x
  • Country ranking ?

    231
  • Producer ranking ?

    7
  • Decanting time

    5h
  • When to drink

    now to 2035
  • Food Pairing

    Lamb Stew with Spring Vegetables

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 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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98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 This is an extraordinary performance once again from the Cathiard family, the proprietors of Smith-Haut-Lafitte. They think the 2010 is even better than the 2009. (I disagree, but only slightly.) This wine has laser-like definition in its an remarkable nose of a subtle charcoal fire interwoven with spring flowers, creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur and spicy wood. Full-bodied, stunningly concentrated...

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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

The 2010 vintage will be remembered for: a sum of summer temperatures similar to 2009 (962°C as compared to 982°C), but much cooler than in 2005 (1052°C) and Rainfall was low from March to August 2010 (267mm), a dryness comparable to 2005 (227mm).

This was ideal for full ripening, while retaining the acidity typical of great Bordeaux vintages. The dry weather brought about an early stop to vine growth, and thus paved the way for a long, slo...

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Vintage 2010

Drought and cool temperatures contribute to optimal ripeness

The sum of summer temperatures in 2010 was close to that of summer 2009 (962°C compared to 982°C), but significantly colder than those of 2005, which totaled 1052°C. These cool temperatures had a substantial influence on the balance of our wines, preserving a good level of acidity and an attractive aromatic freshness.

Very little precipitation (only 267 mm) from March to August...

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Tasting note

color

Full and Ruby red

ending

Long, Round, Spicy and Alcoholic

flavors

Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Licorice, Vanilla, Toasty and Leather

nose

Intense, Complex and Refined

taste

Average in Acidity, High alcohol content, Medium tannin, Perfectly balanced, Well-Integrated, Well-structured, Developing, Full-bodied, Round, Harmonious, Dry and Silky tannins

Verdict

Outstanding and Masterpiece

Written Notes

Still a young wine that electrifies every taste bud in your mouth. It has fabulous aromas of black truffles, currants, raspberry and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with masses of silky, refined tannins and a finish that lasts for minutes. Stunning.

  • 98p

Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and plums follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Lots of mushroom and fruit undertones. Very polished. Such finesse yet structure to this young wine.

  • 95p

Temptingly rich and layered, with complex mocha, plum and wild berry fruit that’s spicy and aromatic. Full-bodied, gaining depth and turning ever more elegant and detailed, with tannins that give this traction.

  • 97p

Magnum. Very dark blackish crimson. Deep purple right out to the rim. Great energy and savour – a more energetic, appetising wine than the 2009. Excellent palate attack and nerve. Rich start and then very fine tannins. Still embryonic. But a lovely undertow. 

  • 95p
This 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte rouge is undoubtedly one of the finest wines the estate has ever made. 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte rouge is a deep, concentrated, nearly black colour. The bouquet displays a range of red and black fruit aromas, as well as ones reminiscent of spice and warm herbs. With aeration, the wine reveals magnificent black fruit, liquorice, clove, and graphite nuances... The wine starts out firm and straightforward on the palate. It is huge, but in no way austere. Its power comes through in a full-bodied flavour profile with a long aftertaste. The tannin is rich and silky, and the texture is well-defined thanks to ripe tannin and a careful control during extraction. The wine has an extremely well-focused structure and taste. The long aftertaste of liquorice, red fruit, and black fruit also features more subtle underlying flavours of hot stones and warm earth.
Beautiful, bright and intense colour. Wonderful, classic Cabernet nose with the touch of crème de cassis, truffles and cedar. A wine of enormous constitution and overwhelming power. Aromas of very ripe raspberries, with bread crumbs and tobacco. Excellent depth and ripeness with good balance. Long and tannic finish. A truly respectable masterpiece of this château.
  • 96p
Deep ruby. Dark berries, minerals, floral, deep and rich nose, graphite minerality beneath. Fresh acidity, high of ripe tannins, fruity, nuanced, bit biting texture, long finish. 96
  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Martillac, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Outstanding

Value For Money

Best buy

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

Other wines from this producer

Château Cantelys

Château Cantelys blanc

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Casher

Hauts de Smith Blanc

Le Petit Haut Lafitte

Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc

Les Hauts de Smith

Les Hauts de Smith rouge

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