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Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2019

Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Bordeaux, France

Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Bordeaux France
  • 99
    Points
  • The 357 best
    of 3 290 954
    wines globally
  • 12 Pros of
    12 recommend
    this wine
364 99
  • Taste
  • Moment

Food Pairing

Grilled Beef Tenderloin with roasted bellpeppers, Aged Cheddar, Roasted venison

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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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Vintage 2019

BORDEAUX 2019 VINTAGE

When I was visiting Bordeaux early March, Corona was a threat on the horizon and France has been more concerned by a strike of the air traffic control. However, I was travelling to Bordeaux and had the chance to get some first insights to the 2019 vintage. I was very much looking forward to the “en primeur tastings” which were scheduled for March 26, 2020 but the tastings were cancelled mid-March. Immediately I contact...

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Tasting note

color

Full, Cherry Red and Clear

ending

Long and Spicy

flavors

Blackberry, Cranberry, Pepper, Earthy, Mineral and Balsamic

nose

Youthful, Complex and Fresh

recommend

Yes

taste

High in Acidity, Warming, Medium tannin, Well-structured, Developing, Medium-bodied, Firm, Fresh, Fruity, Dry and Hard tannins

Verdict

Impressive

Written Notes

This wine has a dark red, almost black colour. The nose is redolent of fresh fruit (raspberries, cherries, strawberries) and, after swirling in the glass, more complex notes of spice, dried herbs, fennel, and a slight floral nuance.
The wine is straightforward and well-balanced on the palate, with good concentration and plenty of volume. Despite a substantial quantity of tannin, it remains smooth and rich, with excellent balance between substance, density and freshness. The texture is delicate and precise. The finish is very long and complex with fresh red fruit, liquorice and cinnamon, as well as more terroir-induced notes of smoke and flint.

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Intense blackberry and graphite character coming out of the glass, together with dried violets, ink and some asphalt. Full-bodied with wonderfully integrated tannins that spread across the palate and then draw you deep into the wine. Lead-pencil and blackcurrant aftertaste. Tightly wound with a cashmere-like texture. A whole and thought-provoking wine. Try after 2028 and beyond.

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  • 99p

Good looking normal size bottle and in an perfect condition. Colour is cherry red, and looking clear and full. On the nose it is youthful, complex and fresh. The taste is fruity, fresh, perfumed, firm, and dry, warming, with medium tannin, with hard tannins, and high in acidity, medium-bodied, with well-structured structure and developing. On the palate it is layered and has cranberry, earthy, pepper, balsamic, mineral and blackberry flavours. The finish is long and spicy. This wine is impressive. I paid around 50-100€ a bottle. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 20-30 years and decant at least 30min before tasting. Good value for money. I do recommend.

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  • 96p

2019 Smith Haut Lafitte 96-97p
Tasted in November 2021. 62% C. Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% C. Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Powerful and tight, intense cherries and blackcurrants, strong backbone, vibrant, bright acidity, great midpalate, long meaty finish. Fabulous stuff. 

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  • 97p

59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 
Black almost to the rim. Smells dark, rich and inviting. Intense, pure cassis. Just a touch of oaky sweetness and char. Deep, dense, full and yet fresh. The tannins are quite thick at the moment but they are smooth and polished for a long life. Notable freshness even with all this depth of fruit and firm structure. Great balance already. Long, too. (JH)

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  • 91p

The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte soars out of the glass with regal intensity and stature. A wine of depth and textural resonance, the 2019 has a lot to offer. Naturally, today the 2019 is about potential more than anything else, and yet all the elements are so impeccably balanced. Dark and racy, with real energy, the 2019 is impressive. Lavender, mint and sage linger on the persistent finish.

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  • 96p

The 2019 Smith Haut-Lafitte was cropped at 36hl/ha, undergoing manual pigeage and maturation in 60% new barrels for a planned 18 months. It has an intense, very pure bouquet with blackberry, briary and cherry compote and a hint of black olive tapenade in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins that frame the pure, mineral-infused black fruit. Undercurrents of graphite and black olive surface towards the complex finish that I feel is less opulent but maybe more sophisticated than recent vintages of this top performer. Very elegant and refined, this is an outstanding success for winemaker Fabien Teitgen and his team. Tasted twice including samples direct from the château. 96-98 points

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  • 98p

Dark purple red with violet hue and almost black core. Opulent nose with expressive fruit, ripe blackcurrants, juicy plums and hints of black cherries in the background. Discreet spiciness, fine toasting aroma and a slight hint of flintstone in the background. On the palate excellent structured, firm yet ripe tannins, aromatic depth and excellent length. A great wine with freshness and class. (Tasted on march 20, 2020)

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  • 97p
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Information

Origin

Martillac, Bordeaux

Other wines from this producer

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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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