Château Smith Haut Lafitte
About Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Smith-Haut-Lafitte was bought by Florence and Daniel Cathiard in 1990. But its prestigious history dates back to 1365 when the first vines were planted. George Smith bought the Graves estate in 1720, adding his name to the property. After renovating the estate, the Cathiards now live in the 18th century chartreuse dating from George Smith’s time. Over the years, the Cathiards have invested hugely to modernize Smith Haut-Lafitte. In 1995 they built their own cooperage, allowing them produce 70% of their own barrels to their exacting specifications.
They have also created state-of-the-art wine making facilities. In 2009 they were one of the first estates to use “Oenoview” satellite imagery system to assess grape ripeness. They also make use of the latest optical sorting technology. These efforts have seen quality, and critical acclaim, leap upwards - culminating in a perfect 100 score from Wine Advocate for the 2009 vintage. Today the vineyard is organic and self-sustainable, with an eye to biodynamic farming techniques. These efforts are led by Fabien Teitgen, the Technical Director for all the Cathiard properties is an integral part of their estate’s success.
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (VN (AG)) | د.إ2,330.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)The 2016 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is a fabulous second wine from Smith Haut Lafitte. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice and cloves give the Petit Haut Lafitte its striking aromatic complexity. Deep, resonant and exquisitely layered, the 2016 is a real joy to taste. I would cellar it for another year or two. The 2016 has enough depth and pedigree to develop beautifully for the next 10-15 years. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (VN (AG)) | د.إ741.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)The 2016 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is a fabulous second wine from Smith Haut Lafitte. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice and cloves give the Petit Haut Lafitte its striking aromatic complexity. Deep, resonant and exquisitely layered, the 2016 is a real joy to taste. I would cellar it for another year or two. The 2016 has enough depth and pedigree to develop beautifully for the next 10-15 years. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93 (VN (AG)) | د.إ762.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)Cabernet Sauvignon takes center stage in the 2018 Le Petit Haut Lafitte. A powerful, deep wine, the 2018 possesses terrific energy as well as a good deal of Cabernet savoriness. I would prefer to cellar it for at least a few years as it is tightly wound today. Black cherry, blackberry jam, cloves, licorice and chocolate give this imposing red a real feeling of somber intensity. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 94 (WI) | د.إ638.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (94)The 2019 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge is made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to bring out notes of blackcurrant pastilles, stewed black and red cherries, and baking spices, leading to an earthy undercurrent of mossy tree bark and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a very serious backbone of firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the taut black fruits, finishing on a mineral-tinged note. This wine should age well! |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (VN (AG)) | د.إ859.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)The 2020 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is a gorgeous second wine. Dark cherry, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice, plum, spice and tobacco infuse the 2020 with striking aromatic nuance. Cabernet Sauvignon drives the blend, and that is very much in evidence in the wine's flavor profile and overall structure. There's terrific depth and density here, not to mention tons of character. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94 (VN (AG)) | د.إ628.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)The 2020 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is a gorgeous second wine. Dark cherry, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice, plum, spice and tobacco infuse the 2020 with striking aromatic nuance. Cabernet Sauvignon drives the blend, and that is very much in evidence in the wine's flavor profile and overall structure. There's terrific depth and density here, not to mention tons of character. |
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Bordeaux | 15 | 92-93 (JS) | د.إ834.00 | |||||
James Suckling (92-93)A dense, layered white with cooked-apple, honey and lemon aromas and flavors. Layered and flavorful with a zingy, mineral finish. 80% sauvignon with 20% semillon. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 93 (DC) | د.إ985.00 | |||||
Decanter (93)This is the best ‘just crack on and drink it’ white wine in Bordeaux in my opinion. Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, it’s so full of exotic fruits and fragrant white flowers, with seductive aromatics. Juicy and mouthwatering, easy to enjoy. |
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Bordeaux | 4 | 92 (VN (AG)) | د.إ845.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)The 2020 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc is a very pretty wine that shows the richer side of Sauvignon Blanc off to great effect. Pear, white peach, tangerine oil and sweet floral notes are nicely delineated. This has come together nicely with élevage. The balance of rich, textured fruit and brightness is impeccable. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97-98 (JS) | د.إ2,605.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97-98)This is a very polished and precise young wine with beautiful depth and intensity. Full and sexy. It shows blueberry and black currant character with walnut and chocolate undertones. The tannins have a lovely texture. Joy to taste. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JA) | د.إ4,415.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)Floral edge, with a ton of crayon and cocoa bean, love the sculpted character, bitter aniseed and fennel, characterful and hard to resist, sappy and juicy with mouthwatering finish, just beginning to flirt with its drinking window. Official organic conversion began in this vintage, with certification coming in 2019. Fabien Teitgen technical director. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 98 (JA) | د.إ2,580.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)Floral edge, with a ton of crayon and cocoa bean, love the sculpted character, bitter aniseed and fennel, characterful and hard to resist, sappy and juicy with mouthwatering finish, just beginning to flirt with its drinking window. Official organic conversion began in this vintage, with certification coming in 2019. Fabien Teitgen technical director. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97+ (WA) | د.إ3,240.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97+)Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte charges out of the gate with bold expressions of warm redcurrants, baked blackberries and crème de cassis with hints of spice cake, dried roses, underbrush and pencil lead plus a waft of candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a fantastic core of densely packed red and black fruits, framed by wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97+ (WA) | د.إ1,695.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97+)Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte charges out of the gate with bold expressions of warm redcurrants, baked blackberries and crème de cassis with hints of spice cake, dried roses, underbrush and pencil lead plus a waft of candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a fantastic core of densely packed red and black fruits, framed by wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JD) | د.إ2,030.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (99)The 2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte is based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 60% new French oak. Its dense purple color is followed by an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, blueberries, camphor, scorched earth, chocolate, and tobacco. It's young and unevolved, yet the purity is off the charts, and it slowly gives up more spice and floral notes with time in the glass. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it's an incredibly concentrated, powerful wine that has plenty of baby fat covering serious amounts of underlying structure and tannins. It has some up-front appeal from an educational standpoint, yet really needs a decade of bottle age and is going to keep for 30-40 years in cold cellars. It comes closest in my mind to a mix of the 2010 and 2016. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (WI) | د.إ4,925.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (99)The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge comes from terroir composed of 60% gravel and 40% clay and is a blend of around 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1/3 Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs considerable swirling to unlock notes of blackcurrant preserves, stewed plums, and juicy blackberries, with hints of candied violets, licorice, espresso, and tapenade, plus wafts of crushed rocks and wood smoke. Full-bodied, rich, and opulent in the mouth, it has very firm, super-ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the voluptuous, mineral-accented fruit, finishing very long and achingly perfumed. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 99 (WI) | د.إ1,800.00 | |||||
The Wine Independent (99)The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge comes from terroir composed of 60% gravel and 40% clay and is a blend of around 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1/3 Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs considerable swirling to unlock notes of blackcurrant preserves, stewed plums, and juicy blackberries, with hints of candied violets, licorice, espresso, and tapenade, plus wafts of crushed rocks and wood smoke. Full-bodied, rich, and opulent in the mouth, it has very firm, super-ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the voluptuous, mineral-accented fruit, finishing very long and achingly perfumed. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 100 (JD) | د.إ2,275.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)Absolutely pure gold and reminding me of the 2009 (or is it the 2010?), the 2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte sports a dense purple hue to go with incredible aromatics of blackberries, blueberries, scorched earth, wood smoke, and acacia flowers. One of the most concentrated, rich, and sexy wines in the vintage, this massive and extraordinarily opulent 2020 shows the vintage's pure, elegant profile yet backs it up with sensational levels of fruit and texture. Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it already offers pleasure given its wealth of fruit, but it deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 40-50 years. Not enough can be said about the quality of these wines. Bravo to Florence and Daniel Cathiard, as well as to director Fabien Teitgen, for another incredible achievement. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) | د.إ1,505.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96-97)Lots of clove, black-licorice and cigar-box character. Already perfumed. Medium body with fine, chalky and precise tannins. Lead-pencil shavings. Well framed and structured with a fresh, lengthy and spicy finish. Extremely long and intense. 63% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. From organically grown grapes. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 97 (WCI) | د.إ2,555.00 | |||||
The Wine Cellar Insider (97)Intense, attention seeking notes of lemon, lime, flowers and stone open to a wine with depth, richness and concentration. The wine is long, fresh, plush and polished with plush textures and a mélange of citrus and mineral sensations. There is a purity to the sweet fruits that remain on your palate for close to 40 seconds. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 96-97 (JS) | د.إ2,685.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96-97)A full-bodied, layered white with dried apples, pears and cream. Beautiful, very upfront and plush already. Love the richness and precision. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JS) | د.إ2,830.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)This has so much blossom honey and white flowers with limes and other citrus. Stone and mineral undertones. Subtle passion fruit. A truly complex and great nose. Full-bodied and compact with fruit, phenolics and fresh acidity. Just a touch of sea salt. Very long and persistent. If you close your eyes, it’s like a great red wine. One of the best whites ever to come from here. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon, 5% sauvignon gris. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. |
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Bordeaux | 3 | 93 (VN (AG)) | د.إ704.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)Inky dark fruit, gravel, smoke, spice, grilled herbs, lavender and menthol all flesh out in this rich, supple Merlot-driven blend from Smith Haut Lafitte. The 2017 is a flat-out delicious wine. Inky dark cherry, plum, chocolate, spice and savory overtones from the Cabernet all infuse the 2017 with notable character. The 2017 finishes with a good bit of structure, which ensures it will drink well for a number of years. |
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