Smith Haut Lafitte 2014

A big black-cherry and bitter-chocolate nose leads into a rich, concentrated palate, where the fruit easily holds sway over the powerful, dry tannins. It’s these that drive everything along right through to the assertive, slightly earthy finish; impressive long-term stuff! Try in 2021.

The 2014 Smith Haut-Lafitte has a much simpler bouquet than the 2014 Pape-Clément, with scents of pencil lead and cooked meat infusing the black fruit. The palate is well balanced with slightly firm tannin, moderate levels of acidity that segues to a very peppery and vivacious finish. This is a sophisticated and classy Pessac-Léognan, though I wonder if it is starting to close down? Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2021 - 2050

Tasted blind.
Stones and minerals on the nose and nice restraint on the second bottle with some spiciness and no excess of flesh. Well done! Though you need to wait quite a while. Emphatic.
Drink 2025-2045

Daniel and Florence Cathiard transformed this property in the early 1990s and have been making very individual, sexy wines since then which combine flavours of classic earthy Graves with silky and seductive new oak from barrels produced by their in-house cooper. 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby colour. Sweet, ripe black cherry and blackcurrant on the nose which has a seductive note of vanilla and nutmeg. The palate is succulent and ripe with a plush core of black fruits and high levels of glycerol. Smooth, velvety tannins giving a generous texture and mouthfeel. This will be a real crowd-pleaser with no hard edges but very good overall balance.

The 2014 Smith Haut Lafitte shows the elegant style of the vintage, yet the depth of fruit that’s common from this estate. Blackberries, currants, scorched earth, spicy oak and tobacco leaf nuances give way to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured 2014 that has ripe tannin and nicely integrated acidity. It has tons of character and is a beautiful, elegant wine to drink over the coming 15 years or so. 2018 - 2033

This has a generous feel, with ripe fig, boysenberry and blueberry compote fruit flavors that are entwined with alluring roasted apple wood, melted licorice and warm fruitcake notes. The broad, mouthcoating finish has a terrific graphite underpinning to stay honest. Best from 2020 through 2035. 10,000 cases made.

The nose has a mix of fragrances mainly fresh black fruits. The start of the palate seems fresh with a strong bilberry character but it fills out in the middle rich fruit ripe tannins sweetness smooth and supple. 2023-30

The Smith red used to be overshadowed by the whte, but not any more. Deeply coloured and profound, this is an intensely aromatic blend, with sweet, perfumed oak, bold flavours, a supporting cast of acidity and fruit richness and the potential to age. Not far behind Haut-Brion in terms of quality, if not style.

Highly charged and fully aromatic on the nose. Bright and fresh, a lovely hit of acidity which gives the blueberries and black cherries lift with clear graphite and a wet stone minerality, licks of liquorice around the sides. It's a bit tight, not so soft and expansive, but with nice detail on show. Feels like they didn't push too hard and have delivered a really enjoyable glass of wine still with subtle power underneath and a long finish. You get the impression of a bit of heat and spice here which adds nuance and structure and suggests definite further ageing potential. Not weighty but flavourful. Drink 2024-2042.