Appellations

Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge 2014

Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classé

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Tasting Notes

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.

Score: 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2021-2050 Date: 01 March 2018

The 2014 Smith-Haut-Lafitte has a fragrant mulberry and strawberry scented bouquet with cedar and subtle undergrowth scents emerging with time. There is something almost Musigny-like here (written as a complement incidentally why not be compared to the greatest Burgundy Grand Cru?). The palate is medium-bodied with a soft and mellow opening. Quite spicy in the mouth with leather-tinged fruit on the open and inviting finish, there is something very approachable about this Smith-Haut-Lafitte, though like the 2014 Pape-Clement, it contains the substance to drink well over 10-15 years.

Score: 93 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2045 Date: 31 March 2017

The Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2014 is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare that is matured in 65% new barrels. There is a strong and persuasive marine influence on the nose, suggestions of iodine and seaweed infusing the black fruit that is very well defined and nicely embroidered with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy, slightly chalky tannin; saline in the mouth and linear, focused, quite penetrating finish. In a similar fashion to the Haut-Bailly, this is a more "athletic" Smith Haut Lafitte, but one that allows the terroir to come through and be articulated. This is a stylish "S.H.L." from talented winemaker Fabien Teitgen.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2035 Date: 01 April 2015

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.

Score: 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 13 February 2017

This is a very muscular style of Smith Haut Lafitte with great bio-precision that equates to intense flavors and textures. Mineral, stone, blueberry and wet earth. Long, persistent and solid. A classic Bordeaux style yet rich and exact.

Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 27 March 2015

In 2014 Smith Haut Lafitte produced an exceptionally soft, sexy Grand Vin. Dark cherry, plum, tobacco, licorice, menthol and red-toned fruit are all nicely delineated, while expressive floral notes give the wine a closing flourish of aromatic intensity. The 2014 is quite pretty, if a touch slender. It will drink well with minimal cellaring given its soft contours and supple, inviting personality. The blend is 62 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot, 6 % Cabernet Franc and 2 % Petit Verdot. Tasted two times.

Score: 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2019-2034 Date: 01 February 2017

The 2014 Smith Haut Lafitte is quite supple and textured in the glass, with lovely understated richness and impeccable overall balance. The least expressive of the 2014s I tasted at the estate, the Grand Vin is all finesse. Silky tannins and distinctly red-hued fruit are two of the signatures in an exceptionally polished wine endowed with fabulous overall balance. Sweet floral and mint notes add striking aromatic lift. Quite simply, although the 2014 is magnificent, it is also far from obvious in style. This is about as refined a 2014 as I came across during the two weeks I spent in Bordeaux. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Score: 93 - 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2015

The oak is a bit too obvious on the nose at this point and the fruit is pretty chunky and maybe a bit too vigorously extracted. Rather a heavy hand. But it certainly makes its mark. And it’s impressively persistent.

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2038 Date: 21 April 2015

This has nice spine, with a persistent graphite and ganache character that runs through the core of dark plum and black currant fruit. The grip is well-embedded and there's lingering freshness despite the heft and depth. This will likely fill out more with time.

Score: 93 - 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2015