The archives of Château Larrivet Haut-Brion reveal a rich and complex history. Named “Château de Canolle”, “La Rivette”, “Brion-Larrivet” and then from 1874 Château Haut-Brion Larrivet, it was not until 1949 that it acquired its definitive name. From 1840, when the estate was first listed as a Premier Cru in the commune of Léognan, to the present day, the reputation of Château Larrivet Haut-Brion has grown steadily.
Several prominent figures, all great lovers of Bordeaux wines, have succeeded one another at the head of the château: Théodor Conseil’s sons – the vineyard comprised 50 hectares of vines at the time – and then, from 1941 to 1982, Mr Guillemaud, who restored the estate, which had been badly damaged during the wine crisis of the 1930s. In 1987, the Gervoson family (Andros group) acquired Château Larrivet Haut-Brion and set about restoring it to its former glory. The estate boasts 17 hectares of vines, 13 hectares of woodland and an undeniable potential for quality. Philippe and Christine Gervoson remained true to their commitment to the land and its people, and set about rebuilding the unity of the château’s vineyards. In just a few years, the estate grew to 60 hectares thanks to the acquisition of vines and new plantings. Alongside a committed team, they modernised the infrastructure, reorganised the vineyards and enhanced the quality of the wines, which today stand out for their elegance and character.
The arrival in 2007 of Bruno Lemoine as Managing Director and winemaker marked a new stage. A man of experience, he works on the wines in a “haute-couture spirit”, which are gaining even greater renown. In 2009, combining the qualitative potential of the terroir with his expertise, he initiated one of the very first in-depth analyses of soils and plots. At the same time, Larrivet Haut-Brion added new vines, bringing the estate to 72.5 hectares: 11.5 hectares for the white and 61 hectares for the red.
