Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge needs a lot of swirling to begin to reveal profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, preserved plums, and wild blueberries, followed by hints of Indian spices, fragrant soil, wood smoke, and tar. The full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by very firm, ripe, grainy tannins and fantastic tension, leading to epic length and depth on the finish of this stunning wine.
98 POINTS WINE CELLAR INSIDER
96 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST
98+ POINTS WINE INDEPENDENT
97+ POINTS JAMES SUCKLING
97 POINTS JANE ANSON
97 POINTS ROBERT PARKER WA
2015:a new bottle celebrating the 25th Cathiard harvest and the 650th anniversary of Smith Haut Lafitte since 1365. A unique packaging for a unique year.
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is located in Pessac-Léognan on the Left Bank of the Garonne River. During the 1959 Classification of the Graves it was rated as Grand Cru Classé for its red wine. Nowadays the estate is also considered to produce one of the foremost examples of white Bordeaux.
Cabernet Sauvignon usually accounts for 60-65 percent of the red grand vin. Merlot contributes around 30 percent, and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot round out a typical blend. The wine is aged in barrel for around 18 months, with 60-65 percent new wood.
The 78 hectares (193 acres) of organic vineyard (and the château) sit on a low hill of stones and pebbles deposited by the Garonne River. This gravelly soil offers not only superb drainage, but also reflects sunshine to amplify its benefits to the vines and fruit.
The vineyard is farmed organically and produces its own compost. A horse is used to plow the more fragile soils of the white wine vineyard. Biodiversity efforts include the siting of beehives around the estate. Smith Haut Lafitte has its own vine nursery, situated on Ile de Lalande in the middle of the Garonne.
All grapes are harvested by hand by a team of more than 100 pickers. Picking dates and various other viticultural practices are influenced by row-by-row imaging from the Oenoview satellite system. A Vistalysis optical system scans each berry, identifying and removing lesser-quality fruit.
The vat room was recently renovated and now operates entirely by gravity flow. Vats are sized to allow flexibility in managing individual parcels of fruit. On arrival the grapes are sorted using high-tech computerized optical systems. The red wine cellar is one of the largest underground facilities in Bordeaux, holding up to 1000 barrels. The property is also unusual in retaining an on-site cooper. Grapes have been grown on the site since 1365. Smith Haut Lafitte takes its name from the gravel plateau first cultivated in 1365 (and known as Lafitte) and 18th Century owner George Smith, a Scottish wine merchant. He built the manor house on the site in Pessac-Léognan.
In 1958, it was purchased by the Louis Eschenauer company, which invested into the winery and its vineyards. Since 1990, the property has been owned by Florence and Daniel Cathiard. The château is unrelated to first growth Château Lafite Rothschild, despite the similarities in the name.
Pairing Suggestions: Beef, Lamb and Poultry
Maturation: The wine was matured for 16 - 18 months in large 500 litre 40% new French oak barrels.
