Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan |
Colour | White |
Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Smith Haut Lafitte
The 2005 Smith Haut Lafitte rouge is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, it slips confidently out of the glass with notes of creme de cassis, baked plums, cracked black pepper, and pencil shavings, plus wafts of sandalwood and licorice. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush and juicy, featuring soft acidity and a long, beautifully poised finish. In a sweet spot for drinking now, this can cellar a further 20 years+.
Tasted blind. Lightly oxidised, with the fruit sucked out somewhat, but I could enjoy this with food. Rich, oily and iodine. Bit hot on the end.
Drink 2009-2015
Rich, fat, exotic wine. Ripe and sweet. A little disjointed with the oak not fully integrated but loads of unctuous fruit. Supple but intense. Drink 2008-2016.
A terrific example from this impeccably run estate, this 2005 dry white Bordeaux exhibits plenty of citrus oil, honeysuckle, and grapefruit in a medium-bodied, concentrated, crisp yet authoritative style. It should turn out to be a superb example of a white Graves that should age well for two decades. This may be the finest dry white the Cathiards have produced at this estate.
Bright and fruity with apple, lemon and tropical fruit character. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and the texture of a red wine. Goes on and on. Blockbuster. Fabulous. Brilliant and fresh. Long.
Tingle, excitement, very easy to like. Full and only just enough acidity though. Something smoky about this. Quite powerful and persistent. Competent but a bit hot. Drink 2009-12