Château SMITH HAUT LAFITTE
Grand cru classé
- 2016
- Pessac-Léognan red
Practically abandoned in 1993 when Mr. and Mrs. Cathiard bought it, Smith Haut Lafitte is today one of the 10 greatest vintages of the Bordeaux left bank. The road they have travelled is truly admirable, and the Cathiards have spared no effort: restoration of the vineyard, construction of a vat room and underground cellar, introduction of state-of-the-art equipment, conversion to organic viticulture...
The 2016 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2024): 94/100 “In 2016 the great wine imposes a presence that is still tight on itself, intense and with great staying power. It's a promising, resourceful wine, less extroverted and explosive than the 2015 but perhaps more suited to long ageing.”
J-M Quarin (January 2019): 96/100 “Intense, fine nose of ripe, pure, slightly toasty fruit. Fat on the attack, suave in development, very fruity, powerful and caressing, but also tender, the wine moves forward savory, toward a long, sappy finish, tasting of black fruits and violets, with a tannic touch to melt away. Note that decanting is very favorable”.
- To keep or to drink :
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée :
- 2025-2040
- Potential alcohol :
- 14%
From the same producer
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The white wine of Smith Haut Lafitte has built up a solid reputation over the last 10 years, even if it is not a grand cru classé (but Haut-Brion blanc and Pape-Clément blanc are not either). A happy marriage of wood and fruit, it always delivers a beautiful aromatic complexity, from lime blossom to citrus, and a lively, rich and fine structure.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
J-M Quarin (April 2023): 97/100 “Floral nuance. Meticulous on the palate, very fragrant, with an airy body and graceful touch, the wine never ceases to melt, on a noble texture that stretches for a long time, serene, solid, delicate, deep and complex.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2024-2035
- Organic certification:
- 2019
-
Practically abandoned in 1993 when Mr. and Mrs. Cathiard bought it, Smith Haut Lafitte is today one of the 10 greatest vintages of the Bordeaux left bank. The road they have travelled is truly admirable, and the Cathiards have spared no effort: restoration of the vineyard, construction of a vat room and underground cellar, introduction of state-of-the-art equipment, conversion to organic viticulture...
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2028-2042
- Organic certification:
- 2019
-
Practically abandoned in 1993 when Mr. and Mrs. Cathiard bought it, Smith Haut Lafitte is today one of the 10 greatest vintages of the Bordeaux left bank. The road they have travelled is truly admirable, and the Cathiards have spared no effort: restoration of the vineyard, construction of a vat room and underground cellar, introduction of state-of-the-art equipment, conversion to organic viticulture...
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2028-2042
- Organic certification:
- 2019
-
Practically abandoned in 1993 when Mr. and Mrs. Cathiard bought it, Smith Haut Lafitte is today one of the 10 greatest vintages of the Bordeaux left bank. The road they have travelled is truly admirable, and the Cathiards have spared no effort: restoration of the vineyard, construction of a vat room and underground cellar, introduction of state-of-the-art equipment, conversion to organic viticulture...
The 2021 vintage in the press:
J-M Quarin (February 2024): 95/100 “Ample on the attack, full on the mid-palate, the wine moves forward on a melting body with a little more nuance if tasted just decanted. Good length, with light tannins”.
Vinous (A. Galloni - December 2023): 96/100 “The 2021 Smith haut Lafitte is an engaging, dynamic wine. Gravel, menthol, licorice, mocha and spice are all beautifully delineated. A wine of energy and focus, the 2021 is absolutely enthralling-medium in body, refined and super-impressive.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2028-2042
- Organic certification:
- 2019
-
Practically abandoned in 1993 when Mr. and Mrs. Cathiard bought it, Smith Haut Lafitte is today one of the 10 greatest vintages of the Bordeaux left bank. The road they have travelled is truly admirable, and the Cathiards have spared no effort: restoration of the vineyard, construction of a vat room and underground cellar, introduction of state-of-the-art equipment, conversion to organic viticulture...
The 2018 vintage in the press:
En Magnum (April 2021): 96/100 “Harmonious whole, splendid finish and noble integration of tannin that augurs an aging that will do it justice and where it will express all the splendor of its terroir.”
J-M Quarin (March 2019): 95/100 “Minutious on the attack, melting on development, very aromatic and juicy, the wine glides on the palate, fragrant and tasty, long, with chic and aroma. Very good.”
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2028-2042
- Organic certification:
- 2019
-
Practically abandoned in 1993 when Mr. and Mrs. Cathiard bought it, Smith Haut Lafitte is today one of the 10 greatest vintages of the Bordeaux left bank. The road they have travelled is truly admirable, and the Cathiards have spared no effort: restoration of the vineyard, construction of a vat room and underground cellar, introduction of state-of-the-art equipment, conversion to organic viticulture...
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2018-2032
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%