Wine Advisor
Smith Haut Lafitte 2001
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Just lacking some definition and lift on the nose with raspberry, strawberry, leather and cedar. But clean and natural – improving all the time with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced with good fruit concentration. Quite natural with lovely poise and focus with refreshing acidity. Blackberry, raspberry and a touch of black pepper on the finish with tobacco lingering nicely on the aftertaste. This is a top-notch 2001 Pessac with good ageing potential. Tasted October 2007.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2001 is a beauty. The impressive, perfumed aromatics consisting of black raspberries, spring flowers, currants, graphite, and new oak are followed by an elegantly etched, medium-bodied, moderately weighty Graves with abundant quantities of sweet fruit. Although it does not possess the power and volume of the 2000, it is a complex, harmonious effort with excellent definition as well as delicacy. Proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard believe it to be just as good as the 2000, and they may be proven right. Certainly it is a wine of exceptional freshness, purity, and complexity. For the difference in price, smart money might consider chasing the 2001. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A very distinctive nose of cedar, black cherry and smoke with outstanding delineation and freshness. The palate is smooth with well-integrated toasty new oak. Quite opulent but harmonious and very focused with a lovely vanilla-pod finish that should melt into the fabric of the wine with cellaring. A stylish 2001. Tasted November 2005.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2001 is a beauty. The impressive, perfumed aromatics consisting of black raspberries, spring flowers, currants, graphite, and new oak are followed by an elegantly-etched, medium-bodied, moderately weighty Graves with abundant quantities of sweet fruit. Although it does not possess the power and volume of the 2000, it is a complex, harmonious effort with excellent definition as well as delicacy. Certainly it is a wine of exceptional freshness, purity, and complexity. This property has been working hard to make fine wines since the Cathiard family took over the estate in 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the chateau. The 2001 does not quite have the definition and concentration of the 2000 as one might expect. A little rounded perhaps, svelte with tobacco tinged black fruits and tar, though it could do with a little more poise. The palate is medium-bodied, very polished, supple with rounded tannins, mulberry, smoke, cigar box, damson with black pepper coming through on the foursquare but more precise finish. The finish is better than the beginning and it improves in the glass. Persistent finish though – this 2001 does not want to let go. Drink 2010-2025. Tasted September 2008.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Kudos to the Cathiard family, who acquired this once under-performing estate in 1990. They have spared no expense or effort in producing wines (both red and white) that are among the finest in Bordeaux in virtually every vintage. The 2001 red may not have as much power as the 2000, but it is very close in quality. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 13% Cabernet Franc, it was macerated for four weeks, enjoyed malolactic in barrel as well as stirring of the lees, and was bottled with minimal clarification. This elegant, stylish, deep ruby/purple-colored effort reveals notes of smoke, graphite, and red as well as black fruits in its perfumed, nicely evolved bouquet. With sweet flavors, medium body, outstanding concentration, and impressive purity, this finely-etched Pessac-Leognan should hit its peak in 4-5 years, and drink well over the following 12-14+.
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.
1996(1)1997(1)1998(3)2000(3)
Package Size
