although strangely the latter was seized as a bien national) during the Revolution in the late 18th Century. Under the tenure of this family the property was known as La Rivette, from which the modern name is obviously derived. The addition of brion, plainly a common practice in the region, does not relate to a previous owner as might be suspected, but is widely accepted to be a local term for gravel.
In the early 19th Century the Haut Brion-Larrivet estate, as it was known, remained in the ownership of the Canolle family, specifically the daughters of the Marquis de Canolle-Lescours, two ladies named De Tafford and De Sulzer. Their estate had been large, the popular authors of the time such as Franck recording a production somewhere between 70 and 100 tonneaux (1 tonneau is 900 litres), and it seems it was well regarded. Records from the era illustrate its decline, however, as portions of the vineyard were sold off, one notable piece passing to the neighbouring Haut-Bailly estate. The result was perhaps almost inevitable; this generation was the last of the Canolle family to hold sway here, and in 1870 the estate was purchased by Ernest Laurent. What he acquired was a 40 hectare vineyard, part of an estate amounting to 125 hectares all told. Sadly the new and subsequent owners, including a ship builder called Thomas Conseil who acquired the property after Laurent, did little to ameliorate the condition of the estate. Nevertheless, it seems he was prepared to fight for what they owned, as demonstrated by their facing down of a legal challenge from the Dillon family, Americans who owned Chateau Haut-Brion. Both Larrivet and Les Carmes Haut-Brion were in the firing line, but in the end both challenges effectively failed. In the case of Larrivet the name was retained, but on the condition that it was reversed, I suppose to make Haut-Brion a less prominent part of the name, although really it has no such effect. So today the estate remains Larrivet-Haut-Brion.
The rot, however, was interminable, and in 1935 the estate was dissolved and much of the vineyard uprooted, encouraged by government compensation for the practice. A 3 hectare core of vines was obtained by a gentleman named Jacques Guillemaud in 1940, who began to revitalise and expand the property. He replanted 12 hectares, and purchased another 4 hectares later on. The vineyard was mostly red, although he also instigated the cultivation of some white varieties. Under his tenure the reputation of the estate began to take off once more, and although today the wines do not have the reputation they perhaps enjoyed during the 18th and 19th Centuries, when they were ranked second only to those of Haut-Brion, there was certainly an improvement. In recent years it has been his grandson François Boutémy who ran the estate, having succeeded his grandfather who died in 1973, although in 1987 financial and administrative control came to the Gervoson family of Société Andros, better known as manufacturers of jam under the Bon Maman brand. Philippe Gervoson and his wife Christine were charged with revitalising the estate, something they have undertaken with consultation from oenologist Michel Rolland, with some success it seems.
The vineyards of Larrivet-Haut-Brion lie on the same ridge of gravel as the aforementioned near neighbours Haut-Bailly and La Louvière. The red vines, which dominate the vineyards, are 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot and are aged around 20 years, the average age remaining low because of active replanting. The vineyard has also expanded considerably since the time of Jacques Guillemaud, particularly with the establishment of a further 25 hectares of vines in two plots, bringing the current total to somewhere in the order of 45 hectares. There is also a small plot of white vines, covering perhaps 5 hectares, these being 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon and 5% Muscadelle. The fruit is harvested by hand, with yields controlled to 45hl/ha. Once delivered to the property they are vinified in a chai which has seen considerably investment since the involvement of the Société Andros. New buildings were constructed to house the stainless steel and epoxy fermentation vessels, as well as the barrel cellar. After maceration the red wines go into oak for up to 18 months, the wood being typically up to 70% new each vintage, a marked increase on the 25% that was the norm under Guillemaud senior. The white wine also goes into oak and is aged on the lees for up to 12 months. The end result is the grand vin, Larrivet-Haut-Brion (typically 10000 cases per annum), both red and white (although four times more likely to be the former than the latter) although classified for neither – at the time of the Graves classification in 1953, which was ratified in 1959, Larrivet-Haut-Brion hardly existed. There is also a second wine which is today marketed as Les Demoiselles de Larrivet-Haut-Brion, also in both red and white.
One of the many Haut-Brion properties that populate the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan, the more northerly vineyards in the Graves region just to the south of Bordeaux, this particular estate is quite distinct from the first growth Haut-Brion, and the associated vineyards of La Mission Haut-Brion, Laville Haut-Brion and the now defunct La Tour Haut-Brion (incorporated into La Mission from the 2006 vintage), all of which are grouped under the direction of Jean-Philippe Delmas. Larrivet-Haut-Brion is therefore not only administratively but also geographically distinct, being located on a gravel ridge alongside Chateau Haut-Bailly and Chateau La Louvière, whereas the perhaps more illustrious Haut-Brions are further north, encircled by the Bordeaux suburbs. The level of quality and the prices one can expect to pay are also quite different. They are, I hope it is now clear, not to be confused.
The origins of Larrivet-Haut-Brion lie in the estate of the Marquis de Canolle, a nobleman originally of English blood, his ancestors having stayed on in Bordeaux after the end of the Hundred Years’ War. The family owned what would one day be known as Larrivet-Haut-Brion as well as also Belair in St Emilion, and managed to maintain their hold on the former estate (although strangely the latter was seized as a bien national) during the Revolution in the late 18th Century. Under the tenure of this family the property was known as La Rivette, from which the modern name is obviously derived. The addition of brion, plainly a common practice in the region, does not relate to a previous owner as might be suspected, but is widely accepted to be a local term for gravel.
In the early 19th Century the Haut Brion-Larrivet estate, as it was known, remained in the ownership of the Canolle family, specifically the daughters of the Marquis de Canolle-Lescours, two ladies named De Tafford and De Sulzer. Their estate had been large, the popular authors of the time such as Franck recording a production somewhere between 70 and 100 tonneaux (1 tonneau is 900 litres), and it seems it was well regarded. Records from the era illustrate its decline, however, as portions of the vineyard were sold off, one notable piece passing to the neighbouring Haut-Bailly estate. The result was perhaps almost inevitable; this generation was the last of the Canolle family to hold sway here, and in 1870 the estate was purchased by Ernest Laurent. What he acquired was a 40 hectare vineyard, part of an estate amounting to 125 hectares all told. Sadly the new and subsequent owners, including a ship builder called Thomas Conseil who acquired the property after Laurent, did little to ameliorate the condition of the estate. Nevertheless, it seems he was prepared to fight for what they owned, as demonstrated by their facing down of a legal challenge from the Dillon family, Americans who owned Chateau Haut-Brion. Both Larrivet and Les Carmes Haut-Brion were in the firing line, but in the end both challenges effectively failed. In the case of Larrivet the name was retained, but on the condition that it was reversed, I suppose to make Haut-Brion a less prominent part of the name, although really it has no such effect. So today the estate remains Larrivet-Haut-Brion.
The rot, however, was interminable, and in 1935 the estate was dissolved and much of the vineyard uprooted, encouraged by government compensation for the practice. A 3 hectare core of vines was obtained by a gentleman named Jacques Guillemaud in 1940, who began to revitalise and expand the property. He replanted 12 hectares, and purchased another 4 hectares later on. The vineyard was mostly red, although he also instigated the cultivation of some white varieties. Under his tenure the reputation of the estate began to take off once more, and although today the wines do not have the reputation they perhaps enjoyed during the 18th and 19th Centuries, when they were ranked second only to those of Haut-Brion, there was certainly an improvement. In recent years it has been his grandson François Boutémy who ran the estate, having succeeded his grandfather who died in 1973, although in 1987 financial and administrative control came to the Gervoson family of Société Andros, better known as manufacturers of jam under the Bon Maman brand. Philippe Gervoson and his wife Christine were charged with revitalising the estate, something they have undertaken with consultation from oenologist Michel Rolland, with some success it seems.
The vineyards of Larrivet-Haut-Brion lie on the same ridge of gravel as the aforementioned near neighbours Haut-Bailly and La Louvière. The red vines, which dominate the vineyards, are 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot and are aged around 20 years, the average age remaining low because of active replanting. The vineyard has also expanded considerably since the time of Jacques Guillemaud, particularly with the establishment of a further 25 hectares of vines in two plots, bringing the current total to somewhere in the order of 45 hectares. There is also a small plot of white vines, covering perhaps 5 hectares, these being 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon and 5% Muscadelle. The fruit is harvested by hand, with yields controlled to 45hl/ha. Once delivered to the property they are vinified in a chai which has seen considerably investment since the involvement of the Société Andros. New buildings were constructed to house the stainless steel and epoxy fermentation vessels, as well as the barrel cellar. After maceration the red wines go into oak for up to 18 months, the wood being typically up to 70% new each vintage, a marked increase on the 25% that was the norm under Guillemaud senior. The white wine also goes into oak and is aged on the lees for up to 12 months. The end result is the grand vin, Larrivet-Haut-Brion (typically 10000 cases per annum), both red and white (although four times more likely to be the former than the latter) although classified for neither – at the time of the Graves classification in 1953, which was ratified in 1959, Larrivet-Haut-Brion hardly existed. There is also a second wine which is today marketed as Les Demoiselles de Larrivet-Haut-Brion, also in both red and white.