Château Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac Leognan 2019
- js99
- we98
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- v96
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Category | Red Wine |
Varietals | |
Brand | Château Smith Haut Lafitte |
Origin | France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Léognan |
Alcohol/vol | 14.5% |
Other vintages
Planted to 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc with an average vine age of 30 years, 'today Smith Haut Lafitte is one of Bordeaux's shining success stories, reflecting what hard work and conscientious propietors can achieve in a short period of time.' Robert Parker The style of this gorgeous wine combines richness and concentration with finesse and elegance.
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte has a long history in Bordeaux dating back over 800 years. The estate started as part of the Du Boscq holdings in the Graves region. It was Du Boscq who planted vines in 1365 on a gravelly plateau called Lafitte, which is how the famous chateau was named. George Smith bought the Graves estate in 1720 and added his name to the property, becoming Smith Haut Lafitte.
Today, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is owned and managed by Daniel Cathiard and Florence Cathiard. The Cathiard’s purchased the Bordeaux estate in 1990. They bought the estate from a well known Bordeaux negociant and importer to America, Louis Eschenauer. According to Daniel Cathiard, there were numerous estates in Bordeaux for sale at the time. But a big part of the reason they purchased Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte had to do with the fact that Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the few Bordeaux vineyards producing both red and white wines. For reds, the estate is lanted to 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc with an average vine age of 30 years, 'today Smith Haut Lafitte is one of Bordeaux's shining success stories, reflecting what hard work and conscientious propietors can achieve in a short period of time.' Robert Parker The style of this gorgeous wine combines richness and concentration with finesse and elegance.
The style of Smith Haut Lafitte is very classic, with a clear expression of their terroir consisting of Günz Gravel, giving the wine some unique smoky notes. The estate looks for elegance and structure, freshness and complexity, balance and richness. The Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested at full maturity and vinified in the softest way to only extract the silkiest tannins, which are smooth after a few years in bottle. The other varietals grown on the estate add to the Cabernet Sauvignon their own flavors and take part in achieving harmony of this Cru Classe de Graves.
This 2019 has a dark red, almost black color. The nose is redolent of fresh fruit (raspberries, cherries, strawberries) and, after swirling in the glass, more complex notes of spice, dried herbs, fennel, and a slight floral nuance. The wine is straightforward and well-balanced on the palate, with good concentration and plenty of volume. Despite a substantial quantity of tannin, it remains smooth and rich, with excellent balance between substance, density and freshness. The texture is delicate and precise. The finish is very long and complex with fresh red fruit, licorice and cinnamon, as well as more terroir-induced notes of smoke and flint.
James Suckling
- js99
Intense blackberry and graphite character coming out of the glass, together with dried violets, ink and some asphalt. Full-bodied with wonderfully integrated tannins that spread across the palate and then draw you deep into the wine. Lead-pencil and blackcurrant aftertaste. Tightly wound with a cashmere-like texture. A whole and thought-provoking wine.
Wine Enthusiast
- we98
Rich in black fruits with a structure that acts as a support. Acidity and blackberry flavors with hints of black coffee and a core of denseness that is very fine. The wine will age well, drink from 2026. Organic and biodynamic.
Jeb Dunnuck
- jd98
Reminding me a little of the 2009, the 2019 Château Smith Haut Lafitte has a rich, powerful style in its cassis, blueberry, and black raspberry fruit as well as its chalky minerality, smoked earth, tobacco, and lead pencil shaving-like aromas and flavors. A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, this rich, unctuously textured beauty has terrific concentration, sweet tannins, and the vintage's hallmark elegance and finesse. One of the most concentrated, powerful wines in the vintage, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age (or a healthy decant) and will evolve for 30+ years if stored properly. Not enough can be said about what proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard, as well as winemaker Fabien Teitgen, continue to achieve at this estate.
Vinous
- v96
The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte is a dense, explosive wine. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and licorice all saturate the palate in a wine that balances unctuous texture and structure. The 2019 is an opulent Smith Haut Lafitte that is going to need a few years to shed some baby fat. It is a powerhouse to be sure. Dried herbs, leather, tobacco, incense and graphite lend striking savory nuance throughout.
Wine Advocate
- wa96
The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with a complex bouquet of dark berries, cassis, forest floor, pencil shavings, licorice and spices. Full-bodied, broad and velvety, it's layered and elegantly muscular, underpinned by rich structuring tannins and lively acids, and it concludes with a long, expansive finish. This is another estate where the viticultural and stylistic evolutions of the last decade have delivered a beautifully balanced, harmonious 2019.
Wine Spectator
- ws95
A broad, rich and caressing wine, with a lovely display of cassis, plum puree and blackberry pâte de fruit notes. There's form thanks to a buried alder note, along with sweet tobacco and iron accents on the finish. A strong showing. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. 10,000 cases made, 2,400 cases imported.
Cap
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wa91Wine Advocate
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ws91Wine Spectator
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st91International Wine Cellar
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we91Wine Enthusiast
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js91James Suckling
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bs91Bottle Shop
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w&s91Wine & Spirits
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bh91Burghound
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wj91Wine Journal
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wsk91Whiskey Advocate
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agv91Vinous
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d91Decanter
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tp91The Tasting Panel
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jd91Jeb Dunnuck
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