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  • Country ranking ?

    861
  • Producer ranking ?

    30
  • Decanting time

    5h
  • When to drink

    from 2020
  • Food Pairing

    Duck Confit with a Merlot Sauce

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's 50 best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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The Story

Each Château has its own style.  / What would be, according to you, the specificities of Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red?

The style of our red wine is very classic, with a beautiful expression of our terroir of Günzian Gravel which gives unique smoky notes. We pursue elegance and structure, freshness and complexity, balance and richness.
Our majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested at full maturity and softly vinified to extract only the s...

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Wine Information

A Snap-shot of the 2014 Vintage by Markus Del Monego MW

2014 had an early start with budbreak around 10 days ahead of the 10 years average. End of May flowering started on the early terroirs in heterogeneous conditions, whereas the later varieties such as Cabernet-Sauvignon and Franc as well as later terroirs took advantage of a warm and sunny period beginning of June. July and August where quite cool and humid and in the second half of Aug...

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Vintage 2014

Bordeaux Vintage 2014 - is not a great vintage like 2005, 2009 or 2010 but it will be able to secure a position as one of the very good vintages of Bordeaux.

Generally scheduled between the end of March and the beginning of April, Primeur Week in Bordeaux is always an exciting time because it allows a first glimpse of the latest vintage. The sheer number of wines available for tasting is impressive and a week almost seems short. This is why...

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Tasting note

color

Medium

ending

Medium

flavors

Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Cedar, Tobacco and New-oak

nose

Intense, Pure and Ripe

taste

Balanced, Full and Sweet tannins

Written Notes

A big black-cherry and bitter-chocolate nose leads into a rich, concentrated palate, where the fruit easily holds sway over the powerful, dry tannins. It’s these that drive everything along right through to the assertive, slightly earthy finish; impressive long-term stuff! Try in 2021.

  • 96p

The Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2014 is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare that is matured in 65% new barrels. There is a strong and persuasive marine influence on the nose, suggestions of iodine and seaweed infusing the black fruit that is very well defined and nicely embroidered with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy, slightly chalky tannin; saline in the mouth and linear, focused, quite penetrating finish. In a similar fashion to the Haut-Bailly, this is a more "athletic" Smith Haut Lafitte, but one that allows the terroir to come through and be articulated. This is a stylish "S.H.L." from talented winemaker Fabien Teitgen.

  • 93p

Tasted in September 2019. Big concentration, elegance and long aftertaste, fine acidity and complexity, well-structured with persistent finish. 

  • 92p

Deep colour. Intense dark fruits. Liquorice aromas. Supple mocha, espresso flavours with dense supple tannins. A velvety textured wine. Builds up chocolaty dry with underlying buoyant fruit. Impressive. 95 points

  • 95p
Ripe, fruity, rich, intense nose, minerals beneath, lush nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, intense, detailed and juicy, fresh, long. 93
  • 93p
Dark purple red with violet hue and almost black centre. Balmy nose with concentrated character, juicy fruit in the background. On the palate good mouthfeel and concentration, firm tannins, good weigth and length.
  • 93p
Good looking normal size bottle.
  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Martillac, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

No Potential

Fake factory

None

Drinking temperature

16

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Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

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Hauts de Smith Blanc

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Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc

Les Hauts de Smith

Les Hauts de Smith rouge

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