Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge - Pessac-Léognan 2010

Les Echos

18,5 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe12/4/2013

Il atteint quasiment le niveau des meilleurs. Grande palette aromatique, fruit subtil, notes de graphite, florales, minéralité ciselée, bouche harmonieuse, montrant un grain de tannin d'un raffinement extrême, une allonge et un équilibre exceptionnels, aucun excès.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

94 / 100

the8/31/2013

Full ruby-red.  Very ripe yet precise nose offers blueberry, black raspberry, violet, spices and sexy dried herbs; still a bit youthfully medicinal but already showing a lot of personality.  Rich, pliant and hugely deep, with near-chocolatey ripeness to the highly concentrated dark berry, tobacco and spice flavors.  This wonderfully broad, seamless, layered wine dusts the palate with ripe tannins and leaves the mouth perfumed.  Built for a long life in bottle but balanced from day one:  it's more bound-up today than the silkier and more voluptuous 2009 but I would not be surprised if this one eventually surpassed its younger sibling. 94 (+?) points

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2013

Gorgeous, with alluring black tea and warm ganache notes that unfurl slowly, while the core of intense steeped plum, anise, blackberry compote and black currant confiture sits patiently in reserve. The beautiful loam-, tobacco- and tar-filled finish displays major heft, but also remarkable polish and grace. Should age very slowly. Best from 2018 through 2035. –JM

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/1/2013

This is an extraordinary performance once again from the Cathiard family, the proprietors of Smith-Haut-Lafitte. They think the 2010 is even better than the 2009. (I disagree, but only slightly.) This wine has laser-like definition in its an remarkable nose of a subtle charcoal fire interwoven with spring flowers, creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur and spicy wood. Full-bodied, stunningly concentrated, long, rich and moderately tannic, this wine is set for an exceptionally long life of 30-40 years but can be drunk in 5-7.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/11/2013

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The 2010 Smith Haut-Lafitte has very fine delineation on the nose with intense black cherry, raspberry and slightly meaty aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy, edgy tannins. It has a lovely spicy, almost peppery seam running from start to finish. It is quite compact, much more reserved than I recall out of barrel, but the oak is seamlessly integrated and it is incredibly long. Tasted November 2012

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2013

Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and plums follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Lots of mushroom and fruit undertones. Very polished. Such finesse yet structure to this young wine. Better in 2007.

La Revue du Vin de France

17,5-18,5 / 20

the6/30/2011

En 2010, les raisins étaient minuscules. Cela s'est traduit par des indices tanniques supérieurs de 20% à ceux de 2009. Au dessus de cette strate de tannins, le vin se développe sur une grande complexité aromatique, alimentée par un fruit très pur.

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

the6/30/2011

Sattes Pupur-Granat. Geniales Bouquet mit viel reifer Frucht, vor allem blaue Beeren, dazu ein Hauch Kokos, Edelhölzer und dominikanischer Tabak sowie Kakaonoten vom topreifen Merlot. Im Gaumen Harmonie pur, Praliinentouch im warmen, wiederum leicht schokoladigen Extrakt, ein Hauch Dörrfrüchte im Finale. Noch nie zeigte ein Smith Haut Lafitte so viel Erotik, aber auch mondänen Geschmack.

GaultMillau

18,5 / 20

the6/30/2011

Le nez est d'une grande délicatesse avec des notes de rose et de violette puis de fruits à noyaux sur une bouche au soyeux s'étirant sur le satiné

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

2010: A qualitative home run, right up there with the profound 2005 and more opulent 2009, Smith-Haut-Lafitte has turned in a remarkable performance in this vintage, but then again, so have many other chateaux. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the wine has an inky/purple color and an extraordinary nose of graphite, blackberries, cassis, licorice, smoke, and camphor. The unbelievable skyscraper-like texture, stunning purity, and formidable intensity make for a remarkably rich, long, full-bodied wine that is classic Graves, but at the same time a staggering 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035+.

Asian Palate

89-92 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/24/2011

The deep ruby purple 2010 Smith Haut Lafitte has lovely aromatics of blackberries, plums, cassis, cedar and spices, with precise and layered but restrained fruit flavours - much lighter than found commonly in this vintage - and velvety and ripe tannins. A gorgeous middleweight Pessac Leognan.

Le Point

17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/12/2011

Fermé, un peu marqué par le bois, bouche douce, délicate, tanins déjà fondus, élégant, beaucoup de soyeux. O=2019 G=20 ans

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/30/2011

Savoury and appealing on the nose. Very fresh - admirably fresh. Very Graves and fragrant with firm minerality and very dry finish. Nothing overdone. Nicely balanced for the long term.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/30/2011

Wonderful aromas of currants, berries and minerals. Very stoney. Full bodied, with an intense and dense palate structure. Loads of blackberries, sweet tobacco and hot stones. Long finish. We will see if it’s better than the 2009 or not.

TAST

18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2011

Nez précis, belle densité, notes de créosote au nez, intense, racé, belle suavité de texture liée à la parfaite maturité du raisin, tannin délicatement extrait, très naturel et plein de charme.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-95 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/25/2011

Smith Haut Lafitte 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Petit Verdot formed the assemblage. Deeply colored and filled with smoke, cassis, jam and licorice coated dark berry aromas, this rich, juicy, concentrated wine ends with a long opulent, fat, sweet, jammy black fruit and vanilla finish. 94-95 Pts

Wine Enthusiast

92-94 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/5/2011

Spice, smoky fruit, with great acidity, this wine offers richness, structure, powerful tannins and already some delicious blackberry fruits.-R.V.

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2011

Really ripe, but with great focus, as linzer torte, blackberry, plum sauce and anise notes are woven tightly together, all carried by tar and graphite, with a long, seamless finish. —J.M.