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‘2015 exudes richness and a level of intensity in all directions that is remarkable.’
Antonio Galloni
This is the 25th vintage that Florence and Daniel Cathiard have been at the helm of Smith Haut Lafitte (and the 650th anniversary of the Château). In this time they have transformed the estate and they now make benchmark wines worthy of serious attention. The perfect blend of old and new techniques encompass a team of horses used to plough allied to a state of the art winery. As a nod to this landmark year the bottles are adorned with a special label for 2015. It is also fortuitous then that the pair of wines produced this vintage are stunning. As with other releases these will be strictly allocated so please contact us as soon as possible to place your order.
The red is deeply juicy and hugely indulgent. This is a wine that has managed to merge a richness and purity of fruit to a level of intricacy and detail that leaves one yearning for more. Pretty aromatics and a plush, creamy texture serve only to elevate the complexity of this wine yet further. A must buy!
The white is simply gorgeous. There is a note of sea-breeze and shells that instantly puts a smile on one’s face. This leads into gently alluring notes of pear, lychee and a hint of vanilla which ease into a lovely weighty mouthfeel which is lifted by a bursting citrus finish and subtle spice. Delicate details flutter and seem never to end. A joyous wine!
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge 2015
£625 Per 12 Bottles En Primeur
Other formats available upon request
It has a very intense, blueberry and crème de cassis scented bouquet, a touch more opulent than its peers with hints of freshly shucked oyster shell developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin couched in gorgeous, satin-textured black cherry and cassis fruit, tinged with cedar and pencil shavings. It lingers very long and sensually in the mouth, completing a sophisticated and powerful Smith Haut-Lafitte that should age in splendid fashion.
Drink 2025 – 205095-97/100, Neal Martin
The 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte is superb. Dark, powerful and towering, the 2015 exudes richness and a level of intensity in all directions that is remarkable. This is an especially dark, brooding Grand Vin built on serious depth, intensity and structure, and yet there is more than enough richness in the fruit to balance things out. The extreme heat of the year appears to have baked out some of the aromatic nuance. It will be interesting to see if that dimension opens up. For now, the 2015 is massively shut down. Readers will have to be especially patient, as the 2015 won't be ready to drink for some time. Both en primeur samples I tasted were less expressive than the separate components were when I tasted them from barrel in late January 2016, so I won't be surprised at all if the bottled wine comes in at the top of this range. 93-96+/100, Antonio Galloni
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2015
£650 Per 12 Bottles En Primeur
The 2015 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sauvignon Blanc matured in 50% new oak. It has a crisp, conservative bouquet, tightly wound at first, reticent even, though with a couple of minutes' swirling, it reveals intense fresh lime flower, pink grapefruit, guava and blood orange scents. The palate is extremely well balanced with a silver bead of acidity, a dab of sour lemon than cleanses the mouth, followed by pink grapefruit, citrus lemon and green apple notes towards the long finish. This is another outstanding white Smith-Haut-Lafitte from winemaker Fabien Tietgen and the famille Cathiard.Drink 2019 – 2035.94-96/100, Neal Martin
The 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is powerful and intense, but also incredibly young at this stage. There is notable density and persistence throughout, but just like the red Grand Vin, the aromatic dimension in the wine has not yet developed. The wine's length and overall density are both impressive. Here, too, the en primeur samples were less expressive than the wines were when I tasted the separate lots from barrel in January 2016. With a bit of air, the flavors start to brighten and bristle with pure energy. 92-95+/100, Antonio Galloni
