2016 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

38355 Views

2016
99
The depth of color is serious. On the nose, there is dark red fruits, licorice, smoke, herbs and espresso bean. The wine is clearly intense, and also lifted, which is very hard to do! The oak is better integrated than in previous vintages and the velvet and silky texture on the palate is a complete turn on. Everything is in balance and harmony here. The finish is seamless. This is going to age quite well.

The depth of color is serious. On the nose, there is dark red fruits, licorice, smoke, herbs and espresso bean. The wine is clearly intense, and also lifted, which is very hard to do! The oak is better integrated than in previous vintages and the velvet and silky texture on the palate is a complete turn on. Everything is in balance and harmony here. The finish is seamless. This is going to age quite well.

9,807 Views   Tasted
This is a strong candidate for the best wine yet produced by the Cathiard family at Smith Haut Lafitte. The inky color lets you know this is going to be packed and stacked with layers of ripe fruit. But there is more going on here than concentration. Dense, yet light on its feet, the fruit displays a level of purity not seen here before. The oak is better integrated and velvet and silky texture is a complete turn on Everything is in balance and harmony here.

This is a strong candidate for the best wine yet produced by the Cathiard family at Smith Haut Lafitte. The inky color lets you know this is going to be packed and stacked with layers of ripe fruit. But there is more going on here than concentration. Dense, yet light on its feet, the fruit displays a level of purity not seen here before. The oak is better integrated and velvet and silky texture is a complete turn on Everything is in balance and harmony here.

11,281 Views   Tasted
This just keeps getting better and better. Intensity, power, concentration, lush, soft, polished tannins and a finish that sticks with your for about 50 seconds, letting you delve into its dark, ripe, smoky fruits, licorice, earth, espresso nose and cashmere tannins. Is this the best vintage of Smith Haut Lafitte? Maybe. Regardless, it is going to give the 2009 and 2010 a run for the money.

This just keeps getting better and better. Intensity, power, concentration, lush, soft, polished tannins and a finish that sticks with your for about 50 seconds, letting you delve into its dark, ripe, smoky fruits, licorice, earth, espresso nose and cashmere tannins. Is this the best vintage of Smith Haut Lafitte? Maybe. Regardless, it is going to give the 2009 and 2010 a run for the money.

9,096 Views   Tasted
With a good depth of color, the wine is almost opaque with dark purple accents. Espresso, smoke, black fruits, wet earth, licorice, truffle and dark chocolate come right out, when asked. Full bodied, fat and opulent, with serious density, length, character and tannins. The tannins are ripe, but this is going to need time in the cellar, even with all the ripe, supple fruits. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, reaching 13.75% ABV with a Ph of 3.7, the harvest took place from September 22 to October 12 and the Grand Vin represents just 40% of the harvest.

With a good depth of color, the wine is almost opaque with dark purple accents. Espresso, smoke, black fruits, wet earth, licorice, truffle and dark chocolate come right out, when asked. Full bodied, fat and opulent, with serious density, length, character and tannins. The tannins are ripe, but this is going to need time in the cellar, even with all the ripe, supple fruits. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, reaching 13.75% ABV with a Ph of 3.7, the harvest took place from September 22 to October 12 and the Grand Vin represents just 40% of the harvest.

8,171 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte needs time before it begins to show its true character. Smith Haut Lafitte needs at least 8-10 years of aging in good vintages until it is ready to be enjoyed. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-3 hours or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 12 and 30 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

The white wine of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork, and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.

In July 2011, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte purchased a majority of the vineyard property belonging to the neighboring estate, Chateau Le Thil. 11.6 hectares of vines and 8.2 hectares of verdant parkland went to Smith Haut Lafitte. Much of that land is located next to Smith Haut Lafitte and was actually part of the original estate that was owned by Lodi Duffour Dubergier.

In essence, this reunited the original vineyards. Le Thil belonged to his nephew, from whom the de Laitre family is descended. The remaining vineyard land was sold to Les Carmes Haut Brion.

In July 2014, the Cathiard family continues expanding their holdings in Bordeaux with the purchase of Chateau Beauregard in Pomerol and Bastor Lamontagne in Sauternes. They sold Bastor Lamontagne in 2019. The Pomerol and Sauternes properties were purchased in a partnership between the Moulin Family, the owners of the large, French chain of Galerie Lafayette stores, and the Cathiard Family.

In 2019, The Cathiard family continued expanding their holdings when they purchased Flora Springs in Napa Valley, in the Rutherford appellation. Floral Springs is a historic property, founded in 1885.

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