Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge - Pessac-Léognan 2009

Vinous

94

par Neal Martin le 15/03/2019

The 2009 Smith Haut-Lafitte has a very perfumed, quite floral bouquet with violets permeating the black and red fruit, hints of game and leather developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. Touches of brown spice filter through the red fruit and towards a fleshy and lightly peppered finish. This is a classy Pessac-Léognan from the Cathiard's...though, the 2016 is better! Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Drink 2020-2050.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

94

par Stephen Tanzer le 31/07/2012

Good bright red-ruby. Enticing aromas of blueberry, flowers, graphite and charred, nutty oak, plus a sexy suggestion of floral white fruit. Like liquid silk on entry, then concentrated and lush in the middle, with red plum, tobacco and mineral flavors given definition by lovely harmonious acidity. Utterly seamless wine with suave tannins. Voluminous and intense but not a powerhouse. Finishing flavors mount slowly and stain the palate without leaving any impression of weight. Conveys a beautiful impression of site and vintage. The most complete young Smith Haut Laffite I've yet tasted at this early stage; perhaps my score will ultimately prove to be conservative. 94 (+?) points

Wine Advocate

100

par Robert Parker le 29/02/2012

The finest wine ever made by proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte exhibits an opaque blue/purple color in addition to a glorious nose of acacia flowers, licorice, charcoal, blueberries, black raspberries, lead pencil shavings and incense. This massive, extraordinarily rich, unctuously textured wine may be the most concentrated effort produced to date, although the 2000, 2005 and 2010 are nearly as prodigious. A gorgeous expression of Pessac-Leognan with sweet tannin, emerging charm and delicacy, and considerable power, depth, richness and authority, it should age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. Bravo!

Jamessuckling.com

96

par James Suckling le 15/02/2012

Aromas of flowers, dried citrus fruit and blueberries follow through to a full body, with firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Gorgeous fruit and structure. Polished and powerful. Best red ever from Smith. Best in 2018.

Wine Spectator

96

par James Molesworth le 11/01/2012

This is really loaded, with crushed plum, blueberry, cassis, fig and blackberry paste flavours all melded together, along with notes of tar, pastis and violet. Very long and dark, but polished and pure, with terrific fruit offset by a great tug of earth on the finish. Should cruise easily in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2035. -J.M.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-95

par Ian D'Agata le 30/06/2010

Deep ruby-purple. Aromas of smoky plum, blackberry syrup, cinnamon and canele (a Bordeaux specialty made from a caramelized batter containing rum and vanilla) are very ripe but not exaggerated, and nicely lifted by floral and mineral topnotes. Very fresh in the mouth, with almost delicate but very deep flavors of dark berries, cedar and minerals. Finishes long and pure, with noticeable saline and grapey nuances. This highly successful wine manages a tricky balancing act between superripeness and just the right amount of freshness; in fact, this seems almost understated to me even though it boasts a extremely high IPT of 100 and possesses outstanding depth and substance. It also relies much less on oak for weight and structure than a couple of recent vintages, and therein lies a good measure of its success. Should be one of the red wine stars of '09.

Le Figaro

93-95

par Bernard Burtschy le 30/06/2010

Robe impressionnante. Nez réglisse, superbe. En bouche, attaque dense, assez compact, du gras, belle notes fumées, superbe finale, 64 % cabernet-sauvignon, 30 % merlot, 5 % cabernet-franc, 1 % petit-verdot.

WeinWisser

18

par René Gabriel le 28/06/2010

Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Rahmiges Bouquet, Brombeergelée, Kokos, ein Hauch Vanille, parfümierte Cabernet-Noten mit verführerisch süssem Merlot vermischt, Heidelbeerblüten. Am Gaumen saftig und cremig, berauschend süsse, angerundete Tannine, im Innern fein pfeffrig, mit rasanter Rasse und spannender Länge. Wird er mal so gut wie der 2005er? Dann kassiert er in knapp 10 Jahren 19/20 Punkte. 2016-2038

Le Point

17,5

par Jacques Dupont le 06/05/2010

Fruits noirs, épices, bouche crémeuse, souple, fine, élégante, du soyeux, velouté, garni, violette, frais et fin, tanins d'une extrême finesse, douceur, délicatesse, très joli vin. O=2016 G=20 ans

TAST

18,5

par Bettane & Desseauve le 30/04/2010

Somptueuse texture, maturité idéale du raisin, harmonie totale de la matière, avec une franchise et une netteté irréprochables, bref le rouge le plus formellement riche et abouti de la propriété depuis belle lurette et un des sommets du millésime.

Wine Advocate

94-96

par Neal Martin le 30/04/2010

Tasted at the chateau. Picked between 25th September and 17th October, 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot cropped at 32 hl/ha, this has a very sleek, well defined bouquet, very pure with dark berried fruits, just a hint of coca and dark chocolate powder. Very focused, very linear at the moment but developing a lovely saline/estuarine character towards the finish. The palate is full-bodied with very silky tannins, harmonious, sensuous, very good weight and acidity, layers of ripe black, coca-tinged fruit with a sense of nonchalance and self-assured swagger towards the finish. Very pure, very long on the finish, leaving the mouth tingling with pleasure. This is a very assured Smith Haut Lafitte. Tasted April 2010.

Falstaff

94-96

par Peter Moser le 30/04/2010

Süße, attraktive Beerenfrucht, Feigen und Nougat, feine Orangenzesten, vielschichtig. Kraftvoll, rund, süße Frucht, etwas Powidl, mit festen Tanninen ausgestattet, schokoladige Textur, feines Säurespiel, anhaltend und facettenreich, sehr gutes Reifepotenzial.

Wine Advocate

96-98

par Robert Parker le 28/04/2010

One can’t say enough about what proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard have accomplished at this estate since 1990. Regrettably, I am old enough to remember how horrible the wines were before the Cathiards purchased the property. They have fashioned one of the most consistently outstanding wines, both white and red, over the last two decades, and their 2009 probably eclipses any previous performance. An opaque purple color is followed by an explosive nose of graphite, black currants, licorice, incense, and a hint of black tea. The wine hits the palate with extraordinary density, unctuosity, and richness, yet it never comes across as heavy or overbearing. Deep and full-bodied with sensational concentration as well as remarkable purity and precision, this brilliant wine possesses the high, but sweet tannins that are a hallmark of the vintage, and exceptional delicacy allied to massive power and richness ... a rare combination indeed. This prodigious effort should drink well for 30-40 years. Bravo! (Tasted five times.) Drink 2010-2050. (96-98+*) points

Periodic Review of Wine

92-94

par Alan Duran le 28/04/2010

This is almost identical in quality to the 2008. The amazing opaque ruby/purple colored Smith reveals complex perfumes of plum extract, crème de cassis, pain grillé, a la plancha meat juices, cherry, sweet flower notes, and underlying notions of crushed-stone. There is fabulous length and a complexity of juicy savories, a flavourful palate, a full-body, and an elegance to the delivery. This superb, concentrated, dense offering has nothing out of place. It will require 4-6 years at the outset due to its abundantly ripe tannin. Maturity period 2016-2030.

Wine Spectator

95-98

par James Suckling le 09/04/2010

Clean. Blackberry and lightly toasted oak with coffee and cedar. Full-bodied and a very, very powerful structure. Blockbuster. Massive and dense, yet remains agile. A triumph for this estate.

Jancis Robinson

16

par Jancis Robinson le 07/04/2010

Moderate and rather cool and intriguing on the nose. Some sweetness at first and then slightly inky. The tannins are far from the most supple but they just about do the trick without being too drying on the finish. Just a little bit gawky, and there’s some alcohol on the finish. (16+) Drink 2016-2026