2014 Smith Haut Lafitte
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Tasting notes
Relatively dark and staining the glass. Some "Smith" density here. Lovely sweet fruit in the mouth. All here and there is structure to this. This is complete, and exactly as it should be. A touch of mocha on top of perfectly balanced fruit. Full. Not over-done, perfectly weighted.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Tim Atkin MW
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Smith Haut Lafitte has an outgoing, opulent bouquet with high-toned red fruit infused with meat juices, an Italian deli and a few black truffle shavings. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fresh with a peppery mid-palate. Just a little attenuation towards the finish and not quite as vivacious as four years ago; nevertheless, it is a delicious Pessac-Léognan that is drinking ideally now, though I don't feel its longevity is as long as I originally predicted. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting.
Tasted blind. Dark, youthful colour. Vibrant dark fruit, a touch cedary, and smells so young relative to the other wines in this line-up of 2014s. Quite a bit of oak but it’s elegant with compact yet fine tannins. Harmony, refinement and length. (JH)
They know how to deliver sleek, poised and subtly gourmet wines even in the more austere vintages at Smith Haut Lafitte, and this is delicious, great quality, fine but firm tannins, opening up but still focus on primary fruits, cassis and blueberry, grilled oak, lovely stuff with a mouthwatering finish. 80% new oak, Fabien Teitgen technical director.
About the producer
Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the leading lights of Pessac-Léognan today – all thanks to Daniel and Florence Cathiard, who took over the property in 1990 and have since transformed the estate, converting to biodynamics and crafting wines of increasing finesse.