Wine Advisor
Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2016
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2016 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot matured in 20% new oak. It has a well-defined bouquet with mulberry, cranberry, pressed flowers and a touch of undergrowth; it is neatly defined though not powerful, but it does demonstrare commendable precision. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp and firm tannin, quite tensile and energetic (more so than the Les Hauts de Smith) with impressive structure and length on the almost Pauillac-like, graphite infused finish. Do not ignore this little gem from Château Smith Haut-Lafitte, because it always punches above its weight.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
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.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Cabernet Sauvignon takes center stage in the 2016 Le Petit Haut Lafitte. Graphite, menthol, pine, lavender and crushed rocks give notable brightness and energy, while firm, slightly nervous tannins extend the finish nicely. Savory and delineated, the 2016 will benefit from a year or two of cellaring. Even today, though, it is absolutely gorgeous.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2016 Le Petit Haut Lafitte has a lovely bouquet of brambly black fruit, cedar and touches of black olive that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and tight on the entry, displaying succulent, ripe tannin and firm grip. There is a light earthiness to this Le Petit Haut Lafitte, and the Cabernet Sauvignon is very expressive on the tobacco-tinged finish. Excellent.
About the Producer
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is located in the village of Martillac in the Pessac-Leognan production area south of Bordeaux, France. As early as 1365, the famous Bosq family had been planting grapes here. This gravelly land was called "Lafitte", which means "higher hill".Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is located in Pessac-Leognan, a boutique production area in Graves with excellent terroir conditions. The winery's vineyards cover a total area of 78 hectares. The soil in the garden is mainly gravel soil, and is also mixed with sand, silica soil, limestone and clay. This soil has good drainage and the poor soil allows the grapevines to take root downwards for harvest. moisture and nutrients; in addition, gravel can reflect sunlight and store heat, which can help grapes ripen better. In 1990, Daniel Cathiard, a former French national team skier, became the owner of the winery, combining modern advanced technology with traditional winemaking methods. Since 1992, the winery has stopped using chemical herbicides and has adopted biodynamic methods to grow grapes. As the second wine of Smith Haut Lafitte, Le Petit Haut Lafitte’s brilliance is not overshadowed by the full score of the flagship wine. The grapes and brewing techniques used in the flagship wine are exactly the same, but due to the different brewing proportions, the style is more solid and rich than the flagship wine.
