What a brilliant vintage this is - just so complete. Honestly at this level, where prices don't change that dramatically between vintages, you should go for the 2016 if you have the option. It's on a different level in terms of depth and structure, and has opened up further from my tasting two years ago. You can drink it now, although will probably improve again over the next few years. Excellent Pessac-Léognan character, polish and balance but also plenty of black fruits and great chocolate; hard to argue with.

Very attractive, earthy aromas with an array of herbal and leafy notes, as well as a dark-berry thread and earthy complexity. The palate has great depth and drive with a bright array of juicy red and darker berries. Plush, ripe tannins. Try from 2022.

(92–94 points) Barrel Sample. With tannins that are ripe and velvety, this is already a generous wine. At the same time, it has a line of acidity that keeps it crisp and brings out the black currant fruitiness. Put the two elements together and the wine will be on top form after 2027. ROGER VOSS

Also terrific, the 2016 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is in the same league as the 2015 and offers a perfectly balanced, medium to full-bodied style as well as complex notes of red and black fruits, smoke tobacco, incense, and cedar. It picks up a Graves-induced cold fireplace note as it sits in the glass, and again, is a beautifully balanced, layered 2016 that has loads of character. Give bottles a few years and enjoy over the following 15+.

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Larrivet Haut-Brion reveals a beguiling, earthy/truffle-laced nose with notions of crushed rocks, tilled soil, fungi and mossy bark over a core of warm cassis and blackberry compote. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is elegantly crafted with soft, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with a quiet intensity of savory nuances. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown