Château Smith Haut Lafitte - Red Pessac-Léognan 2015

Vinifera

4 / 5

the5/31/2016

Superbe nez sur les baies des bois. Intense, complexe. Parfum entêtant de pivoine, avec une entrée en bouche très douce. La texture est très noble et le tanin d’une grande délicatesse. Milieu de bouche très pulpeux avec un caractère irrésistible. Le vin a encore gagné en finesse. Grande douceur tactile.

Decanter.com

96 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/2/2016

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2016

The 2015 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is adorned with a special label to celebrate the 650th anniversary of the château and the 25th vintage made under the ownership of Daniel and Florence Cathiard. It is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, picked between 23 September until 12 October with the Cabernet Franc. Matured in 65% new oak (although technical director Fabien Teitgen mentioned that he could have added more if he felt it would benefit), 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 2025-2050

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

With a good depth of color, this wine pops with black cherry liqueur, blueberry, licorice, smoke, truffle, cigar box and espresso notes in the bouquet. A fine purity of fruit with sweetness and ripe berries give you a wine that is not as flashy as 2009 or 2010, but there is focus, finesse, elegance, polished tannins, concentration and intensity of flavor, with the ability to age and improve. The wine was made from a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Reaching 13.75% alcohol with a Ph of 3.7, the harvest took place from September 22 to October 12 and the Grand Vin represents just 40% of the harvest. Because 2015 is the 25th vintage for the Catharid family, and it's the 650th year that wine has been made at the estate, the wine will be placed in a special bottle with a sharp looking black and gold label!

Bettane & Desseauve

18 / 20

the4/28/2016

Vin de grande élégance profonde, brillant. Belle couleur, ensemble riche, harmonieux, élégant dans son tannin et dans son style plus racé encore que 2009 et plus harmonisé que 2010. Il fera une grande bouteille.

Vinous

93-96 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

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. Tasted two times.

Jancis Robinson

18 /

byJancis Robinsonthe4/26/2016

timatkin.com

96 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

René Gabriel

18 / 20

the4/10/2016

63 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot, 2 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Deutlich röstiger Beginn, Kaffeenoten, schwarze Kirschen, dunkle Edelhölzer, die Beerenkonturen zeigen alle drei Farben auf; rot, blau und schwarz. Im Gaumen erst elegant beginnend, dann mit seinen verlangenden Tanninen zugreifend. Er wird viel Flaschenreife brauchen, um diese noch extrahiert wirkenden Gerbstoffnoten in sich zu integrieren. Das Potential ist zweifellos da. Mit diesem 2015er feiert man gleich zwei Jubiläen. 650 Jahre Smith-Haut-Lafitte (seit 1365) und 25 Jahre Cathiard-Besitz (seit 1990). 18/20 2025 – 2050

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

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.

Wine Spectator

94-97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2016

Ripe and succulent in feel, with warm plum and blackberry confiture notes leading the way. Picks up singed alder and tar details through the finish, gaining extra depth. Very pure, but with ample grip in reserve. A serious wine.—J.M.