Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Grand Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France
Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine is a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a slightly orange rim and a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with pretty significant staining of the tears. Showing some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated dark and red fruits: brambles, dark cherry, cassis, leather, green bell pepper, tobacco, cocoa, purple flowers, damp earth, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and extremely satisfying.
Initial conclusions, this could be Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or a blend of Bordeaux varieties, Syrah or Tempranillo from France or Spain. I think this wine has too many non-fruit characteristics for me to place this in California, Argentina or Australia. Because I don’t get enough purple or any black pepper, I’m ruling out Syrah. There aren’t any olive/coconut/dill tones to put me in Spain so I’m ruling that out. I think there is a decent amount of Merlot in this because it’s has some elegance…but it’s just not quite plush enough for me to put this in the Right Bank.
So I’m going Left Bank. Final Conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine from France, from Bordeaux, from the Medoc, from Saint-Julien. Classified growth (I was thinking Saint-Pierre but wasn’t that sure of myself) with 20-25 years of age. Welp…I was in the right area. This bottle was hand carried from the chateau. Truthfully, I need to gain more experience to refine my ability to pick out subtle nuances within Bordeaux but I digress. The 2001 Smith Haut Lafite is bangin’. Drinking well now but you don’t have to be a huge rush.
Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine is a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a slightly orange rim and a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with pretty significant staining of the tears. Showing some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated dark and red fruits: brambles, dark cherry, cassis, leather, green bell pepper, tobacco, cocoa, purple flowers, damp earth, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and extremely satisfying.
Initial conclusions, this could be Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or a blend of Bordeaux varieties, Syrah or Tempranillo from France or Spain. I think this wine has too many non-fruit characteristics for me to place this in California, Argentina or Australia. Because I don’t get enough purple or any black pepper, I’m ruling out Syrah. There aren’t any olive/coconut/dill tones to put me in Spain so I’m ruling that out. I think there is a decent amount of Merlot in this because it’s has some elegance…but it’s just not quite plush enough for me to put this in the Right Bank.
So I’m going Left Bank. Final Conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine from France, from Bordeaux, from the Medoc, from Saint-Julien. Classified growth (I was thinking Saint-Pierre but wasn’t that sure of myself) with 20-25 years of age. Welp…I was in the right area. This bottle was hand carried from the chateau. Truthfully, I need to gain more experience to refine my ability to pick out subtle nuances within Bordeaux but I digress. The 2001 Smith Haut Lafite is bangin’. Drinking well now but you don’t have to be a huge rush.
The 2013 Smith Haut Lafitte probably has one over the Domaine de Chevalier at the moment: a little more fruit and amplitude, certainly more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, one of the spiciest Pessac-Léognan wines, yet there is just a scintilla of under-ripeness right on the finish. But at least there's personality in situ. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
The 2013 Smith Haut Lafitte probably has one over the Domaine de Chevalier at the moment: a little more fruit and amplitude, certainly more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, one of the spiciest Pessac-Léognan wines, yet there is just a scintilla of under-ripeness right on the finish. But at least there's personality in situ. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
Really great. Balanced and pure.
Really great. Balanced and pure.
Jun 15th, 2023
55 hectares of superb gravelly vineyards, often referred to as the "archetypical Graves." A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc & 1% Petit Verdot, Organic, very very dark Ruby red with aromas of black fruits with an array of herb, floral & spice notes. On the palate flavors of berries, black cherry, licorice and cacao with pepper, great mouthfeel. Firm full fine tannins, long finish, ending with fruit, spice and floral earthy character. Extremely Nice!
55 hectares of superb gravelly vineyards, often referred to as the "archetypical Graves." A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc & 1% Petit Verdot, Organic, very very dark Ruby red with aromas of black fruits with an array of herb, floral & spice notes. On the palate flavors of berries, black cherry, licorice and cacao with pepper, great mouthfeel. Firm full fine tannins, long finish, ending with fruit, spice and floral earthy character. Extremely Nice!
Mar 27th, 2023UGCB 1/27/23 So much energy
UGCB 1/27/23 So much energy
Jan 31st, 2023
Freaking yum all around! Dark, broad and silky. Still some brambly primary fruit but also some nice cedar and green leaf tobacco. Nice spice and super soft on the palate. A joy to drink! Love it
Freaking yum all around! Dark, broad and silky. Still some brambly primary fruit but also some nice cedar and green leaf tobacco. Nice spice and super soft on the palate. A joy to drink! Love it
Dec 30th, 2022
The 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte has an intense, well-defined and quite complex bouquet with blackberry, briary and cigar humidor scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, cohesive and poised with quite a firm grip towards the finish. This is another classy Pessac-Léognan and a wonderful example from Pessac-Léognan that might well be leading the pack at this stage. Bon vin. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
The 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte has an intense, well-defined and quite complex bouquet with blackberry, briary and cigar humidor scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, cohesive and poised with quite a firm grip towards the finish. This is another classy Pessac-Léognan and a wonderful example from Pessac-Léognan that might well be leading the pack at this stage. Bon vin. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
Lovely. Tannins there for good structure. Earth and forest in a wonderful balance. Fruit not gone. Lived on as it remained open. Stronger after 4 hrs.
Lovely. Tannins there for good structure. Earth and forest in a wonderful balance. Fruit not gone. Lived on as it remained open. Stronger after 4 hrs.
Jul 25th, 2020
Smooth silky blackcherry/blueberry, aromatic herbs,,some funk that took its time to blow off but added some complexity, sweet mid palate and carried thru smooth but every present tannins...just a well balanced wine and paired great with stripsteaks at home...
Smooth silky blackcherry/blueberry, aromatic herbs,,some funk that took its time to blow off but added some complexity, sweet mid palate and carried thru smooth but every present tannins...just a well balanced wine and paired great with stripsteaks at home...
Jun 3rd, 2020