Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2019
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Château Smith-Haut-Lafite has been transformed during the last decade from being a perennial underachiever to being one of the leading estates in the Graves region. For many years it was owned by the Bordeaux négociant Eschenauer - in 1990 it was bought by former Olympic skiing champions, Daniel & Florence Cathiard. They cut down on the amount of chemicals and herbicides used in the vineyards, and fully modernised the winemaking facilities. The proportion of new oak barrels used in the maturation process was increased and a trio of eminent oenologists (including the ubiquitous Michel Rolland) were hired as consultants. The 55 hectares of vineyards are located on a gravel ridge to the east of Château Haut-Bailly. The red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (35%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats and the wine is then matured in oak barrels (50% new) for 15-18 months. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Weather in 2019: This was a pretty wonderful vintage for producers, with quantities slightly reduced by cool weather at flowering, until the time came to launch the primeurs in a pandemic. The wines, generally pretty consistent, were clearly made from fully ripe grapes with a good charge of tannins but also, considering how hot and dry the summer was, with a surprising degree of freshness.
Technical Information:
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-region: Left Bank, Pessac-Léognan
Grape Varieties: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.
Lees Ageing: 18 Months with 60% new barrels
Winemaker: Fabien Teitgen
Alcohol: 14.5%
Drink: Now to 2045
Tasting Note: The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte is deep garnet-purple in color. It jumps from the glass with bold notions of warm plums, juicy blackberries, and fragrant soil, plus hints of baking spices, lilacs, and Ceylon tea. The full-bodied palate has muscular fruit with a firm texture of grainy tannins, countered by lively acidity, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. - Tasted by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
Weather in 2019: This was a pretty wonderful vintage for producers, with quantities slightly reduced by cool weather at flowering, until the time came to launch the primeurs in a pandemic. The wines, generally pretty consistent, were clearly made from fully ripe grapes with a good charge of tannins but also, considering how hot and dry the summer was, with a surprising degree of freshness.
Technical Information:
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-region: Left Bank, Pessac-Léognan
Grape Varieties: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.
Lees Ageing: 18 Months with 60% new barrels
Winemaker: Fabien Teitgen
Alcohol: 14.5%
Drink: Now to 2045
Tasting Note: The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte is deep garnet-purple in color. It jumps from the glass with bold notions of warm plums, juicy blackberries, and fragrant soil, plus hints of baking spices, lilacs, and Ceylon tea. The full-bodied palate has muscular fruit with a firm texture of grainy tannins, countered by lively acidity, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. - Tasted by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
