2016 Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux 750 ml

When you’re laying out triple digits for a bottle, it’s not too hard to find Bordeaux that epitomizes the elegance, vibrancy, and dynamism of the region. But when you’re paying closer to $50, finding an exemplary Bordeaux is a feat—which is why the 2016 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is a singularly smart buy.

Grown in the phenomenal 2016 vintage, crafted by superstar consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt from Cabernet Sauvignon plumped with a dollop of Merlot and accented with Cabernet Franc, this Bordeaux shows the ripe power of the vintage. Yet, a lighter touch with new oak, plus a deep thread of acidity and the bright juiciness of the fruit, gives it a perfect balance that satisfies like bottles twice the price. 

“What a brilliant vintage this is—just so complete,” declared Decanter in their excellent review of this Larrivet Haut-Brion. “You should go for the 2016 if you have the option.” 

Sitting just below the famous classified growths, Larrivet Haut-Brion is the kind of Bordeaux château where investments will yield the biggest gains, and where quality vastly overperforms for price. It’s “one of those properties that is worth following to understand the sense of dynamism in Bordeaux,” wrote Decanter in a feature based on a recent vertical lineup. “I was struck by just how good this property is, and how its wider philosophy challenges the idea that Bordeaux doesn’t evolve.”

Their 2016 red has marvelous concentration and balance. It was the first vintage completely vinified by Derenoncourt, who took over from Michel Rolland, who had joined in 1993. It’s the perfect way to experience a brilliantly ambitious Bordeaux property at the top of its game.