Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte (Futures Pre-Sale) 2011
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Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Offers pure, driven plum, cassis and black cherry notes inlaid with graphite and roasted wood spice. Dense without being overextracted. Very sleek. Rock-solid.
Barrel Sample: 92-95 Points -
Wine Enthusiast
This wine has density, with very dry, massive tannins. This is a wine for long-term aging; it has a solid texture, with its fruit well buried.—
Barrel Sample: 91-93 Points -
James Suckling
Perfumed and very pretty with delicate spices, berries and flowers. Medium to full body, with ultra fine tannins and a lovely finish. Balanced and delicious. Not a big wine but shows finesse.
Barrel Sample: 92-93 Points -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An impressive effort, this 2011 exhibits a dense saturated ruby/purple color along with lots of graphite, black currant and camphor notes, medium to full body, and surprising depth, richness and length. Tannins are present, but they are relatively sweet and unobtrusive. A crisp character gives the wine vibrancy as well as impressive delineation. It should drink well for 15+ years.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 Points -
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2011 Smith Haut Lafitte plays in the same ballpark as the 2014, yet is slightly more concentrated, as well as backward. Blackcurrants, cedar, licorice and hints of oak all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, elegant, impeccably balanced beauty. It needs another year or two and will shine for over a decade.
Rating: 93+
Thanks to its 55 hectares of superb gravelly vineyards, Smith Haut Lafitte is often referred to as the "archetypical Graves." The estate's history goes back to the Crusades, and a Scottish navigator, George Smith, who became the owner of the estate in the 18th century. He was followed by M. Duffour-Dubergier, Mayor of Bordeaux, and then Louis Eschenauer, a famous wine shipper.
In 1990, Daniel and Florence Cathiard also fell under the spell of this beautiful estate. Since then, they have restored the 16th century tower, renovated the 18th century manor house, built two underground cellars, went back to traditional vine growing methods without chemical herbicides and set up their own cooperage. The perfect elegance, excellent balance and fine structure of Smith Haut Lafitte's red and white wines are the ultimate reflection of the current owners' total commitment to quality.