2019 Chateau Larrivaux Haut-Medoc Bordeaux 750 ml

Superstar enologist Eric Boissenot consults for Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux, and Lafite. Christened “Bordeaux’s Secret Weapon” by Wine Spectator, he is renowned for his ability to achieve impeccable balance, a virtue that shines through in the priceless wines of his high-profile clients.

So you can be sure we don’t hesitate when we get a shot at a wine that puts his skills on display for a price that doesn’t make your average Bordeaux drinker blanch.

Château Larrivaux’s 2019 Haut-Médoc is that bottle. A coup for those who love to drink Bordeaux every day of the week, Vinous’ Antonio Galloni lauded it as “silky, understated and classy to the core,” and it’s drinking spectacularly well today.

Château Larrivaux lies just near the border of Saint-Estèphe appellation, two miles from Lafite Rothschild. Manager Bérangère Tesseron—whose husband owns Château Lafon Rochet—is one of the multiple generations of women who have run the estate, dating back to the 16th century.

The estate diligently cultivates and protects their vineyard ecosystem: They’ve set up hives, bats fly in from a nearby quarry to pick off insects, native grasses line the rows between the vines, and—most importantly—no pesticides or chemical treatments are used.

Composed primarily of Merlot, along with healthy doses of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot plus a touch of Cab Franc, this wine hails from a Médoc vintage that Wine Enthusiast rated 97 points. As Galloni said, the finest 2019s stand out for their “exceptional balance,” and this Château Larrivaux certainly exemplifies that. Boissenot said that he found more freshness than expected in the 2019 blends he worked on, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon complementing each other well.