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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.4 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 284 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Geoff on 2/3/2024 & rated 94 points: Needs air to really show itself. Even so, with a 2 hour decant, a tremendous multifaceted nose, dark fruit some road tar, full bodied, sweet smooth tannins and long finish. Continued to evolve in the glass with wonderful aromatic secondary notes. Very enjoyable wine. (990 views) | | | Tasted by drfloyd on 1/31/2024: Drinking really well here - just lovely - beautiful nose, its all come together - in a perfect spot but has plenty of life ahead. This wine really needed age to impress - and it does.. (995 views) | | | Tasted by Vinophil2000 on 12/25/2023 flawed bottle: Zwei Flaschen bei ebay von Technics85 erworben. Vermutlich zu warm gelagert. Der Wein wirkte, als sei die Trinkphase bereits seit mindestens vier Jahren vorbei, bzw. der Höhepunkt vor 12-15 Jahren gewesen. Kein wirklicher Spaß mehr. Undifferenziert. 15 und 35 etwa pro Flasche bezahlt. Pfui. 85 Punkte? (1057 views) | | | Tasted by Somm Troy S on 12/15/2023 & rated 93 points: My second time drinking and loving this as an old geezer. So much life in it still, precisely we by old Bordeaux or why we at least wait for them to become aged lol. Just a sensational drinking experience - olive, stone, blueberry, herbs, pencil, clove. Structure intact and ready to go a few more years too. (1022 views) | | | Tasted by O'Meara on 12/9/2023: This is ready to go and delicious. I decanted for sediment and then drank over three hours. It was in the zone the whole time with little change. In contrast to the Medoc from the same vintage, this seems to possess additional complexity and verve. It’s got all of the tell tale traits of a Pessac wine, and I wish I had another case of this for modest celebrations and midweek steak night. I would guess that this has a few more years at pleateau, but why wait? (1225 views) | | | Tasted by bbq_grandcru on 11/10/2023 & rated 91 points: Medium body. 2 hour splash decant. Throwing some sediment and benefited from a screen. Beautiful dark fruit and sauvage nose. Feels like some of the depth and complexity may have faded since a bottle I opened in January 2022. Structure on the mid palate has subsided a bit too. Strikes a somewhat one dimensional tone on the mid palate before finishing slightly tannic. I suggest drinking up. (1124 views) | | | Tasted by Geoff on 10/26/2023 & rated 93 points: Very classy well aged Bordeaux. (1153 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 7/16/2023 & rated 92 points: Had this up at the Ranch. No notes. Showing well. (1401 views) | | | Tasted by Geoff on 5/20/2023 & rated 95 points: 3 hour decant and it still continued to open in the glass. Deep dark color with no signs of bricking. Nose of dark and some red fruit, oak, smoke, saddle leather, secondary and some tertiary notes. Medium to full bodied with sweet smooth tannins, smooth mouthfeel and long, long finish. Sophisticated and complex. Very pleasing wine. At it's apogee. (1737 views) | | | Tasted by Vinumming & Ahhing on 5/17/2023 & rated 93 points: Amazing Bordeaux To Mark A Special Birthday (Noizé, London): Lovely wine. There is suggestion of sweet pastry with a contrasting / balancing cranberry tartness something that reminds me of banana leaf and plenty of blue fruits. Palate is well balanced and long with a spine of acidity that a few others have shown less of. With air there's a suggestion of smoky tea leaves. Really like this. (2029 views) | | | Tasted by kfrench150 on 1/29/2023 & rated 94 points: Medium deep, full ruby red. Earthy, meaty, savoury nose with some char, black and purple plums, blackberries, leather, camphor and graphite. Very mature aromas. Medium-full bodied, elevated acidity, sappy dark fruit, fully integrated tannins, nicely balanced with a dry finish. Flavours of black plum, charcoal, blackberry leaf, cedar, leather, graphite, ink, camphorand some black currant jam. Very smooth and silky on the palate. Nice long finish. Classically styled, ripe and fully mature Pessac! (2252 views) | | | Tasted by redders on 12/8/2022 & rated 91 points: No expectations but really good. Good deep colour quite glossy , a little oak stiil. Well rounded but good depth , not too much alcohol (2316 views) | | | Tasted by Geoff on 10/13/2022 & rated 94 points: Ditto on previous notes. Continues to evolve with marvelous fruit, oak, smoke, road tar, mollified yet present sweet tannins, very long finish. (2479 views) | | | Tasted by xyc on 9/19/2022 & rated 90 points: The 11th bottle in a long-ago case buy, have not tasted one for many years. No resemblance to my memory's; penetrating cedar nose, nothing like I ever inhaled in a wine. Dark color, no sign of aging. Concentrated mulled cedar infused fruit with balsa wood acid tones. Much more tannic than I recall, the 2016s have subverted my Bordeaux tastes forever. (2414 views) | | | Tasted by dannyg on 5/6/2022 & rated 92 points: Fine Graves to have with meaty dishes (1998 views) | | | Tasted by Renevin on 3/5/2022 & rated 93 points: Au départ,nez champignons, terres, cheval, mais évolue sur du fruits noirs, confit. En bouche tout en rondeur, tanins biens fondus, belle longueur. Possiblement à son mieux (2530 views) | | | Tasted by jshufelt on 3/4/2022 & rated 92 points: Decanted for one hour before service. In the glass, pinkish maroon at the rim, shading quickly to purplish-black at the core. On the nose, graphite, tobacco, and black currants. On the palate, dark fruit, almost briny, with more tobacco, a touch of cedar, and mineral notes on a dry, mildly tannic finish. After about 2.5 hours, the fruit began to fade - I'm not convinced there is upside from here, and the cliff may be near. If you have bottles, it's time to check in. (2263 views) | | | Tasted by dannyg on 2/12/2022 & rated 95 points: An excellent graves, that is still drinking young. For both the bottles on different days, I had it open 2-hour in bottle and after that in wide decanter (I use my 1-L laboratory Schott flask). Graves wines need time to make the tannins softer and palatable but there are some that like up front tannins. Plenty of dark fruits, dark chocolate, dried herbs. Fabulous wine.... I can drink this everyday if I had the budget. (2258 views) | | | Tasted by edjBoca on 2/2/2022 & rated 92 points: Dark Crimson with minimal light on the edges. Light nose of darker cool fruits, currant, and cocoa. Opened well over 90-120 minutes. Medium length finish. Should continue to drink well for 3-5 years. (2297 views) | | | Tasted by Vancouver on 1/29/2022 & rated 95 points: Medium ruby in appearance with a lot of lightening at the rim. This has lost a lot of color compared to a bottle drank about 5 years ago.
Pronounced and fully evolved nose of black fruits, vanilla, cassis, crushed rocks, vanilla, tobacco and who knows what else! Just a gorgeous and explosive nose.
Medium bodied with fully resolved tannins and medium acidity-adding up to the type of structure that will allow this to hang in there for another decade plus. The flavor concentration is excellent and the finish is long.
Just an outstanding wine that once again proves that producer trumps vintage. Drink now or hold for another decade in a cold cellar. (2225 views) | | | Tasted by bbq_grandcru on 1/15/2022 & rated 93 points: Everything in beautiful balance. Tannins have resolved. Complex and long finish. Only modest gripe I have is it could have benefitted from a touch more acidity. Some nice sauvage, dark berry, graphite. A beautiful Bordeaux here. (1968 views) | | | Tasted by Geoff on 1/3/2022 & rated 93 points: PNP, needed at least 1-2 hour decant. What a beautiful wine. Drinking very well right now and has the fruit, tannins and structure to last a while longer. (2022 views) | | | Tasted by Geoff on 11/29/2021 & rated 94 points: Really hitting it's stride. Four hour slo-ox, 1 hour decant. Enticing dark fruit with multiple layers of secondary/tertiary notes, tannins present but mollified, smooth mouthfeel and long finish. Just a delight. (2148 views) | | | Tasted by J o e on 10/7/2021 & rated 92 points: After about an hour of air, the 2004 Smith Haut Lafitte offers up notes of dark pipe tobacco, campfire smoke, red cherries, mint and leather. Medium- to full-bodied in the mouth, there is ample dark fruit, earth and minerals, along with some gentle tannin. This is unmistakably Graves, but perhaps with a modern touch. Ready to drink now. 92. (2147 views) | | | Tasted by prism on 10/2/2021 & rated 91 points: Decanted for five hours. Some barnyard funk that never quite blew off. an understated companion to food, delicious without calling much attention to itself. (2065 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/29/2015)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (2/25/2014)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2010
(Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte (Pessac-Léognan)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/7/2009)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (12/24/2008)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | The World of Fine Wine, December 2008, Issue #22
(Château Smith Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Cru Classé) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2008
(Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (8/6/2008)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/20/2008)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, April 2007
(Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/16/2006)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2006
(Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2006, IWC Issue #126
(Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2005, IWC Issue #120
(Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (4/5/2005)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (6/23/2007)
(Château Smith Haut Lafitte) Dark raspberry red color; big coffee and espresso nose; tasty, tart cassis and espresso palate with plush mouthfeel; medium finish (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc) 91 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and Winedoctor and The World of Fine Wine and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Smith Haut Lafitte Producer website – Read more about Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte
Producers > Château Smith Haut Lafitte See map
Château Smith-Haut-Lafite has been transformed during the last decade from being a perennial underachiever to being one of the leading estates in the Graves region.
For many years it was owned by the Bordeaux négociant Eschenauer - in 1990 it was bought by former Olympic skiing champion, Daniel Cathiard. He cut down on the amount of chemicals and herbicides used in the vineyards, and fully modernised the winemaking facilities. The proportion of new oak barrels used in the maturation process was increased and a trio of eminent oenologists (including the ubiquitous Michel Rolland) were hired as consultants.
The 55 hectares of vineyards are located on a gravel ridge to the east of Château Haut-Bailly. The red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (35%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats and the wine is then matured in oak barrels (50% new) for 15-18 months. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
BACKGROUND: The noble Bosq family started growing grapes as early as 1365. The property was purchased in the 18th century by Scotsman George Smith, who gave the estate its present name. He also built the manor house and exported his – by now famous – wine to England on his own ships. In 1842, Mr. Duffour-Dubergier, Mayor of Bordeaux and an enthusiastic winegrower, inherited Château Smith Haut Lafitte from his mother and brought the wine up to great growth status. Impressed by Smith Haut Lafitte's excellent quality, the Louis Eschenauer company distributed the wine all over the world starting in the early 20th century, deciding to buy the estate in 1958. After the Eschenaueur period came to an end, a great deal of money has been invested in the estate, particularly on the construction of a superb underground cellar holding over 1,000 barrels. In 1990, Daniel Cathiard fell in love with the property and joined the list of prestigious owners, firmly intending to further enhance Smith Haut Lafitte's tradition of excellence. He combined the most modern winemaking techniques and age-old methods: organic compost, small wooden vats, ageing on the lees in barrel, etc. Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanGraves Vins de Graves (Conseil des Vins de Graves) - Read more about Pessac Leogan Graves and its winesPessac-Léognan Pessac-Leognan reds:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Soil: Predominantly gravel and sandy rock, with varying proportions of clay and sandstone
Surface Area: 1,491 ha
Pessac-Leognan whites:
Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Soil: Gravel and rocks covered with sand, sandstone, and clay
Surface Area: 275 ha |
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