This was incredible, hands down best wine I've had in 2024 and perhaps in the last 5 years with the possible exception being a '96 Chateau Margaux I had at a friend's dinner party in 2021 (the SHL is a close contender tbh). No detailed notes but the previous review captures the essence of the '10 SHL perfectly. The wine was fresh, vibrant and full of life with a razor sharp acidity and a finish that lingered for nearly a minute. A silky magenta in the glass with a bouquet that just leaps at you (we could smell the wine amidst everything going on in the restaurant - Rumi's Kitchen here in Houston - on a very crowded Saturday night). My friend at dinner could not stop marveling how good this was. Just an uplifting experience. We opened at the restaurant and decanted for about 45 minutes prior to drinking over the course of 2 hours. Kept getting better down to the last drop. Has many, many years of life ahead but you only live once....
Would I buy again: yes
Value: enormous bargain at it's price point
96+ points -- world-class wine
NB: I should add the wine had very little sediment
Decanted for 3 hours and it showed best at that time, dense and dark appearance, notes of dried tobacco leaf, pen ink and spiced plum on the nose, full bodied, dark and sultry, sturdy tannin, flavors of iron, cigar, blackberry, cherry and dry earth emerge, long, nuanced finish, unique in the depth and darkness of character, this can already go now but will be even more interesting with more time, and it will be a graceful evolution
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This is the 2nd bottle I tried, with proper air. This is very underwhelming, muted aromas, a bit of complexity on the nose but faint. No pleasure here. Won't touch the other bottles for a decade and see... given the price tag I wouldn't recommend to buy/drink this now.
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Endless concentrated blackberry fruit. Mineral, iron, cedar, applewood. Spectacular wine. Utterly youthful. Tasted great right out of the gate -- and then enjoyed over the next 4 hours from a decanter.
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Ripe and concentrated. Leather and tobacco have started to emerge on the nose together with a core of opulent black fruit. Full bodied with good freshness and a very long finish where some savoury flavours appear. One for those who enjoy a modern, polished style.
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Explosion of red summerfruits, blackberries and cherries. Slight spicyness. Laurel. Plums. Eucalyptus. Rich vanilla taste from aging on new barrels. Much power and still very well balanced. Presents itself with conviction.
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Liked this didn’t love it, not much change since my last bottle, note of vanilla , crème de cassis, perfume, dark cherries and some dark mineral note on the nose, full bodied but harmonious texture even with slight heet pop and tannins are ripe and well polished so not that obtrusive, medium mini is acid with and medium plus finish
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On the nose: candied, deep, dark fruit; tar; lovely perfume; clean On the palate: fresh, clean, delicious, more taut than ‘08, light to medium bodied. Try again in a few years.
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Decanted 45 minutes prior to tasting. Deep dark red in color, developing slight aging color on the edges. Appears tight on the nose. I expect this may take a couple of hours to open up. On the palette, tight tannins, dark fruit with a hint of bitterness at the end. Not showing its best, but in a couple of ours I expect a bouquet of flowers on the nose. This has years of cellaring available to it before needing to consume more.
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Superb, a delicous and well balanced, structured interesting wine. Good to go from first pour, fresh cassis and personality that makes it enjoyable and accessible. A total all rounder. We popped and poured and that worked fine, improved over time as you’d expect.
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Dark purple with garnet rim Currant, oak, leather, and cigar on the nose On the palate strawberry, ripe plums, and espresso. Heavy acidity and strong tannins.
Big and heavy full-bodied wine, with a milk like viscosity and an intense texture.
Beautiful wine. My guess is this wine will be great for many years.
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Decanted for 2 hours. This lovely Bordeaux is deep ruby in color. On the nose the wine exudes medium intensity dark berries with a hint of smoke. On the palate, there is medium intensity blackberry, licorice followed by stone and smoke. The wine has a full body and the tannins while prominent are not harsh.
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Man.. I used to love this wine and saw it’s bright future. Today though, this was so grumpy and not giving up ANYTHING in the way of pleasure. The wine feels out of balance, a little hot, oak too present - just discombobulated, confused and giving no pleasure. This needs at least another 5-7 years before wanting to try again but even then… I’m starting to get a little nervous for it’s development.
Fantastic wine in a memorable line up. Earthy fruit, tannins quite lush. He is already a real pleasure to drink and promises many more years of that. Dark, sophisticated fruit, some cedar and tree bark complemented by subtle spice notes. Great!
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Slightly oaky, closed nose but minerally and pencilly on the palate, which is clean and expands nicely, building to a strong finish. The oak on the palate is still quite prominent and this will need a lot of time to integrate. I wouldn't touch these before 2030.
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This wine confines to over deliver. What an amazing wine - decant for a min of 1.5 hours before taking a sip and then thank me as the wine blossoms into greatness. Won’t repeat previous notes. 94/95.
The wine is dark red / garnet with no sign of browning around the edges.
The nose is nice. On the palette the wine is high in tannin and feels like it still needs some time to open (this wine was had at the chateau, freshly popped from the bottle and not decanted), and is a tad austere and rustic as others have noted, but it actually has a lot of black fruits in there too: blackcurrants, blackberries, black cherries, leather. The mouthfeel isn’t as opulent as I’d like though; I get the structure and the leather overpowering the fruit a bit too much, and it’s certainly not silly despite having a sense of balance. Medium finish—not that noticeable to me.
I’d give this another few years or a long decant. I feel this way about many 2010’s: there’s so much structure that it can overpower the fruit, and I’m starting to wonder if and when that tannic structure will fade a bit to release the wines more.
93-94 pts. Tasted at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.
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Classic Bordeaux. Dry, earthy, tannic, acidic, rustic. Powerful aromas. Tasting in July 26/27th, 2022 and it's still got a tiny bit of rough edges. Will age well for at least another decade. Not a smooth, ethereal wine, it's a powerful, bold, rustic wine with a long finish. Tannins might smooth over with age, but it's great to drink now. I generally prefer smoother wines, but I still love this. 97/100.
UPDATE: 7/29/2022 Tasting this again along with Troplong Mondot 2015 and Pontet Canet 2008. Pontet Canet is the smoothest and most polished, possibly because of the most aging. Troplong Mondot is the most tannic and a bit under developed...clearly needs more aging. But somewhat similar to the Smith Haut Lafitte.
Smith Haut Lafitte is as I remember it...tannic, powerful aromas, rustic.
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Quite modern style with lots of bold dark berries. Intense tannins, quite nicely integrated. Great complexity and depth. Very long finish. But somehow it still feels a little young. Drink from 2024-2036. (IG)
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Very good but Still to young… drink next bottle in 5 years. Decanted 5 hours before drinking. Good acidity and lots of tannins and just needs time to come together
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Thoughts… this wine is huge, way too young and more of a modern style than I was expecting. However there is no questioning its quality and delicious pure fruit and it’s brooding and impressive structure. The tannins is still harsh but I loved it. It just costs your mouth in a masochistic yet wonderful way. If you can wait… or expect a beautiful bruiser now.
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Two hour decant. Very deep magenta color. Red Delicious apple, raw coconut, wool, black cherry saltwater taffy, and subtle violet on the nose. Smooth, dry palate, with good, lingering acidity. Full, lower intensity tannins on the medium long finish.
This has an introverted elegance. It’s not as sweet nosed as the notes suggest. This continued to improve over an hour of drinking. Fun change of pace for me.
Medium body. Pencil shavings, blueberry and dark berries. Nice balance and finish. Tannins still a bit strong into the finish but this has great potential. It’s enjoyable now but I’d hold 5 more years.
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Ready to drink. Opened for an hour and then poured out glasses. Deep purple color. Classic blend of earth, fruit, and cigar leaf. Will evolve for decades.
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Decanted for an hour then opened in a Reidel glass for another half hour. An immediate bouquet of blackberry, blueberry and terroir. Across the palate, it is vibrant plum flavors that morphed to chocolate, flint, and leather. But there was something else…on the second taste, there was an effervescent when soft tannins stepped forward. It should be enjoyed for many decades ahead! Glad there’s more!
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Served blind with a 2018 Corra Melanson. Interestingly the other 3 people unanimously thought that the Melanson was the Bordeaux and the Smith was the Napa cab. I literally had to re-pour in front of everyone to convince the Napa lovers that the wine they preferred was in fact a Bordeaux. The Smith was so amazingly smooth and fresh, even with a touch of sweetness. Unanimously the WOTN once everyone realized which wines were which.
How lucky we are that Bordeaux exists. This black wine with a mauve edge is on the cusp of maturity. The bouquet reveals blueberry sandalwood blackberry gravel and floral notes. Some aged aromas emerging. The palate is more black plum and gravel. The structure is firm with good acid and mouth coating tannin. It has the elegance of St Julien floral notes from Margaux but its roots are the plum and gravel of Graves. It is feminine and introverted and contrasts with its exuberant stable mate Haut Brion. Riedel Bordeaux glasses. Best after 30 minutes in decanter. 16 deg C. Best 2025 to 2060.
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Classic Bordeaux , med tannins, some tobacco. Came in 5th place in tasting of 8 wines from St Emilion & Pessac-Leognan, but favorite of several traditionalists
The last of these I have. This was much better than the one I had last year. This has everything really. It was standing up in my cabinet for a few days, which I feel tends to help a wine show better. This had beautiful dark fruit, a liveliness and raciness from the acidity, everything so extended and alive. Wish I had more.
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Starting drinking 1hr in last glass 3 hours. What a wonderful wine, thoroughly enjoyed, and while might not be perfect spot it is in a very good drinking window. For sure has sediment and decanting needs but when it opens up it explodes from the glass with ripe plum, black currants, in ripe blackberry, blueberry, boat load of red fruits, tremendous lift, cigar, earth, coffe grinds, and a super long voluptuous finish. What a great wine with depth and pleasure to go around. So good. 94 - 95
Magnificent 6 Ride Again: Blind. Redcurrant, graphite, ash, and smoky spice. Palate is well composed, with ripe fruit melding together well with the structure supporting it. Last tried this 7 years ago and it needed time then, it's started coming together but more time to develop certainly won't hurt.
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Coffee bean,vanilla subtle stone, black berries and dark currant on the nose, generous fruit with good freshness and weight on the palate grainy bit ripe tannins grip on the finish
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Opened on March 6, 2 glasses drunk, and then consumed sporadically through March 16. Double decanted on March 8. Structured, tannic, firm, with a bit of ash. Pleasantly dark-fruited. Seemed very tightly wound until the last glass on the 16th, where it felt pleasantly California lush. For lovers of Napa wines it's ready to go. If you prefer more classic claret hold another decade. Excellent.
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This is a wonderful wine. It is opaque and black in the decanter. It has a garnet hue but the meniscus is dark mauve. The bouquet is open from the first glass. There are layers of blueberry, cherry, blackberry but also floral notes. There is a gravel and plum note that I associated with the region. The palate is dripping with flavour. The wine is ripe. It is balanced and with firm tannins. At 90 minutes aged characters appear. Drunk from Riedel glasses at 17 deg C. Estimated drinking window 2025 to 2050.
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Decanted. Very dark plummy purple right to the rim with no signs of age. Black and purple brambly berries, roasted meat, charcoal, ink, tar, fennel seed and a floral (lavendar) quality on the nose. Lots of slow legs down the side of the glass. Big mouthful of flavours! Wow! Huge amounts of dark fruit - black currant, blackberry - and then tar, suede, pencil shavings, graphite, plum, crushed stone and underbrush. The acidity is well judged and there are a lots of powdered tannins to bring a nice astringency on the finish. Nice body and weight. Still needs more time. This has integrated nicely but hasn't mellowed out yet, which it will. Seems to have shed some of its earlier boisterous fruit. 95 points with upside.
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Bordeaux 2010 - 10 Years On - 61 Reds: Bordeaux 2010 after 10 years. 61 reds, mostly big names, tasted blind. Average score 92.1 and lower than the more open and charming 2009 vintage last year (93.4). A few observations: A) It’s not yet the harmonious, complex, classic, clean vintage. Especially the masculine appellations of the left bank need at least 5 more years to just open up, potentially longer to soften. B) Left bank trumps right bank thanks to less detectable alcohol, cleaner lines and the two best wines of the vintage (Mouton, Margaux). C) Pomerol shines bright with many strong wines which can all mask the high alcohol levels (best AOC slightly ahead of Pauillac). D) As in 2009, there are several right banks already past peak, incl. big names (Duffau Lagarosse, Ausone). All in all, 2010 is a very good vintage with pockets of greatness but today 2009 shows more open and hence complex. More information, top and worst 10 list, appellation rankings from five participants in the story link.
TN: Like almost all Pessac-Leognan wines the SHL is not yet really open for business, so the 92 points are just what the wine delivered in this tasting. I believe that the wine has the substance to be a lot of pleasure but this evening it showed a bit of dark fruits, sweet red berries, hints of tobacco but not in an intensity and harmony which would deserve much more than this mediocre score. The structure is impeccable, though, and will allow for graceful ageing. I would wait at least another 5 years before opening this wine.
Decanting: This wine would have needed at least 4 or rather 6 hours in the decanter.
Group average: 92.6 Group rank: number 31 out of 61 wines
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Grand Bordeaux 2010 ten years on tasting; 6/21/2020-6/22/2020 (Fribourg): Big Bordeaux 2010 2-day horizontal hosted by a private collector. My 3 main takeaways from the vintage were 1) more frequent perception of heat, 2) a slightly stronger left bank and a less consistent right bank, 3) while in general it is still too early to pop the 2010s, wine selection is key as some appear to be in decline already, especially on the right bank. The top wines were Mouton (99), Margaux (98) and VCC (98). The biggest positive surprise was Clos Manou (95). Biggest disappointment was Pape Clement (86). More details and complete tasting overview included in the tasting story.
Tasting notes: The signature green, herbal notes surrounding a rather dark fruit lead you to suspect SHL even in a blind tasting context. Intense palate but lacking refinement with an acidic overhang. I am generally a big fan of the estate and most vintages, but the 2010 didn't felt quite up to the game when compared to a phenomenal 2009 or more recent vintages such as 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.
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Quite sophisticated, layered, though still shrouded and cloaked at this stage of its development - I think it needs more time - still a bit tightly wound and congested in a way, but the quality is quite apparent. There's a smokey aspect. I think Parker's review is very accurate. This is classy, lots going on, though needs another five years to fully resolve.
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Pnp at Oceans 82 St Maarten We last enjoyed this wine a year ago. Deep rich dark berries , concentrated Beginning to develop the complexity of secondary flavors Still has tannic bite, with some minerality and vanilla Tonight 95
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Dinner at Pressoir d’argent Gordon Ramsay, Bordeaux. Deep purple. A big, powerful wine with a firm tannic structure. Deeply fruited, quite concentrated. Still too young. Will be better once tannins settle down.
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First taste of this wine. Great start. Big, balanced flavors with great nose and long finish. Tannins likely to settle down over time, so I think this will get even better. If you can, wait 3 or 4 more years before the next bottle.
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We purchased two bottles of this wine aboard our cruise ship ( Seabourn). The price was much better than at home ( US ) We drank them on two occasions, each bottle decanted in the room for two hours prior to dinner. Nose of dark berries and spice with some added chocolate and oak on the first taste. The wine is deep rich and full bodied but still slightly too young and tannic initially. The more time this spent in the glass, the better it got. This developed into a really good wine over the course of the evening. I just bought two bottles online for the cellar back home. I can’t wait to see how this develops. 97 today
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Commanderie de Bordeaux (Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte): Opened at 9am but not decanted. A youthful purple color with no signs of age. Very tight on the nose and palate. With coaxing, notes of ripe dark fruits emerged, with hints of crushed rocks. Medium bodied, with good concentration of fruit, but struggled next to the 2000. Infanticide at this point; for my taste, I would not touch a bottle for 10 years.
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Drank after 27 wine tasting at Vinum55. Of the 27 wines, only two stood out, 2013 Ulysses and Plumjack Merlot. Didn’t pull the trigger on either but they were enjoyable.
After the tasting pulled out Helen Keplinger’s first Cabernet under her own label (2014 Oakville) and 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte). All three of us immediately commented on how good these wines are in comparison to what we just tasted. Wine snobs? Yep but who doesn’t like the pretty things?
PnP both and got to work (who doesn’t need more wine have tasting 27?). The Keplinger was immediately ready to go calling for our attention and we gave it in spades. This allowed Smith to open up and boy did it ever. What a great wine to share at a meal with friends (although no meal is needed at this stage). Great dark fruits & matching complexity. Wonderful structure and enough stuffing to continue to age and reward those with patience.
For me, this is the perfect (Bordeaux vintages matter much much more than in USA) Bordeaux gateway wine/drug. It is the coming of the stylistic changes enveloped in an amazing vintage with a very very good QPR. Even at today’s prices, this is a great buy. 2015’s are another good vintage, will there be a repeat performance? Will have to wait another 7 years but at this price, how can one not pull the trigger?
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PnP and was highly anticipated... maybe too much? Realized needs a ton of time to open up in the glass. Will revisit again tonight to see if it can get back to 95+
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Head2Head 2010 Leoville Barton vs 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte. 2 hour decant. Drank over following 3 hours (open for five hours in total). Enjoyed without food to start and then with lamb and filet.
Both could take advantage of more time, Barton could use more than Smith.
Smith was the winner hands down. Great depth, fruit- dark fruits (plum, blackberry, etc) with streaks of tobacco/espresso and firm supple tannins. Was great to open now but excited for what near term will bring.
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Joanne Bordeaux Trip 2018 (Bordeaux): The nose was gorgeous with dark red fruits, rich spices, gravel dust, lavender, and minerals. Enveloping silky textures washed across the senses with zesty dark red fruits and mounting young tannin; then sour blackberry, minerals and savory herbs. The finish was long with dark fruits, savory herbs, saline minerals and saturating fine tannin. The 2010 is a big wine and quite intense, yet wonderfully balanced.
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I could smell this wine forever! Opened this on my 40 birthday dinner with some great friends and enjoyed one of the best wines I ever tasted. The wine was flawless.
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Opened it @ Robuchon after finished other 2 bottle of 1989 vintage and pour out of the bottle without decanted so maybe that why it's feel a bit too young. However this wine still in above average Bordeaux
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2017 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/16/2017-10/25/2017 (New York City, NY): This opaque ruby ruby wine (a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) has a dense core of tarry black fruit, bittersweet chocolate, mulling spices, espresso and lavender. Full-bodied, fresh and with nicely integrated alcohol, it wraps its flavor package with plentiful polished tannins and harmonious oak. Layered on the middle palate and concluding very long, this vintage of Smith Haut Lafitte is undeniably classic in quality. Drink 2022-2045.
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Slo Oxed for 3 hours decanted for 4 hours - drank better and better as we finished the bottle. Great nose - drinking so smooth and silky, rich and precise. A very nice Bordeaux. Just entering drinking window with a ton of airtime in the decanter. So happy I got 7 more.
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2010 Smith Haut Lafitte Smith Haut Lafitte, decanted 8 hours, the results are a beautiful wine that is silky smooth without tannic, that's full body, 35 plus second finish.. why wait when you can enjoy this beauty today ... 98 pts clearly... Robert Parker Nailed it
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For Father's Day, I decided to treat myself - why not? First bottle of the case cracked for Father's day dinner of wine braised lamb shanks. High fill, good solid cork. Very full bodied. Impenetrable black nearly to the rim with a fine black cherry edge. First scents are rich black currant and melted black licorice. With air some tar, camphor, ink, white flowers and pencil lead. Unctuously coats the glass with high glycerine and leaves sensuous long slow legs. First sip: holy $h!t this is good! Great extract and rich feel. So full and round and sensuous! Gobs of flavour. Coats your mouth with black fruit compote - black currant, black berries, mullberries and perhaps a trace of black cherry. Great acidity, still lots of tannins there but they are buried deep under all the fruit. Long, long finish with waves of flavour replays. Carries the 14.5 % alcohol well. This is an OMFG wine! If I was to channel Charlie I would say: This is a high class escort of a wine in a slinky black dress that leaves nothing to the imagination, stilettos and a sultry French accent! Easy 99 points! Cheers!
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A classic young Bordeaux, perhaps still a bit tight even after 3 hours, yet still a pleasure to drink. I don't see Parker's 98, but he awards points for the nose and I don't... I like a good bouquet but it's what's in the glass that I rate.
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This is showing better than ever. It's lush, opulently textured, intense, yet with a good purity of fruit and elegant, silky tannins. Still young, the wine is inky dark in color, with a primary character, but the last few years have helped the wine fill out and expand. This is about potential, but it's clear that this is going to be something special when it matures.
Pop and poured: Super fruit monolithic bomb presents itself immediately. Very big cal cab in style. At least for now. Drinks well considering how young it is (no tannnis to speak of) but one hopes it will improve in subtlety in time. We wil see. For now it's nice, but not great, as some reviewers have suggested.
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Obviously still ripe but complexity already there. Soft aroma, still needs to develop. Unripe cherries but in a strong sharp burst, smoky finish. Think it will be a great wine in 5yrs.
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One day Bordeaux wine school (Prince Sydney, 40 Hansard Street): Blackcurrant, cream, cedars, plummy fruit, violets, biscuit, toast. With agitation biscuit comes to the fore. In the mouth the tannins dominate, quite chalky in fact, black fruit over spice. A bit closed, there is a little bit of herbaceousness on the finish.
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Great colour; quite tight and dense, brooding; tight but a great package in the offing here. Brimming with energy. Lots of structure, lots of everything.
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Atlas Fine Wines 2010,2011,2012 Bordeaux Tasting (Vintners Hall, London): Definitely a wine made for mr Parker and really in a vintage like 2010 there was no need to make such a heavy handed wine. Not as porty as we expected but still, dense, extracted, raisiny, full on and rich. Not a bad wine as such but really a bit of a poor effort. Sell. 90-91
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Deep inky black color, equally pitch-black fruit complexion. Comes across very extracted and heavy-handed, which is the house style these days. But I used to enjoy it because however extracted it was, it was still extract of Graves, and that's not evident anymore. It has some singed toastiness but seems more from the barrels than from any intrinsic Graves tar and smoke that goes beyond the barrels. Frankly I'm not even sure I would be able to ID this as Bordeaux. Lot of leftovers in this bottle - not a good sign. It's mellower in weight and redder in fruit the next day, still with a saline intensity and some exotic incense-like flavors on the back end. Better in some ways, but also teetering towards oxidation, so not better overall.
MW Institute 2010 Bordeaux Tasting (Sydney, Australia): Chocolate, violets and spice on the nose. The palate shows off its rich fruit profile and for the time being that is the dominant character. Very good length and the structure does seem to be there in the background. Give this one some more time.
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25 years of the Cathiards at Smith Haut Lafitte: all magnum verticals (Château Smith Haut Lafitte): Just as in 2009, a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (64%), and indeed the same blend (30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) and virtually the same yields, at 35 hectoliters per hectare - just one more than in 2009. I find that the 2010 is somehow fresher and more bracing than the 2009, and hence may just dare to give it a ... higher score than the 2000! As fellow taster Jane Anson remarked, one can notice some heat in the 2009 whereas the 2010 will probably be a long term keeper. I think I agree. Excellent work.
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This wine was rather closed and tight this evening with quite little to showcase itself; overall, 92-93 points; needed at least a decade more if not two to reach maturity.
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From the signature note of blueberry and it's purple opaque core this wine transcends into abstract qualities of delicacy,femininity,grace,clarity and space. It exudes youthful characters of black cherry and blackcurrant. I can see why Parker says charcoal and spring flowers. There are also coffee aromas. The nose is partially closed but the palate is full bodied, well balanced with good length and exploding with fine tannins. Coravin first pour. 16 degrees C. Decanter 45 minutes. Riedel Bourdeaux glasses. Parker says 2018 to 2058.
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Dark in color, smoke, licorice, truffle, tobacco and chocolate scents get you going. Thick, rich, intense, concentrated and deep, the intense finish is packed with sweet, ripe, dark, sweet, boysenberries and even darker chocolate. This is even better than when tasted earlier this year.
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A very modern styled wine but not over-oaked. Very dark, blackberry fruit flavors, port-like ripeness and finishes with a burst of alcohol. I have no confidence in its future and a joke to give this wine 98 points.
This is an absolute beauty. One of my favorite wines of the evening. Excellent balance and tannins which are seamlessly integrated into the wine. Surprising that this is so well and balanced in its youth. Port-like concentration and a finish that goes on for 30 seconds.
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dark red, purple, in color. faint nose at first. dark fruit, blackberry, currants, tart fruit, earth, soil, spice, pepper, oak, on the nose. high acid, big tannins, on this dry finish.
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Wine Spectator Grand Tasting- SF April 24; 4/29/2013-5/1/2013: Crushed floral, sweet earthy spice, blueberry and leather aromas. Velvety crushed rock and ripe high-toned floral blueberry flavors, layered depth, and big smooth tannins. Lengthy finish. Excellent.
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Grande Bordeaux Tasting, 2010 (Grand Hyatt Hong Kong): Lots of smoke! Plenty of cassis here as well. Smooth on the palate with well-integrated tannins. Big finish. Apparently, the '10 expresses terroir better than the '09 which is 'vintage dominated'. The quote - "2010 is the best vintage we ever made". This was our WOTN - we went back for more!
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Less flamboyant than the 2009, that vanilla oaky quality along with the jam is not as evident. Like many of its peers, more terroir driven, and some firm tannins and chalk linger. This is serious, but will require some time. For the cellar. 96++
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UGC 2010 Singapore (Singapore): Dark garnet to the rim, big fruit, big oak. Tannins are well in check. Medium + finish. This will need time, can see the quality but a bit too much of everything for me at this point in time. 93+
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What a nose! Smoky blackberries, exotic spices, blueberries, licorice, jam, tobacco, olive tapenade and forest scents are impossible to avoid. The wine is incredibly concentrated, balanced, polished, sensuous and sexy. This blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot should age and improve for decades.
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64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. An outstanding wine but a bit of a disappointment after the great 2009. Medium bodied. Notes of tar, prickly black fruit and bittersweet chocolate. Firm tannins. Better than the 1998, 2001 and 2003 but below the 2005 and 2009. I liked it as much as the 2000 on release. 92-93 points.
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Taste: Medium/full bodies with medium acidity and big chewy tannins. The structure is imposing right now, but there are very good tones of crushed rocks, cedar, dark red cherries, and leather tones.
Overall: This was pretty impressive even with its youth. It certainly needs time, but it should really reward that patience.
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Union des Grands Crus 2010 Bordeaux Tasting (Palace Hotel - San Francisco): Great nose showcasing that smoky gravel that often comes through in SHL, along with rich cassis, lead pencil, leather, rich black cherry, spicy black pepper, and a touch of sweet blueberry. More smoky rocks on the palate, along with rich cassis, ripe red cherry, leather, and some spicy black pepper. Always like the profile of SHL and this doesn’t disappoint. Very good+
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UCGB tasting Bordeaux 2010 (Brussels): Imho the 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte is slightly different from other recent vintages; the oak is a little less prominent and the wine shows more elegance, but be sure this is still a great wine with a long future. There is good dark fruit juice, and certainly some beautiful oak in the bouquet as well as the taste. Some licorice and sweet spices. Good concentration and beautiful acidity and tannin. More classical than expected. 93++
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Much richer and more complex than the 2011 - very good concentration of gravelly red fruits; denser palate, lovely ripeness of fruit, good grip and balancing acidity. Long. Excellent. 93-95.
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now a veteran (...) taster of last two EP vintages, I can say this with some certainty: any idiot could have liked the 2009 but the 2010 takes way more experience/expertise. It is a harder, more tannic wine than 2009 even though what it does yield is actually more graves typicity in terms of minerality/smoke/ graphite. In retrospect the 2009 may have been more (too?) modern in style with seductive ripe fruit - still it would take a very brave man to choose the 2010 ahead of the 2009 (I guess I qualify as that "any idiot") and to cap things off I hear the 2010 actually costs more (and will be ready to drink much later). uhm....shrug the shoulders, much laughter and pass.
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Slightly transparent purple colour. Intense, ripe aromas of black fruits with a little floral lift. Bright, pure fruit on the entry with more minerality and then full spicy tannins on the mid palate. A touch hard and uncompromising. A hint of toffee on the finish.
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Smith Haut Lafitte 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Petit Verdot formed the assemblage. Deeply colored and filled with smoke, cassis, jam and licorice coated dark berry aromas, this rich, juicy, concentrated wine ends with a long opulent, fat, sweet, jammy black fruit and vanilla finish. 94-95 Pts
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Quite closed on the nose - an impression of dense richness; delicious palate with fantastic fruit and wonderful texture, the finish really fanning out like a peacocks tail. Very long. Wonderful, elegant wine yet has power. 93-96.
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4/21/2024 - brennan18 Likes this wine: 96 Points
This was incredible, hands down best wine I've had in 2024 and perhaps in the last 5 years with the possible exception being a '96 Chateau Margaux I had at a friend's dinner party in 2021 (the SHL is a close contender tbh). No detailed notes but the previous review captures the essence of the '10 SHL perfectly. The wine was fresh, vibrant and full of life with a razor sharp acidity and a finish that lingered for nearly a minute. A silky magenta in the glass with a bouquet that just leaps at you (we could smell the wine amidst everything going on in the restaurant - Rumi's Kitchen here in Houston - on a very crowded Saturday night). My friend at dinner could not stop marveling how good this was. Just an uplifting experience. We opened at the restaurant and decanted for about 45 minutes prior to drinking over the course of 2 hours. Kept getting better down to the last drop. Has many, many years of life ahead but you only live once....
Would I buy again: yes
Value: enormous bargain at it's price point
96+ points -- world-class wine
NB: I should add the wine had very little sediment
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2/16/2024 - whits Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 3 hours and it showed best at that time, dense and dark appearance, notes of dried tobacco leaf, pen ink and spiced plum on the nose, full bodied, dark and sultry, sturdy tannin, flavors of iron, cigar, blackberry, cherry and dry earth emerge, long, nuanced finish, unique in the depth and darkness of character, this can already go now but will be even more interesting with more time, and it will be a graceful evolution
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1/26/2024 - AaronJCohen Likes this wine: 95 Points
de La Terre w Pris. The wine was amazing. It had a deep purple ruby color. On the nose dark fruit and floral
On the palate baked plum, cigar box, chocolate and leather.
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12/30/2023 - Amr_Gva Does not like this wine: 87 Points
This is the 2nd bottle I tried, with proper air. This is very underwhelming, muted aromas, a bit of complexity on the nose but faint. No pleasure here. Won't touch the other bottles for a decade and see... given the price tag I wouldn't recommend to buy/drink this now.
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12/21/2023 - Plabella Likes this wine: 99 Points
Beautifully crafted wine with deep red color, dark fruit well integrated tanins & great long-lasting taste.
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12/16/2023 - yaanik Likes this wine: 99 Points
Endless concentrated blackberry fruit. Mineral, iron, cedar, applewood. Spectacular wine. Utterly youthful. Tasted great right out of the gate -- and then enjoyed over the next 4 hours from a decanter.
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11/21/2023 - Irish_Wine wrote: 95 Points
Ripe and concentrated. Leather and tobacco have started to emerge on the nose together with a core of opulent black fruit. Full bodied with good freshness and a very long finish where some savoury flavours appear. One for those who enjoy a modern, polished style.
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9/20/2023 - wjw Likes this wine: 95 Points
Explosion of red summerfruits, blackberries and cherries. Slight spicyness. Laurel. Plums. Eucalyptus. Rich vanilla taste from aging on new barrels. Much power and still very well balanced. Presents itself with conviction.
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6/15/2023 - Richard.schmit Likes this wine: 96 Points
PnP .Deep dark red in color. Nose with flowers and darkfruit. still some tanines left but not overpowering. pleasent to drink now
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6/4/2023 - eoinhharkins Likes this wine: 91 Points
Liked this didn’t love it, not much change since my last bottle, note of vanilla , crème de cassis, perfume, dark cherries and some dark mineral note on the nose, full bodied but harmonious texture even with slight heet pop and tannins are ripe and well polished so not that obtrusive, medium mini is acid with and medium plus finish
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6/3/2023 - 165Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the nose: candied, deep, dark fruit; tar; lovely perfume; clean
On the palate: fresh, clean, delicious, more taut than ‘08, light to medium bodied.
Try again in a few years.
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5/28/2023 - Andrew Vaughan Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really terrific - robust body, satisfying tannins, pleasing acidity. My favorite left bank yet.
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5/26/2023 - Hawkeye_Addict Likes this wine: 94 Points
So smooth and lucious. Opaque with a great mouthfeel. Dark chocolate deliciousness. Oak has integrated well and the tannins are silky. Cheers!
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5/21/2023 - AwineHog Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted 45 minutes prior to tasting. Deep dark red in color, developing slight aging color on the edges. Appears tight on the nose. I expect this may take a couple of hours to open up. On the palette, tight tannins, dark fruit with a hint of bitterness at the end. Not showing its best, but in a couple of ours I expect a bouquet of flowers on the nose. This has years of cellaring available to it before needing to consume more.
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5/20/2023 - jmoon wrote: 95 Points
Superb, a delicous and well balanced, structured interesting wine. Good to go from first pour, fresh cassis and personality that makes it enjoyable and accessible. A total all rounder. We popped and poured and that worked fine, improved over time as you’d expect.
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3/5/2023 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Académie des Cinquante Tasting and Dinner with the Académie du Vin de Bordeaux (Restaurant Entrepot, Amsterdam, NL): Walkaround tasting, brief note. Ripe fruit, firm tannins, fresher style than 2015 but less accessible.
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1/26/2023 - castle.rob@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Dark purple with garnet rim
Currant, oak, leather, and cigar on the nose
On the palate strawberry, ripe plums, and espresso.
Heavy acidity and strong tannins.
Big and heavy full-bodied wine, with a milk like viscosity and an intense texture.
Beautiful wine. My guess is this wine will be great for many years.
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12/17/2022 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. This lovely Bordeaux is deep ruby in color. On the nose the wine exudes medium intensity dark berries with a hint of smoke. On the palate, there is medium intensity blackberry, licorice followed by stone and smoke. The wine has a full body and the tannins while prominent are not harsh.
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11/24/2022 - Andyrodriguez87 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Man.. I used to love this wine and saw it’s bright future. Today though, this was so grumpy and not giving up ANYTHING in the way of pleasure. The wine feels out of balance, a little hot, oak too present - just discombobulated, confused and giving no pleasure. This needs at least another 5-7 years before wanting to try again but even then… I’m starting to get a little nervous for it’s development.
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11/1/2022 - Irish_Wine wrote: 94 Points
Medium ruby
Amazing nose black currant, black cherry, raspberry, cedar, mint, leather, tobacco.
Pronounced on the palate. Long finish.
*** Tasted as part of a walkaround Bordeaux tasting. Not full notes ***
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10/17/2022 - Christian von Dresky Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fantastic wine in a memorable line up. Earthy fruit, tannins quite lush. He is already a real pleasure to drink and promises many more years of that. Dark, sophisticated fruit, some cedar and tree bark complemented by subtle spice notes. Great!
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9/25/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
Slightly oaky, closed nose but minerally and pencilly on the palate, which is clean and expands nicely, building to a strong finish. The oak on the palate is still quite prominent and this will need a lot of time to integrate. I wouldn't touch these before 2030.
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8/5/2022 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine confines to over deliver. What an amazing wine - decant for a min of 1.5 hours before taking a sip and then thank me as the wine blossoms into greatness. Won’t repeat previous notes. 94/95.
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7/29/2022 - Brendel Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine is dark red / garnet with no sign of browning around the edges.
The nose is nice. On the palette the wine is high in tannin and feels like it still needs some time to open (this wine was had at the chateau, freshly popped from the bottle and not decanted), and is a tad austere and rustic as others have noted, but it actually has a lot of black fruits in there too: blackcurrants, blackberries, black cherries, leather. The mouthfeel isn’t as opulent as I’d like though; I get the structure and the leather overpowering the fruit a bit too much, and it’s certainly not silly despite having a sense of balance. Medium finish—not that noticeable to me.
I’d give this another few years or a long decant. I feel this way about many 2010’s: there’s so much structure that it can overpower the fruit, and I’m starting to wonder if and when that tannic structure will fade a bit to release the wines more.
93-94 pts. Tasted at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.
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7/26/2022 - chrisk525 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Classic Bordeaux. Dry, earthy, tannic, acidic, rustic. Powerful aromas. Tasting in July 26/27th, 2022 and it's still got a tiny bit of rough edges. Will age well for at least another decade. Not a smooth, ethereal wine, it's a powerful, bold, rustic wine with a long finish. Tannins might smooth over with age, but it's great to drink now. I generally prefer smoother wines, but I still love this. 97/100.
UPDATE: 7/29/2022 Tasting this again along with Troplong Mondot 2015 and Pontet Canet 2008. Pontet Canet is the smoothest and most polished, possibly because of the most aging. Troplong Mondot is the most tannic and a bit under developed...clearly needs more aging. But somewhat similar to the Smith Haut Lafitte.
Smith Haut Lafitte is as I remember it...tannic, powerful aromas, rustic.
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7/9/2022 - ASMB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Definitely needs more time... A lot more time.
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4/27/2022 - DrZett wrote: 94 Points
Quite modern style with lots of bold dark berries. Intense tannins, quite nicely integrated. Great complexity and depth. Very long finish. But somehow it still feels a little young. Drink from 2024-2036. (IG)
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4/22/2022 - om42 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow!
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2/25/2022 - emderoche Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good but Still to young… drink next bottle in 5 years. Decanted 5 hours before drinking. Good acidity and lots of tannins and just needs time to come together
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2/19/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar notes like last time. Still clearly not ready. Wish I had opened it earlier before consuming.
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2/1/2022 - Joelene wrote: 94 Points
Thoughts… this wine is huge, way too young and more of a modern style than I was expecting. However there is no questioning its quality and delicious pure fruit and it’s brooding and impressive structure. The tannins is still harsh but I loved it. It just costs your mouth in a masochistic yet wonderful way. If you can wait… or expect a beautiful bruiser now.
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1/22/2022 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 95 Points
Two hour decant. Very deep magenta color. Red Delicious apple, raw coconut, wool, black cherry saltwater taffy, and subtle violet on the nose. Smooth, dry palate, with good, lingering acidity. Full, lower intensity tannins on the medium long finish.
This has an introverted elegance. It’s not as sweet nosed as the notes suggest. This continued to improve over an hour of drinking. Fun change of pace for me.
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1/16/2022 - bbq_grandcru Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium body. Pencil shavings, blueberry and dark berries. Nice balance and finish. Tannins still a bit strong into the finish but this has great potential. It’s enjoyable now but I’d hold 5 more years.
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1/4/2022 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ready to drink. Opened for an hour and then poured out glasses. Deep purple color. Classic blend of earth, fruit, and cigar leaf. Will evolve for decades.
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12/2/2021 - Swanywawa Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted for an hour then opened in a Reidel glass for another half hour. An immediate bouquet of blackberry, blueberry and terroir. Across the palate, it is vibrant plum flavors that morphed to chocolate, flint, and leather. But there was something else…on the second taste, there was an effervescent when soft tannins stepped forward. It should be enjoyed for many decades ahead! Glad there’s more!
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11/26/2021 - TXRDW wrote: 96 Points
Served blind with a 2018 Corra Melanson. Interestingly the other 3 people unanimously thought that the Melanson was the Bordeaux and the Smith was the Napa cab. I literally had to re-pour in front of everyone to convince the Napa lovers that the wine they preferred was in fact a Bordeaux. The Smith was so amazingly smooth and fresh, even with a touch of sweetness. Unanimously the WOTN once everyone realized which wines were which.
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10/8/2021 - Indran Rajendra Likes this wine: 99 Points
How lucky we are that Bordeaux exists. This black wine with a mauve edge is on the cusp of maturity. The bouquet reveals blueberry sandalwood blackberry gravel and floral notes. Some aged aromas emerging. The palate is more black plum and gravel. The structure is firm with good acid and mouth coating tannin. It has the elegance of St Julien floral notes from Margaux but its roots are the plum and gravel of Graves. It is feminine and introverted and contrasts with its exuberant stable mate Haut Brion. Riedel Bordeaux glasses. Best after 30 minutes in decanter. 16 deg C. Best 2025 to 2060.
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9/10/2021 - mankam wrote:
Fabulous after a couple of hours of decanting. Smooth. Likely to continue to improve over time.
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9/7/2021 - CNAV-Denhaag Likes this wine: 98 Points
deep red color. little cigar and leather with lots of matured red fruit. full body and long finish. real block buster wine.
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7/16/2021 - CommBdxSD wrote:
Classic Bordeaux , med tannins, some tobacco. Came in 5th place in tasting of 8 wines from St Emilion & Pessac-Leognan, but favorite of several traditionalists
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7/5/2021 - John McCabe wrote: 98 Points
The last of these I have. This was much better than the one I had last year. This has everything really. It was standing up in my cabinet for a few days, which I feel tends to help a wine show better. This had beautiful dark fruit, a liveliness and raciness from the acidity, everything so extended and alive. Wish I had more.
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6/18/2021 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 94 Points
Starting drinking 1hr in last glass 3 hours. What a wonderful wine, thoroughly enjoyed, and while might not be perfect spot it is in a very good drinking window. For sure has sediment and decanting needs but when it opens up it explodes from the glass with ripe plum, black currants, in ripe blackberry, blueberry, boat load of red fruits, tremendous lift, cigar, earth, coffe grinds, and a super long voluptuous finish. What a great wine with depth and pleasure to go around. So good. 94 - 95
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4/24/2021 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Magnificent 6 Ride Again: Blind. Redcurrant, graphite, ash, and smoky spice. Palate is well composed, with ripe fruit melding together well with the structure supporting it. Last tried this 7 years ago and it needed time then, it's started coming together but more time to develop certainly won't hurt.
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3/28/2021 - eoinhharkins wrote: 93 Points
Coffee bean,vanilla subtle stone, black berries and dark currant on the nose, generous fruit with good freshness and weight on the palate grainy bit ripe tannins grip on the finish
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3/6/2021 - theRealPepe wrote: 92 Points
Opened on March 6, 2 glasses drunk, and then consumed sporadically through March 16. Double decanted on March 8. Structured, tannic, firm, with a bit of ash. Pleasantly dark-fruited. Seemed very tightly wound until the last glass on the 16th, where it felt pleasantly California lush. For lovers of Napa wines it's ready to go. If you prefer more classic claret hold another decade. Excellent.
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10/16/2020 - Indran Rajendra wrote: 99 Points
This is a wonderful wine. It is opaque and black in the decanter. It has a garnet hue but the meniscus is dark mauve. The bouquet is open from the first glass. There are layers of blueberry, cherry, blackberry but also floral notes. There is a gravel and plum note that I associated with the region. The palate is dripping with flavour. The wine is ripe. It is balanced and with firm tannins. At 90 minutes aged characters appear. Drunk from Riedel glasses at 17 deg C. Estimated drinking window 2025 to 2050.
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10/4/2020 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted. Very dark plummy purple right to the rim with no signs of age. Black and purple brambly berries, roasted meat, charcoal, ink, tar, fennel seed and a floral (lavendar) quality on the nose. Lots of slow legs down the side of the glass. Big mouthful of flavours! Wow! Huge amounts of dark fruit - black currant, blackberry - and then tar, suede, pencil shavings, graphite, plum, crushed stone and underbrush. The acidity is well judged and there are a lots of powdered tannins to bring a nice astringency on the finish. Nice body and weight. Still needs more time. This has integrated nicely but hasn't mellowed out yet, which it will. Seems to have shed some of its earlier boisterous fruit. 95 points with upside.
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6/29/2020 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux 2010 - 10 Years On - 61 Reds: Bordeaux 2010 after 10 years. 61 reds, mostly big names, tasted blind. Average score 92.1 and lower than the more open and charming 2009 vintage last year (93.4). A few observations: A) It’s not yet the harmonious, complex, classic, clean vintage. Especially the masculine appellations of the left bank need at least 5 more years to just open up, potentially longer to soften. B) Left bank trumps right bank thanks to less detectable alcohol, cleaner lines and the two best wines of the vintage (Mouton, Margaux). C) Pomerol shines bright with many strong wines which can all mask the high alcohol levels (best AOC slightly ahead of Pauillac). D) As in 2009, there are several right banks already past peak, incl. big names (Duffau Lagarosse, Ausone). All in all, 2010 is a very good vintage with pockets of greatness but today 2009 shows more open and hence complex. More information, top and worst 10 list, appellation rankings from five participants in the story link.
TN: Like almost all Pessac-Leognan wines the SHL is not yet really open for business, so the 92 points are just what the wine delivered in this tasting. I believe that the wine has the substance to be a lot of pleasure but this evening it showed a bit of dark fruits, sweet red berries, hints of tobacco but not in an intensity and harmony which would deserve much more than this mediocre score. The structure is impeccable, though, and will allow for graceful ageing. I would wait at least another 5 years before opening this wine.
Decanting: This wine would have needed at least 4 or rather 6 hours in the decanter.
Group average: 92.6
Group rank: number 31 out of 61 wines
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6/21/2020 - sirpat00 wrote: 92 Points
Grand Bordeaux 2010 ten years on tasting; 6/21/2020-6/22/2020 (Fribourg): Big Bordeaux 2010 2-day horizontal hosted by a private collector. My 3 main takeaways from the vintage were 1) more frequent perception of heat, 2) a slightly stronger left bank and a less consistent right bank, 3) while in general it is still too early to pop the 2010s, wine selection is key as some appear to be in decline already, especially on the right bank. The top wines were Mouton (99), Margaux (98) and VCC (98). The biggest positive surprise was Clos Manou (95). Biggest disappointment was Pape Clement (86). More details and complete tasting overview included in the tasting story.
Tasting notes:
The signature green, herbal notes surrounding a rather dark fruit lead you to suspect SHL even in a blind tasting context. Intense palate but lacking refinement with an acidic overhang. I am generally a big fan of the estate and most vintages, but the 2010 didn't felt quite up to the game when compared to a phenomenal 2009 or more recent vintages such as 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.
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4/30/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Quite sophisticated, layered, though still shrouded and cloaked at this stage of its development - I think it needs more time - still a bit tightly wound and congested in a way, but the quality is quite apparent. There's a smokey aspect. I think Parker's review is very accurate. This is classy, lots going on, though needs another five years to fully resolve.
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1/16/2020 - Kevnzworld wrote: 95 Points
Pnp at Oceans 82 St Maarten
We last enjoyed this wine a year ago.
Deep rich dark berries , concentrated
Beginning to develop the complexity of secondary flavors
Still has tannic bite, with some minerality and vanilla
Tonight 95
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6/21/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 94 Points
Needs more time. Hold or decant for 5 hours. Great wine. Stocking up on ‘18s.
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4/21/2019 - bruinboozer wrote: 90 Points
Looking forward to the evolution
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3/23/2019 - SGoenophile Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dinner at Pressoir d’argent Gordon Ramsay, Bordeaux. Deep purple. A big, powerful wine with a firm tannic structure. Deeply fruited, quite concentrated. Still too young. Will be better once tannins settle down.
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3/23/2019 - Sparrowhawk70 wrote: 93 Points
Bouquet was balanced and obviously shows great potential. Liquorice and Blackberry flavours. Despite decanted, maintained traces of tannins
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3/19/2019 - levinml wrote: 95 Points
First taste of this wine. Great start. Big, balanced flavors with great nose and long finish. Tannins likely to settle down over time, so I think this will get even better. If you can, wait 3 or 4 more years before the next bottle.
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2/27/2019 - adam jones 71 wrote: 95 Points
Thought this wine was from Napa in a 10 wine 5 Napa 5 Bordeaux blind tasting. It showed very well
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11/16/2018 - Kevnzworld wrote: 97 Points
We purchased two bottles of this wine aboard our cruise ship ( Seabourn). The price was much better than at home ( US )
We drank them on two occasions, each bottle decanted in the room for two hours prior to dinner.
Nose of dark berries and spice with some added chocolate and oak on the first taste.
The wine is deep rich and full bodied but still slightly too young and tannic initially. The more time this spent in the glass, the better it got.
This developed into a really good wine over the course of the evening. I just bought two bottles online for the cellar back home. I can’t wait to see how this develops. 97 today
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11/14/2018 - tbabes wrote: 92 Points
Commanderie de Bordeaux (Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte): Opened at 9am but not decanted. A youthful purple color with no signs of age. Very tight on the nose and palate. With coaxing, notes of ripe dark fruits emerged, with hints of crushed rocks. Medium bodied, with good concentration of fruit, but struggled next to the 2000. Infanticide at this point; for my taste, I would not touch a bottle for 10 years.
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10/18/2018 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 95 Points
No notes at time of tasting.
Drank after 27 wine tasting at Vinum55. Of the 27 wines, only two stood out, 2013 Ulysses and Plumjack Merlot. Didn’t pull the trigger on either but they were enjoyable.
After the tasting pulled out Helen Keplinger’s first Cabernet under her own label (2014 Oakville) and 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte). All three of us immediately commented on how good these wines are in comparison to what we just tasted. Wine snobs? Yep but who doesn’t like the pretty things?
PnP both and got to work (who doesn’t need more wine have tasting 27?). The Keplinger was immediately ready to go calling for our attention and we gave it in spades. This allowed Smith to open up and boy did it ever. What a great wine to share at a meal with friends (although no meal is needed at this stage). Great dark fruits & matching complexity. Wonderful structure and enough stuffing to continue to age and reward those with patience.
For me, this is the perfect (Bordeaux vintages matter much much more than in USA) Bordeaux gateway wine/drug. It is the coming of the stylistic changes enveloped in an amazing vintage with a very very good QPR. Even at today’s prices, this is a great buy. 2015’s are another good vintage, will there be a repeat performance? Will have to wait another 7 years but at this price, how can one not pull the trigger?
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8/2/2018 - LiteItOnFire wrote: 94 Points
PnP and was highly anticipated... maybe too much? Realized needs a ton of time to open up in the glass. Will revisit again tonight to see if it can get back to 95+
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7/7/2018 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 95 Points
Head2Head 2010 Leoville Barton vs 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte. 2 hour decant. Drank over following 3 hours (open for five hours in total). Enjoyed without food to start and then with lamb and filet.
Both could take advantage of more time, Barton could use more than Smith.
Smith was the winner hands down. Great depth, fruit- dark fruits (plum, blackberry, etc) with streaks of tobacco/espresso and firm supple tannins. Was great to open now but excited for what near term will bring.
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6/20/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 95 Points
Joanne Bordeaux Trip 2018 (Bordeaux): The nose was gorgeous with dark red fruits, rich spices, gravel dust, lavender, and minerals. Enveloping silky textures washed across the senses with zesty dark red fruits and mounting young tannin; then sour blackberry, minerals and savory herbs. The finish was long with dark fruits, savory herbs, saline minerals and saturating fine tannin. The 2010 is a big wine and quite intense, yet wonderfully balanced.
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6/11/2018 - Dexter Ward Likes this wine: 94 Points
I could smell this wine forever! Opened this on my 40 birthday dinner with some great friends and enjoyed one of the best wines I ever tasted. The wine was flawless.
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5/4/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): On the heels of a big Cali tasting. This was quite nice. Still young and very fresh. It's got some black fruits and green notes and maybe a touch of rosemary. Still reasonably tannic. Very nice.
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11/10/2017 - ToddArisWonderwines wrote: 82 Points
Opened it @ Robuchon after finished other 2 bottle of 1989 vintage and pour out of the bottle without decanted so maybe that why it's feel a bit too young. However this wine still in above average Bordeaux
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10/19/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 95 Points
2017 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/16/2017-10/25/2017 (New York City, NY): This opaque ruby ruby wine (a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) has a dense core of tarry black fruit, bittersweet chocolate, mulling spices, espresso and lavender. Full-bodied, fresh and with nicely integrated alcohol, it wraps its flavor package with plentiful polished tannins and harmonious oak. Layered on the middle palate and concluding very long, this vintage of Smith Haut Lafitte is undeniably classic in quality. Drink 2022-2045.
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9/8/2017 - Golf_Wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Slo Oxed for 3 hours decanted for 4 hours - drank better and better as we finished the bottle. Great nose - drinking so smooth and silky, rich and precise. A very nice Bordeaux. Just entering drinking window with a ton of airtime in the decanter. So happy I got 7 more.
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9/1/2017 - wizlb Likes this wine: 98 Points
2010 Smith Haut Lafitte Smith Haut Lafitte, decanted 8 hours, the results are a beautiful wine that is silky smooth without tannic, that's full body, 35 plus second finish.. why wait when you can enjoy this beauty today ... 98 pts clearly... Robert Parker Nailed it
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6/17/2017 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 99 Points
For Father's Day, I decided to treat myself - why not? First bottle of the case cracked for Father's day dinner of wine braised lamb shanks. High fill, good solid cork. Very full bodied. Impenetrable black nearly to the rim with a fine black cherry edge. First scents are rich black currant and melted black licorice. With air some tar, camphor, ink, white flowers and pencil lead. Unctuously coats the glass with high glycerine and leaves sensuous long slow legs. First sip: holy $h!t this is good! Great extract and rich feel. So full and round and sensuous! Gobs of flavour. Coats your mouth with black fruit compote - black currant, black berries, mullberries and perhaps a trace of black cherry. Great acidity, still lots of tannins there but they are buried deep under all the fruit. Long, long finish with waves of flavour replays. Carries the 14.5 % alcohol well. This is an OMFG wine! If I was to channel Charlie I would say: This is a high class escort of a wine in a slinky black dress that leaves nothing to the imagination, stilettos and a sultry French accent! Easy 99 points! Cheers!
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4/1/2017 - seijaro Likes this wine: 94 Points
A classic young Bordeaux, perhaps still a bit tight even after 3 hours, yet still a pleasure to drink. I don't see Parker's 98, but he awards points for the nose and I don't... I like a good bouquet but it's what's in the glass that I rate.
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3/22/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
This is showing better than ever. It's lush, opulently textured, intense, yet with a good purity of fruit and elegant, silky tannins. Still young, the wine is inky dark in color, with a primary character, but the last few years have helped the wine fill out and expand. This is about potential, but it's clear that this is going to be something special when it matures.
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11/24/2016 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Slightly more linear than 2009. Preferred this.
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8/13/2016 - Hermosabritdad Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pop and poured: Super fruit monolithic bomb presents itself immediately. Very big cal cab in style. At least for now. Drinks well considering how young it is (no tannnis to speak of) but one hopes it will improve in subtlety in time. We wil see. For now it's nice, but not great, as some reviewers have suggested.
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5/20/2016 - ShangGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Obviously still ripe but complexity already there. Soft aroma, still needs to develop. Unripe cherries but in a strong sharp burst, smoky finish. Think it will be a great wine in 5yrs.
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4/30/2016 - chatters wrote:
One day Bordeaux wine school (Prince Sydney, 40 Hansard Street): Blackcurrant, cream, cedars, plummy fruit, violets, biscuit, toast. With agitation biscuit comes to the fore. In the mouth the tannins dominate, quite chalky in fact, black fruit over spice. A bit closed, there is a little bit of herbaceousness on the finish.
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4/29/2016 - vespasian wrote:
Great colour; quite tight and dense, brooding; tight but a great package in the offing here. Brimming with energy. Lots of structure, lots of everything.
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3/10/2016 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Atlas Fine Wines 2010,2011,2012 Bordeaux Tasting (Vintners Hall, London): Definitely a wine made for mr Parker and really in a vintage like 2010 there was no need to make such a heavy handed wine. Not as porty as we expected but still, dense, extracted, raisiny, full on and rich. Not a bad wine as such but really a bit of a poor effort. Sell. 90-91
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8/30/2015 - Keith Levenberg Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Deep inky black color, equally pitch-black fruit complexion. Comes across very extracted and heavy-handed, which is the house style these days. But I used to enjoy it because however extracted it was, it was still extract of Graves, and that's not evident anymore. It has some singed toastiness but seems more from the barrels than from any intrinsic Graves tar and smoke that goes beyond the barrels. Frankly I'm not even sure I would be able to ID this as Bordeaux. Lot of leftovers in this bottle - not a good sign. It's mellower in weight and redder in fruit the next day, still with a saline intensity and some exotic incense-like flavors on the back end. Better in some ways, but also teetering towards oxidation, so not better overall.
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4/19/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
MW Institute 2010 Bordeaux Tasting (Sydney, Australia): Chocolate, violets and spice on the nose. The palate shows off its rich fruit profile and for the time being that is the dominant character. Very good length and the structure does seem to be there in the background. Give this one some more time.
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3/29/2015 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 Points
25 years of the Cathiards at Smith Haut Lafitte: all magnum verticals (Château Smith Haut Lafitte): Just as in 2009, a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (64%), and indeed the same blend (30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) and virtually the same yields, at 35 hectoliters per hectare - just one more than in 2009. I find that the 2010 is somehow fresher and more bracing than the 2009, and hence may just dare to give it a ... higher score than the 2000! As fellow taster Jane Anson remarked, one can notice some heat in the 2009 whereas the 2010 will probably be a long term keeper. I think I agree. Excellent work.
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3/22/2015 - mnoljo wrote: 93 Points
Typical asphalt tar roasted coffee black fruit in the background long finish. Young
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3/8/2015 - Wine_lvr Likes this wine: 95 Points
dark in color. Nose of roasted coffee, plums, chocolate. Amazing balance, smooth tannins and long finish. Already very aproachable. Great wine
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3/3/2015 - CWang wrote: 92 Points
This wine was rather closed and tight this evening with quite little to showcase itself; overall, 92-93 points; needed at least a decade more if not two to reach maturity.
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2/28/2015 - Doni.Bertolami wrote: 95 Points
Superb balance and complexity. Will be great in a few years.
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12/28/2014 - Indran Rajendra Likes this wine: 98 Points
From the signature note of blueberry and it's purple opaque core this wine transcends into abstract qualities of delicacy,femininity,grace,clarity and space. It exudes youthful characters of black cherry and blackcurrant. I can see why Parker says charcoal and spring flowers. There are also coffee aromas. The nose is partially closed but the palate is full bodied, well balanced with good length and exploding with fine tannins. Coravin first pour. 16 degrees C. Decanter 45 minutes. Riedel Bourdeaux glasses. Parker says 2018 to 2058.
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10/11/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
Dark in color, smoke, licorice, truffle, tobacco and chocolate scents get you going. Thick, rich, intense, concentrated and deep, the intense finish is packed with sweet, ripe, dark, sweet, boysenberries and even darker chocolate. This is even better than when tasted earlier this year.
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5/17/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
More compact at this stage than the 2011, a bit tight, but great structure, fine nose. Lingering and very long. Superb but way too young 94-96+
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4/5/2014 - Drankard Does not like this wine:
A very modern styled wine but not over-oaked. Very dark, blackberry fruit flavors, port-like ripeness and finishes with a burst of alcohol. I have no confidence in its future and a joke to give this wine 98 points.
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3/11/2014 - BordeauxBuff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted at the NYC Suckling tasting.....
This is an absolute beauty. One of my favorite wines of the evening. Excellent balance and tannins which are seamlessly integrated into the wine. Surprising that this is so well and balanced in its youth. Port-like concentration and a finish that goes on for 30 seconds.
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11/17/2013 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very modern-styled wine. Dark red sweet fruit on the nose. Alcohol on the dry finish.
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11/16/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 91 Points
dark red, purple, in color. faint nose at first. dark fruit, blackberry, currants, tart fruit, earth, soil, spice, pepper, oak, on the nose. high acid, big tannins, on this dry finish.
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11/15/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 95 Points
Another tasting. Love the sweetness and creamy texture. Serious oak.
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10/25/2013 - Bandreas wrote:
Tasted at the 2013 New York wine Experience
Dark ruby color; on nose tar and wood, still quite closed; far too young and difficult to judge.
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5/1/2013 - MattMauldin wrote: 94 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tasting- SF April 24; 4/29/2013-5/1/2013: Crushed floral, sweet earthy spice, blueberry and leather aromas. Velvety crushed rock and ripe high-toned floral blueberry flavors, layered depth, and big smooth tannins. Lengthy finish. Excellent.
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2/28/2013 - DonalOB wrote: 97 Points
Grande Bordeaux Tasting, 2010 (Grand Hyatt Hong Kong): Lots of smoke! Plenty of cassis here as well. Smooth on the palate with well-integrated tannins. Big finish.
Apparently, the '10 expresses terroir better than the '09 which is 'vintage dominated'. The quote - "2010 is the best vintage we ever made".
This was our WOTN - we went back for more!
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2/25/2013 - edub7 wrote: 96 Points
Less flamboyant than the 2009, that vanilla oaky quality along with the jam is not as evident. Like many of its peers, more terroir driven, and some firm tannins and chalk linger. This is serious, but will require some time. For the cellar.
96++
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2/23/2013 - pavel_p wrote: 93 Points
UGC 2010 Singapore (Singapore): Dark garnet to the rim, big fruit, big oak. Tannins are well in check. Medium + finish. This will need time, can see the quality but a bit too much of everything for me at this point in time. 93+
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2/15/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
What a nose! Smoky blackberries, exotic spices, blueberries, licorice, jam, tobacco, olive tapenade and forest scents are impossible to avoid. The wine is incredibly concentrated, balanced, polished, sensuous and sexy. This blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot should age and improve for decades.
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2/12/2013 - curtr Likes this wine:
New world style, balanced, nice depth.
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1/30/2013 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. An outstanding wine but a bit of a disappointment after the great 2009. Medium bodied. Notes of tar, prickly black fruit and bittersweet chocolate. Firm tannins. Better than the 1998, 2001 and 2003 but below the 2005 and 2009. I liked it as much as the 2000 on release. 92-93 points.
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1/26/2013 - Vmaster007 wrote: 87 Points
beau bouquet, accessible, rond
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1/25/2013 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2010 (Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON): More structure than Pape Clement. More my style but will need time. Purchased.
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1/25/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 94 Points
UGC tasting. Very nice, sweet red and black fruit. Very silky, already well balanced. Nice ripe fruit hides the tannin. Long finish.
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1/24/2013 - Tigg Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted at UGC. Lush, balanced, long finish. My favorite of the night, regardless of price. Keep for celebrations from 2018 onward.
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1/23/2013 - Wine Sparty Likes this wine: 92 Points
2010 UGC Bordeaux Tasting Chicago (Drake Hotel): Dark fruit and cocoa aroma. Taste is similar to the aroma, yet comes off a bit lighter than expected.
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1/23/2013 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
2010 Bordeaux UGC Chicago (The Drake Hotel, Chicago IL): Nose: Very pungent with deep tones of crushed rocks, smoke, dark red cherries, cassis, and leather tones.
Taste: Medium/full bodies with medium acidity and big chewy tannins. The structure is imposing right now, but there are very good tones of crushed rocks, cedar, dark red cherries, and leather tones.
Overall: This was pretty impressive even with its youth. It certainly needs time, but it should really reward that patience.
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1/22/2013 - yofog wrote: 92 Points
The quality is there but it is quite extracted and not much to my liking.
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1/18/2013 - MattTM wrote:
Union des Grands Crus 2010 Bordeaux Tasting (Palace Hotel - San Francisco): Great nose showcasing that smoky gravel that often comes through in SHL, along with rich cassis, lead pencil, leather, rich black cherry, spicy black pepper, and a touch of sweet blueberry. More smoky rocks on the palate, along with rich cassis, ripe red cherry, leather, and some spicy black pepper. Always like the profile of SHL and this doesn’t disappoint. Very good+
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11/19/2012 - BBG London wrote: 91 Points
Smokey and tannic. Strong Potential. Tasted at Farr Vintners winter tasting at the Vintners Hall.
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11/12/2012 - vespasian wrote: 93 Points
Quite complex savoury mineral fruit; lovely textural, elegant palate. Very long. 92-94
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10/30/2012 - Zweder Likes this wine: 93 Points
UCGB tasting Bordeaux 2010 (Brussels): Imho the 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte is slightly different from other recent vintages; the oak is a little less prominent and the wine shows more elegance, but be sure this is still a great wine with a long future. There is good dark fruit juice, and certainly some beautiful oak in the bouquet as well as the taste. Some licorice and sweet spices. Good concentration and beautiful acidity and tannin. More classical than expected. 93++
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5/3/2012 - vespasian wrote: 94 Points
Much richer and more complex than the 2011 - very good concentration of gravelly red fruits; denser palate, lovely ripeness of fruit, good grip and balancing acidity. Long. Excellent. 93-95.
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9/18/2011 - hubas wrote: 93 Points
Quite a bit of graphite and oak, the fruit is very concentrated and quite complex
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6/27/2011 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
now a veteran (...) taster of last two EP vintages, I can say this with some certainty: any idiot could have liked the 2009 but the 2010 takes way more experience/expertise. It is a harder, more tannic wine than 2009 even though what it does yield is actually more graves typicity in terms of minerality/smoke/ graphite. In retrospect the 2009 may have been more (too?) modern in style with seductive ripe fruit - still it would take a very brave man to choose the 2010 ahead of the 2009 (I guess I qualify as that "any idiot") and to cap things off I hear the 2010 actually costs more (and will be ready to drink much later). uhm....shrug the shoulders, much laughter and pass.
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6/18/2011 - ErnestWorthing wrote: 88 Points
Tasted at the sampler. Chicken nose! Smooth, thin.
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5/4/2011 - vespasian wrote: 93 Points
Very perfumed and expressive. Deep and with good concentration; Rich, delicious palate. Very good - much more elegant than many in this vintage. 92-94
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5/4/2011 - Biggsy wrote: 90 Points
Slightly transparent purple colour. Intense, ripe aromas of black fruits with a little floral lift. Bright, pure fruit on the entry with more minerality and then full spicy tannins on the mid palate. A touch hard and uncompromising. A hint of toffee on the finish.
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4/21/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Smith Haut Lafitte 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Petit Verdot formed the assemblage. Deeply colored and filled with smoke, cassis, jam and licorice coated dark berry aromas, this rich, juicy, concentrated wine ends with a long opulent, fat, sweet, jammy black fruit and vanilla finish. 94-95 Pts
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4/4/2011 - vespasian wrote: 94 Points
Quite closed on the nose - an impression of dense richness; delicious palate with fantastic fruit and wonderful texture, the finish really fanning out like a peacocks tail. Very long. Wonderful, elegant wine yet has power. 93-96.
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4/3/2011 - dcwino wrote: 96 Points
2010 Bordeaux En Primeur; 4/3/2011-4/4/2011 (Bordeaux): Extremely sweet fruit, crushed rocks, impressive cool and fresh fruit expression, big scale wine with excellent finish 95-97 pts
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