Wine Advisor
Smith Haut Lafitte 2005
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This sensational, opaque blue/purple-colored wine from Smith Haut Lafitte has a gorgeous floral nose with notes of graphite, blueberries, blackberries, and cassis that jump from the glass of this inky, very dense, yet strikingly pure wine. Light on its feet despite its stunning concentration and multi-layered mouthfeel, this wine has fabulous intensity, richness and length. Quite impressive, and still incredibly youthful, this is a superstar of the vintage, and capable of lasting another 25-30 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This is another uncompromisingly made, gorgeous effort from Smith-Haut-Lafitte, a property that has done everything right since the new owners took over in 1990. The 2005's dense blue/purple color is accompanied by aromas of lead pencil shavings, espresso roast, blue and black fruits, and violets. Rich and dense with good acidity, high but sweet tannin, and an underlying minerality that is a characteristic of a top Graves, this beauty will require 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep for three decades or more.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Deep inky purple colour. The nose is quite reserved: black cherries, violets, quite feminine. Very good definition. Very smooth entry, firm, toasty tannins. Excellent acidity, very noticeable on the crisp, very complex finish of blackberry and espresso. Very elegant and natural. Excellent. Tasted March 2006.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I know it sounds like a broken record, but this may be the best Smith-Haut-Lafitte ever made. A prodigious effort, the 2005 boasts an inky/blue/purple color, sweet aromas of graphite, white chocolate, espresso, and blue, red, and black fruits, extraordinary density, moderately high tannin, medium body, fabulous layers, and an enticing texture. However, it comes across as delicate and fresh because of its acidity. This ageworthy Graves should last for 25-30+ years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at BBR’s 2005/2009 tasting in London. This has a superb vivacious nose with intense dark berried fruit, cedar, graphite and a touch of ox blood. The palate is medium-bodied with a dry tannic entry, very foursquare at the moment but very good weight. Great tension and symmetry on the finish…one of the estate’s finest wines in recent years. Tasted July 2011.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One can’t say enough about the accomplishments the Cathiards have achieved at this property since 1990. Prior to their purchase of the property, appallingly diluted, vegetal, fruitless, charmless wines were produced, but they have turned Smith-Haut-Lafitte into a showcase Pessac-Leognan. The inky/blue/purple-tinged 2005's extraordinary nose reeks of charcoal, incense, scorched earth, abundant blackberry, blueberry, and cherry fruit, toast, and spice. Good acidity, huge but sweet tannin, and fabulous precision as well as definition characterize this full-bodied, super-concentrated effort. It should prove to be among the longest-lived wines yet made by the Cathiards. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2005 has quite a reserved bouquet, not the usual exuberant SHL-self, but it is very well defined and focused with that killer line of graphite lending it a Pauillac-like allure. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and poise. This is a sophisticated Pessac-Leognan with real drive and penetration, a long-term wine that is reserved now but will certainly be motoring nicely along with another 5 years in bottle.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the chateau. A deep garnet core. The nose is just bloody gorgeous with pure ripe black fruit, with touches of black plum, black olive, a hint of liquorice and a touch of cassis. A controlled nose: restrained, very pure and with superb delineation. The palate is medium-bodied, beautifully balanced with very fine pure tannins. Very elegant, very supple and sensuous with smooth blackberry, cigar box, black plum finish. Still a baby but a bright future lies ahead. Outstanding. Drink 2012-2030+ Tasted September 2008.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2005 Smith Haut Lafitte packs a serious punch. A blast of wild cherry, smoke, leather, tobacco and mint hits the palate as this powerhouse Pessac-Léognan shows off its personality. Black cherry, mocha, rose petal, spice and chocolate all saturate the palate. This is an especially lush, potent wine shaped by density, concentration and plenty of oak. I would prefer to drink the 2005 sooner rather than later, as it is starting to fray just a bit. Tasted two times
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good fresh red-ruby color. Reticent but pure aromas of plum, mocha and tobacco. This began sweet and dense but a bit sullen, then exploded with aeration to show sharply delineated flavors of plum, tobacco, hot stones and smoked meat. Wonderfully fat and full wine that spreads out on the back to saturate the entire palate. This makes the '07 seem peppery and high-pitched in comparison. Very long on the aftertaste. I asked technical director Teitgen to name his favorite recent vintages in Pessac-Leognan, and he listed 1998, 2001 and 2005.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Deep ruby-red. Knockout nose combines currant, tobacco, hot rocks, roasted meat, chicory and truffle. Silky on entry, then sweet and deep in the middle, with a rather easygoing character to the rich, concentrated fruit. This is layered and fine-grained, with a brightness to its flavors that continues through the explosive finish. Shows a wonderfully light hand with the extraction.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good full ruby. Blueberry, black cherry and licorice on the nose, with smoky and mineral nuances. Dense and vibrant in the mouth, with intense flavors of kirsch, violet, licorice and smoky oak. Chocolatey-rich and sweet but with no shortage of energy. Finishes with noble tannins and compelling building length. Perhaps the most sophisticated and complete vintage yet from the Cathiards. I'd give this seven or eight years of cellaring.
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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