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2018 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

Removed from a temperature and humidity controlled wine cellar; Purchased at retail

Removed from a subterranean, temperature and humidity controlled residential cellar; Purchased upon release; Consignor is original owner

6 available
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Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

99Jeb Dunnuck

...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... Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness...incredibly concentrated, powerful wine that has plenty of baby fat covering serious amounts of underlying structure and tannins.

98James Suckling

Purity of fruit here with plum and cherry aromas, as well as wet earth and spice. Light stone. Very floral and vivid. Full-bodied with layers of ripe tannins that are balanced and polished. Savory finish. Incredibly polished and refined.

97+ The Wine Advocate

...scents of crème de cassis, mocha, licorice and cedar chest...medium to full-bodied palate brings sophistication to all that flamboyant fruit with a beautifully styled frame of finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing bright and fruity with loads of minerally sparks. This is a stunning, singular style that is sure to turn heads!

97Wine Spectator

Ripe and seductive, with a caressing wave of cassis, plum puree and blackberry compote flavors that hold sway throughout, but not without support from enticing savory, licorice, warm loam and mineral accents along the way. Cashmere finish lets everything sail on and on. Gorgeous.

97Wine Enthusiast

Powerful and rich, this dense wine offers intense fruits and a texture... White-fruit flavors come through strongly, combining with spice, structure and concentration.

95Vinous / IWC

...scents of blackberry and crushed stone, iris petals like before, and maybe a touch more violet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tension and good structure...plenty of black fruit, black olives, a light marine influence and a pinch of cracked black pepper on the sturdy finish.

16.5Jancis Robinson

Some mineral scent. Very sweet with flattering purple-fruit flavours and riper tannins. Intense.

PRODUCER

Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte is a classified Grand Cru of the Pessac-Leognan appellation. Though it dates to the 14th century, it was an 18th-century owner from Scotland who gave the château its name, Smith. In 1990 the estate was purchased by Daniel Cathiard, a former French Olympic skier and heir to a French supermarket chain. With his wife Florence, a former international advertising executive, he runs the 170-acre estate. About 10,000 cases of red wine are produced each year, and 3,000 cases of white. The two second labels are Le Petit Haut-Lafitte and Les Hauts de Smith, both made with estate fruit. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “since its acquisition by the Cathiards, this property has become one of Bordeaux’s success stories, producing elegant, flavorful, complex, very complete wines.”

REGION

France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

Pessac-Léognan was created in 1987 from the northern part of the left bank Graves appellation. Before then it was simply part of Graves, or sometimes it was called Haut-Graves. Unlike many other Bordeaux appellations, Pessac-Léognan is known for both red and dry white wines, although its reds are more famous. The appellation includes ten communes and the area’s most important châteaux, including Château Haut-Brion, the only non-Médoc estate included in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. There are 2,964 acres of vineyards in Pessac-Léognan and 16 classified growth estates. The main red grapes grown are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, along with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. White grapes grown are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, with a little Muscadelle. Pessac-Léognan is considered to have the best terroir of the greater Graves region.

VINTAGE

2018 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte