Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

Château Larrivet Haut-Brion has a history dating back to the 18th century, though it was first formally cited as a leading estate in 1840. The property underwent several name changes, including Château de Canolle and La Rivette, before being purchased in 1874 by Ernest Laurent. Laurent renamed the estate Château Haut-Brion Larrivet, a move that prompted a long-running legal challenge from the neighboring First Growth Château Haut-Brion. A legal settlement in the first half of the 20th century eventually required the name to be changed to its current form to reduce confusion. In 1987, the property was acquired by Philippe and Chantal Gervoson, whose family manages the Andros group. Under their ownership, the estate grew from 17 hectares of dilapidated vines to its current size through consistent land acquisition and replanting efforts. Today, the family's daughters, led by Emilie Gervoson, represent the newest generation involved in the management and marketing of the winery.

The estate encompasses 100 hectares in Léognan, with 75 hectares dedicated to viticulture on a soil base of deep Garonne gravel with clay and sandy subsoils. The red vineyards are planted with 50 percent Merlot, 45 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5 percent Cabernet Franc. The white wine production focuses on Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Winemaking techniques are technical and varied, utilizing stainless steel, concrete eggs, and terracotta jars alongside large oak vats. For the red wines, aging typically lasts 16 to 18 months in barrels with roughly 50 percent new oak. White wines are fermented and aged for about 10 months in barrels, often using a higher proportion of new oak. The estate has also dedicated a significant portion of its land to biodiversity, including a large wooded park and vitiforestry projects where trees are planted directly between vine rows to improve soil health and regulate the microclimate.

The winery is best known for its Grand Vin red and white, as well as its second wine, Les Demoiselles de Larrivet Haut-Brion. Despite its lack of official classification in the 1953 Graves ranking, the estate maintains a strong reputation for producing wines that compete with the classified growths of Pessac-Léognan. The red wines are characterized by dark fruit profiles and smoky notes typical of the appellation, while the whites are appreciated for their structure and aging potential. Management under director Bruno Lemoine and the guidance of consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt has emphasized precision and a willingness to experiment with modern aging vessels. These efforts have helped to establish the property as a prominent name in the region, recognized for its consistent quality and commitment to environmental sustainability through its High Environmental Value certification.