Château Smith Haut Lafitte
About Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Smith-Haut-Lafitte was bought by Florence and Daniel Cathiard in 1990. But its prestigious history dates back to 1365 when the first vines were planted. George Smith bought the Graves estate in 1720, adding his name to the property. After renovating the estate, the Cathiards now live in the 18th century chartreuse dating from George Smith’s time. Over the years, the Cathiards have invested hugely to modernize Smith Haut-Lafitte. In 1995 they built their own cooperage, allowing them produce 70% of their own barrels to their exacting specifications.
They have also created state-of-the-art wine making facilities. In 2009 they were one of the first estates to use “Oenoview” satellite imagery system to assess grape ripeness. They also make use of the latest optical sorting technology. These efforts have seen quality, and critical acclaim, leap upwards - culminating in a perfect 100 score from Wine Advocate for the 2009 vintage. Today the vineyard is organic and self-sustainable, with an eye to biodynamic farming techniques. These efforts are led by Fabien Teitgen, the Technical Director for all the Cathiard properties is an integral part of their estate’s success.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (VN (AG)) | HK$2,290.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)The 2016 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is a fabulous second wine from Smith Haut Lafitte. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice and cloves give the Petit Haut Lafitte its striking aromatic complexity. Deep, resonant and exquisitely layered, the 2016 is a real joy to taste. I would cellar it for another year or two. The 2016 has enough depth and pedigree to develop beautifully for the next 10-15 years. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 97-98 (JS) | HK$8,315.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97-98)This is a very polished and precise young wine with beautiful depth and intensity. Full and sexy. It shows blueberry and black currant character with walnut and chocolate undertones. The tannins have a lovely texture. Joy to taste. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) | HK$6,600.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte is flat out stunning. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous energy and tension to play off the wine's dark, rich fruit. I am not sure I have ever tasted a young Smith Haut Lafitte with such extraordinary balance. In 2016, the Grand Vin is tense and pulsing with energy. Hints of lavender, spice, menthol and crème de cassis open up in the glass, but the 2016 stands out for its feel and exceptional harmony. The combined effects of picking a bit early, vinifiying more gently and reducing the impact of oak are having a profound effect at Smith Haut Lafitte. Thinking of some of the highly regarded wines of the last decade here, the 2009 and 2010 in particular, well, the 2016 is on another level. This is magnificent showing from proprietors Florence and Daniel Cathiard, and their team led by Technical Director Fabien Teitgen. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 97+ (WA) | HK$4,000.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97+)Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte charges out of the gate with bold expressions of warm redcurrants, baked blackberries and crème de cassis with hints of spice cake, dried roses, underbrush and pencil lead plus a waft of candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a fantastic core of densely packed red and black fruits, framed by wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 97-100 (JD) | HK$6,128.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97-100)Checking in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot brought up in 60% new French oak, the 2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte reveals a saturated purple color as well as rock star notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, graphite, crushed rocks, and spice. Deep, profoundly concentrated, beautifully seamless and textured on the palate, it reminds me of the 2009 with its opulent, powerful style. It's a brilliant wine from this terrific estate and up with the top wines in the vintage. Hats off to director Fabien Teitgen who continues to make an elegant yet powerful, uncompromising style of wine. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 2 | 99 (WI) | HK$11,135.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (99)The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge comes from terroir composed of 60% gravel and 40% clay and is a blend of around 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1/3 Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs considerable swirling to unlock notes of blackcurrant preserves, stewed plums, and juicy blackberries, with hints of candied violets, licorice, espresso, and tapenade, plus wafts of crushed rocks and wood smoke. Full-bodied, rich, and opulent in the mouth, it has very firm, super-ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the voluptuous, mineral-accented fruit, finishing very long and achingly perfumed. |
|||||||||
|
Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (WCI) | HK$8,800.00 | |||||
The Wine Cellar Insider (97)Intense, attention seeking notes of lemon, lime, flowers and stone open to a wine with depth, richness and concentration. The wine is long, fresh, plush and polished with plush textures and a mélange of citrus and mineral sensations. There is a purity to the sweet fruits that remain on your palate for close to 40 seconds. |