Les Hauts de Smith Pessac-Léognan 2016 - Second vin
93/100
Vinous
88-90/100
Robert Parker
89/100
Wine Spectator
15,5/20
RVF
93/100
James Suckling
93/100
Wine Enthusiast
"Smooth, very elegant and full-bodied on the palate, this is a well-rounded, very accessible and delicious wine." (Le Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France 2021 - RVF). An expressive red with lovely fresh red fruit flavors (cherry, strawberry, raspberry) that give it a beautiful aromatic elegance...
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Eye
Very dark red color, very dense
Nose
Already well opened with beautiful expressions of red fruits (raspberry, cherry) and black fruits (blackcurrant). When swirled, the nose becomes more complex with notes of sweet spices and toast.
Mouth
Frank with good concentration and lovely richness. The wine is round and delicate, with lovely tannins and a beautiful smoothness. The palate is long and smooth, with a long finish marked by lovely freshness and a rich aromatic expression of red and black fruits (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries), spices (cinnamon, star anise, etc.) and terroir notes of flint.
Serve
At 17-18°C, decanted if necessary
Drink before
2029
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy with a rack of suckling pig, pan-fried cep mushrooms Bordeaux-style, rump steak, or rib steak.
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2020 guide) 4 stars (Producers of very high quality, those who are the pride of French vineyards)
About the estate:
A flagship property in Martillac thanks to the quality of its facilities and its openness to wine tourism with the superb Les Sources de Caudalie establishment (a five-star hotel and spa with a two-Michelin-star restaurant, La Grand’Vigne), Smith Haut-Lafitte is also a pioneer in its category for its viticulture philosophy, which Daniel Cathiard describes as bio-precision, the aim being to combine the best of nature with the best of science. Florence and Daniel Cathiard, who acquired the property in 1991, can be proud of the work accomplished on the 78 hectares of vineyards. Respect for the terroir, precision in winemaking, integrated cooperage, dynamic communication: in just a quarter of a century, the Cathiards have become part of the Bordeaux legend! The wines have found their true personality: gone are the excesses of oak, they are now racy, perfectly expressing their terroir and bursting with energy. Hauts-de-Smith and Le-Petit-Haut-de-Smith receive the same attention as the grand vin, and it shows!
Guide des Vins Gault & Millau
5-star rated estate (Outstanding production)
About the estate:
The Cathiards are a shining example of success in French viticulture. After purchasing the estate in 1990, they focused on quality, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, and positioned it as a high-end commercial venture, notably by creating a wine therapy center. Like more and more châteaux, Smith Haut-Lafitte is adopting an "organic" approach: using organic antibotrytis treatments, practicing massal selection, plowing with horses, making compost, etc.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rating (2017 guide) 88-90/100 (Outstanding wine)
Rated Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About wine:
The 2016 Les Hauts de Smith Rouge is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 60% Merlot from the young vines of Smith Haut Lafitte. It is aged in 20% new barrels. It has a simple but appealing bouquet of blackberry, brown spices, and just a hint of vanilla from the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, grainy tannins on the attack, lots of black fruit tinged with leather and a slight ferrous scent. The acidity is well balanced and the finish is long and tender. Probably suitable for early consumption, as it is more accessible than others; nevertheless, it should drink well for several years.
About the estate:
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2021 guide) 15,5/20 (Good wine)
Rated estate (2020 guide) 2 stars (These very large estates, often blessed with fabulous terroirs, are must-haves which, thanks to their consistency and the excellence of their production, deserve a place in the cellars of discerning wine lovers).
About wine:
Smooth, very elegant, and full-bodied on the palate, this is a well-rounded wine that is very accessible and delicious.
About the estate:
What a journey this estate has been on since 1990, the year Florence and Daniel Cathiard bought it! From a classified growth in ruins and a vineyard that had been virtually abandoned, these two new winemakers—he trained in retail distribution and she in communications—have made a name for themselves. First, they produced a wine that is undoubtedly among the elite of Bordeaux production, and then they made Smith Haut-Lafitte an essential stop on any wine tourism itinerary. While the wines were sometimes a little too ripe and oaky in their early days, their style has greatly refined over the past ten years. The texture of the reds and the measured extraction with more delicate tannins have resulted in wines that are more in line with current tastes and less demonstrative. The whites have also followed this trend, with a much less pronounced influence of aging in recent vintages. The success continues: Smith Haut-Lafitte wines are enjoying international success and strong price growth.
Wine Spectator
Wine rated 89/100 (Very good wine)
Wine Enthusiast
Wine rated (2017 guide) 93/100
About wine:
Sample from barrels. Second wine produced by the estate, 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the palate is slightly spicy with juicy red fruits. The wine is full of acidity with a crisp aftertaste. It will develop relatively quickly. Drink after 2023.
Vinous
Wine rated 93/100
James Suckling
Wine rated (2019 guide) 93/100
About wine:
Fresh aromas of blackcurrant and cherry with floral notes. Full-bodied, very tight and firm with silky tannins and a beautiful, long finish. Lively and vibrant. Second wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Mainly Merlot with a little Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink after 2022.