Community Tasting Note
-
Gabriel Geller Likes this wine: 95 points
August 14, 2022 - Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, 2019: Every release of the kosher SHL is a celebration. It happens every five years or so. IDS (the kosher négociant) and their predecessors have lucked out, as every time it was made was a very good to exceptional vintage. Yes, even 2002, which in my experience has proven to be a classic Bordeaux year, including for lower end wines (Rollan de By, Tour Seran, Royaumont…). While outstanding, the 2019 shows differently than its “colleagues” from this vintage (Pontet-Canet, Giscours, Lagrange). Tasted straight out of the bottle, then with 2 hours decanting, then 6 hours and 20 hours. In many ways, it is reminiscent of the 2009, albeit not as layered. Granted, I only tasted the 2009 once, in 2016. So it had a few more years of development under its belt. Deep inky purple. The nose shows notes of ripe blackberries, cassis, anis, Cuban cigar, vanilla and hints of earthy minerals. Full-bodied, tight, deeply extracted, slowly unfolding with velvety layers of ripe black fruits, ripe strawberries, black licorice, iron, graphite, black pepper, black truffle, medium-plus acidity, bakers chocolate and rich espresso, with firm, grainy tannins coating and saturating the mouth on a very long and generous finish. The ripeness and slightly agressive character caught me a bit off-guard, but the balance and structure of this wine are incredible. 15% Abv (yes, fifteen percent, not a typo.) Drink 2033-2055, maybe longer. 95-96
6 people found this helpful 7,253 views