Wine Advisor
Smith Haut Lafitte 1996
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Farr's 1996 horizontal. A rather enervated, leafy nose. Damp earth, but the fruit seems to be drying out. Sharp acidity on the palate. Slightly fecal, unbalanced. Tart. Very sweet, pointed finish but it does improve in the glass. Becomes prettier but without great breeding. Tasted September 2006.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A saturated deep ruby/purple color precedes a bouquet of smoke, vanillin, sweet cherry and black currant aromas. Built along the lines of the 1995, but more tannic and less forward, this medium-bodied wine possesses outstanding concentration, purity, and equilibrium. It is a beautifully made, potentially complex, perfumed, harmonious claret that should age gracefully. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. Since the acquisition of this estate by the Cathiard family, this property has become one of Bordeaux's success stories, producing elegant, flavorful, complex, very complete wines.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Since its acquisition by the Cathiard family, this property continues to be one of Bordeaux's shining success stories. The 1996 may be the finest wine yet made at the estate, which is saying something given how impressive recent wines have been. The color is a healthy saturated, nearly opaque purple. The nose offers intense aromas of black fruits, beautifully integrated, toasty new oak, minerals, and flowers. This concentrated, impressively delineated wine provides the quintessential marriage of power and finesse, richness without heaviness, purity without blandness, and character without sterility. Medium to full-bodied, and intensely flavorful in the mouth, it does not come across as heavy or overdone. As the wine sits in the glass, it unfolds to offer additional nuances, and an unmistakable perfume of blueberries. This is a structured, concentrated yet marvelously harmonious wine that should be at its best between 2004-2020. The price has not yet caught up with the quality of Smith-Haut-Lafitte - Bordeaux lovers take note!
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1996 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is the quintessentially elegant Bordeaux. With a dark ruby/purple color, it displays a beautiful presentation of blackberry and cassis fruit nicely dosed with subtle new oak. On the attack, the wine is sweet and pure, with striking symmetry, and a compellingly balanced mid-palate and finish. Although not as big as some blockbusters from this vintage, it is extremely complex (both aromatically and flavor-wise), and impressive for its restraint, subtlety, and impeccable balance. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2016.
About the Producer
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is located in the village of Martillac in the Pessac-Leognan appellation, south of Bordeaux, France, and is a Grand Cru of the Graves appellation. The Château Smith Haut Lafitte complex is quite large, with a château, winery and large underground cellars, as well as a sizeable resort hotel (Les Sources de Caudalie), the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, the Caudalie restaurant, and the gardens, water and wine garden. The courtyard also features gardens, flowing water and a number of artistic sculptures, including a sculpture by Barry Flanagan called "The Flying Rabbit", as well as wonderful works by Chinese sculptor Huang Yongping and Italian artist Mimmo Paladino, among others. The Smith Haut Lafitte winery Smithers Lafitte has 78 hectares of vineyards planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, while the white varieties include 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Petit Verdot. Sauvignon Blanc, 5% of Sauvignon Gris and 5% of Semillon. The average age of the red vines is 38 years and the average age of the white vines is 40 years. The wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks or in large oak barrels, depending on the variety and the plot. After fermentation, the red wines are aged for 18 months in 60% new barrels and the white wines for 12 months in 50% new barrels. The wines are not filtered before bottling and have a unique, slightly smoky aroma that fully reflects the true nature of the Graves origin. The winery is currently being upgraded and will be 100% gravity-fed when the renovation is complete. The grapes are harvested at perfect ripeness, gently broken and fermented to extract the smoothest and softest tannins and flavours, and the wine is then aged for several years to reveal its qualities: crisp and complex aromas, balanced and full-bodied, elegant and firm on the palate. Currently, Château Smith Lafitte produces six wines: one red and one white, one red and one white, two secondary wines called Le Petit Haut Lafitte, and one red and one white, two tertiary wines called "Les Hauts de Smith". Château Smith Lafitte has stabilised in recent years, receiving high ratings from critics and the press in several vintages, and has been well received by the market. The top vintages of the winery into the 20th century are 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
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