Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Pale lemon with complex aromas of fresh ripe citrus and tropical fruits with zesty floral notes. On the palate flavors of peach, lime citrus and melon with lemongrass and floral herb notes. Long finish ending with juicy fruit, herb and citrus notes, lively acidity with mineral character. Outstanding! Will reward with a few years of age! — 18 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

From 60-year old vines, medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits, floral, sweet spice and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry, cherry and currants with mushroom and leather notes. Fine tannins with racy acidity, great mouthfeel on a long finish. Ok now but a bit of bottle age will reward. Organic. Tasting Sample. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

Blend of 93.3% Cab Sauv, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 2.3% Cab Franc, 0.5% Merlot & 0.1% Malbec, aged for 17 months in French oak, 65% new, deep dark Ruby with elegant pronounced aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, ripe cherry and currants with notes of mushroom, herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine big sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, vanilla, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward! — 4 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2023 – Pessac-Léognan, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully balanced Pessac-Léognan red blend of Merlot 55%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42% , Petit Verdot 2% and Cabernet Franc 1% that delivers finesse, aromatic complexity, and immediate approachability while maintaining classical structure and aging potential. A textbook expression of modern-classic Pessac harmony.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry layered with cedar, graphite, cocoa nib, tobacco leaf, crushed gravel, and subtle floral lift. The fruit feels vibrant and pure with beautifully integrated oak and savory mineral nuance.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with finely polished tannins and excellent balance between freshness and density. Silky entry, energetic mid-palate, and a long, clean, gently savory finish. Elegant rather than massive, delivering precision and drinkability without sacrificing depth.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops, duck breast, mushroom-based dishes, herb-roasted poultry, aged hard cheeses, and classic French bistro fare. Equally rewarding with refined meals or elevated casual cooking.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of Pessac that keeps you reaching for another glass, delicate yet layered, polished yet expressive, and dangerously easy to enjoy young. Immediate gratification today, with the structure and balance to reward cellaring down the road. A beautiful testament to classical Pessac elegance done right.

Did You Know?
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is known for its gravel-rich soils in Pessac-Léognan, which drive freshness, mineral tension, and aromatic lift in both red and white wines, helping maintain balance even in warmer vintages. — 4 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

From the Far Niente winery. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits with floral spice and oaky notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry, blackberry and red plum with licorice, vanilla, leather and espresso. Tannins are fine, a bit tight, long finish ending with fruit, toasty cedar and earthy spice. Enjoyable now but a few years will reward. Pair this with a fillet mignon with a Cabernet sauce. — 2 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

A very rare bird almost impossible to find where the production on their 9 plots only amounts to a total of 9000 btls. I discovered their wines when I attended a Bizot tasting & lunch at Marea in Feb 2020 where I found their whole cluster wines had this beautiful purity of fruit & transparency. This btl was no different offering up an amazing nose of red cherry & berry fruits, lush & pure on the palate with baking spices, floral & mineral notes. A wine that is so good now you can drink young but will reward time in the cellar. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

From a 5 Bordeaux grape blend: 81.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.8% Merlot, 1.8% Petit Verdot, 1.4% Cabernet Franc & 0.4% Malbec, aged 24 months French oak, 85% new. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral and toasty spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and plump blueberries with notes of herbs, baking spice and toasty notes. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with cacao, toasty oak, fruit and earthy mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward! — 2 months ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.3

Pure and précise. Time will reward. — 2 years ago

romo

9.0

Choose your food carefully here. A reward awaits. — 4 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

Damn! Star bright gold with yellow-green highlights. Abundant nose and mouthwatering (medium plus plus [sic] acidity) palate of honeyed yellow apples, honeysuckle, cling peach, and fennel(!) with a hint of smoky flint on the moderate finish. Very rich for a Kabinett, but then this is modern day Mosel and (Erben-)Thanisch has shown rich for decades. The Doctor is truly in and this expression of the universal white should satisfy in all situations. Pork dishes are, of course, a natural but your spicier Asian or Cajun fare will thank you just as earnestly. Drink half of your stash now and the rest will reward through 2034 or so. — 5 years ago